Reader mourns loss of Charlie Kirk

Dear Editor,

They killed the man – they will never kill his spirit. On September 10th, America again changed in a way that will be remembered for as long as there is an America.

From age 18, Charlie Kirk was the most gracious individual to ever challenge the ideological poison of the Left. He was effective in changing the minds of thousands of students on college campuses across the country. Thus, the Left had to silence him because they understood his positive influence upon America’s youth.

Maligned by detractors, Charlie never spoke evil of those with whom he disagreed. He practiced Christian virtue, upheld conservative principles, and defended objective reality. He was polite with opponents, both left and right, but firm in conviction. Charlie allowed his opposition to have their say. A champion of free speech, he was labeled “controversial” and “divisive” by the political Left. Leftists are not liberal in the classical sense; rather, they are nihilists, bent upon upending all that is good and sane. Charlie Kirk stood in the way of that agenda.

The alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson – a straight ‘A’ student, finishing his third year of electrical trade school – was raised Mormon, having parents who were registered Republicans, but of no known political activism on any social media platform. Though registered to vote, Robinson was “undeclared” in party affiliation and had not voted in the previous two elections. However, he apparently drank deep from the Left’s poison well of “anti-fascist” ideology, evidenced by his abrupt change in personality and political views over a two-year period.

According to friends and family, Robinson became “politically radicalized.” He would spend hours perusing alternative social media – including known ANTIFA chat boards on websites such as Reddit and Discord. His 22-year-old transgender roommate – also a trade school attendee and Robertson’s alleged “romantic interest” – frequented war gaming websites, which require players to kill opponents in order to accumulate points. Over time, these “games” tend to remove the inhibition most people have against killing another human. Additionally, “anti-fascist” and (LGBTQ related) “furry” messaging was etched on the empty shell casing and unspent cartridges found with the rifle used to kill Kirk. Discord’s owners deleted Robinson’s account – and unsurprisingly, the partner is cooperating with the FBI.

The political Left repeatedly demonstrates disregard for truth, reason, logic, and the law – they prefer violence. The latest drones assimilated into their collective – the mentally unstable transgendered and the fascistic “antifascists” – will not likely stop with Charlie Kirk. If you doubt that assessment, peruse the insane social media rants of those who publicly celebrate or excuse his murder. Every conservative American is a target of these professional lunatics: “Resistance is futile … You will be assimilated” – or else assassinated.

We must acknowledge the danger that unsupervised exposure to internet social media platforms present to our children – often poisoning their minds and destroying their innocence. A multitude of subversive websites exist as a virtual breeding ground for irrational hatred and political radicalism, which tends to indoctrinate and warp the undiscerning minds of children and adolescents. Ironically, in the age of social media, the “free speech” so integral to America’s laissez-faire culture may become our virtual undoing – and we will pay dearly for our continued indifference.

People of goodwill must demand our leaders take decisive action to stop the Left’s escalating campaign of indoctrination, intimidation, and violence. It is too late for Charlie Kirk – he paid the ultimate price for his openness. But as long as America exists, Charlie’s spirit will live in its heart. They killed the man – they will never kill his spirit.

Bruce Desautels, Stratton