Letters to the editor Sept. 15

No one should die for what they say

I am a proud American liberal. I believe in freedom of speech and expression, equality of the races, an economy and justice system that work for everyone, and that the planet that sustains us is worth saving. And I can tell you unequivocally, the murder of Charlie Kirk shook me to my very core.

This is still America. (The Trump regime hasn’t succeeded yet.) No one, but no one in this country should lose their life because they expressed their values, beliefs or opinions, regardless of what those are.

I know who Charlie Kirk was, but I do not know the details of everything he stood for. I do know that he expressed values of white supremacy, Christian nationalism and “traditional roles” for women in marriage, three premises upon which today’s brand of conservatism is largely based. I also know that during his much-publicized interactions with college students on campuses across the country, he would often ask a student what they are majoring in, and if they answered something like philosophy or English literature, he would chide them for not choosing a more lucrative field of study. Curious behavior for someone who never attended college.

Following a tragedy such as this one comes the inevitable calls to “dial down” the political rhetoric. But not from President Trump. On the evening of Kirk’s death, Trump declared, that his administration would find “those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials and everyone else who brings order to our country.”

As usual, Trump ignores the facts, and the facts are that right-wing oriented Americans are far more likely to commit acts of violence against Democrats and liberals than liberals are against members of the right. If you don’t believe that, look it up. The truth is there for those who choose to seek it. And, don’t ever forget who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It was not liberals.

So, rest in peace, Charlie Kirk. I did not share your views and values, but I morn your passing.

— Robert Horne, Jr., Whitefish