Choosing good over evil

The thing about Charlie Kirk’s assassination last week is that many of us knew something like this was coming. We might not have said it publicly, but we knew.

For years we heard words were violence before, in a wild twist, it gave way (somehow) to actual violence being good. Personally (meaning in real life, not on social media) I’ve heard the most horrendous, murderous, and off-the-planet statements for years.

And look, I came from the left. Born and raised. So I played my part. When things started getting really extreme (in the early 2010s, I estimate), I initially moved along with it. But cracks formed quickly for me. I mean, come on. Much of it was so bizarre that it was hard to keep believing it for long.

But I didn’t verbally or publicly push back to the extent I should have because, honestly, I was afraid. 

For one thing, I was afraid because I suspected most people would immediately brush it off, deny, deny, and then turn it back on me. That sounded crushing.

But I don’t care as much now about people whose best (or only) response is a tit for tat reminding me of my own shortcomings while they flatly refuse to consider their own behaviour. I have accepted that I’ve made many mistakes. In fact, I continue to stuff up every day! I’m human. If you don’t think that’s part of being human, then I really don’t know what to tell you.

This was taken the night before Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Yes, I was eating dinner in bed 🤭 And yes, that is Charlie, caught on the TV in the background.

But as I noticed each hypocrisy, and each disturbing belief I had gone along with, those beliefs fell away like dominoes, one after the other. It was a process of reeducation into a more realistic way of viewing the world.

Now, though, I feel bothered because I didn’t speak out the way I should have. I’m not a clever debater (like Kirk was). I’m more of a slow mover, which is why I feel more comfortable writing. I’m sure that’s unsurprising to most.

Not to brush away my disappointment in myself, but there were much worse fears involved as well. Most of us know that if you stand up to certain aspects of the current dominant political ideology, you can experience cancellation, missed opportunities in your field, loss of friends and family who will simply cut you off for having the wrong opinions. I admit I’ve experienced that from both sides.

Physical safety has also been a concern. On another platform (where I don’t post under my real name) I have received death and rape threats. It’s par for the course if you refuse to bow down to certain beliefs.

Even in my personal life, I can’t help but wonder. If people feel so comfortable agreeing with the murder of non-fascists who’ve been mislabelled “fascists”, what does that mean for the rest of us? Couldn’t that happen to anyone? Many of us share similar views after all. It’s not comfortable to live with.

But I think the silencing and “no debate” through threats, harassment and fear, is ending. I mean, I grant you that the most extreme perpetrators of it are flailing wildly out there right now with videos rejoicing in the murder, and calling for more. Posts with lists of who should be assassinated next abound on the Blue Sky app and other places.

But to me, this feels like death throes rather than a true ramping up. I pray I’m right. What I sense more of, is huge numbers of people sick to death of living like this.

I hear people standing up for life. Saying life is precious and that people don’t deserve to die for exercising free speech, or for holding opinions that others don’t like. 

I’m hearing that people are tired of exaggeration, tired of lies.

Charlie Kirk, for example, may well have held opinions you didn’t like. But he was no extremist; he was not a fascist, and his debates were not dangerous.

At least they weren’t until a man with “Hey fascist! Catch!” inscribed on one of his bullet casings assassinated him in front of a crowd of people.

I’m hearing people want more discussion. I’m hearing that citizens care about their countries, their culture, and people. I’m hearing people want peace.

Have you seen the way people in America are coming together to remember Charlie? Standing solemnly and respectfully together, supporting each other, lighting candles. That’s human. That is goodness.

I really think people are tired of evil and want to get back to good. And I really do as well! So, I ask the people who celebrate this assassination to think about the broader repercussions of what they support.

But I also want them to know that it’s never too late to reconsider your stances. We all make mistakes and, yes, consequences are real, but change and forgiveness is just as real.

And to Charlie Kirk’s family, friends and co-workers, I pray for your strength and healing. Especially his wife, Erika, his young children, and his parents. 🙏🏻

Rest in eternal peace, Charlie.🕊️🕯️

Thanks for reading, lovelies.

Morgan 💗

P.S. If you have made it this far, you might be interested in reading my Background on The Red Line post. The Red Line is my second novel. I was already privately concerned at that point about the section of society, some of whom had crossed, and others that seemed about to cross, the line from normal thinking and behaviour into what seemed to me crazed and violent. And with hindsight I think I was correct. So, while I enjoyed writing about vigilante justice in The Red Line, I felt the need to clarify that I wasn’t encouraging or supporting it in real life. You can find that post here.