435. Freedom Doesn’t Come Free
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a right-wing commentator, was shot to death while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University on Sept 10th. The suspect is now arrested. For those who don’t know, he became famous by going around university campuses in the United States and debating students on many politically sensitive, emotionally charged issues like gender, abortion, gun control, education and such.
His open-mic debate with students on social media went viral, and he helped people discuss issues that those with differing views were often demonized for. Many young people changed their minds on such issues mainly because they were able to hear the logical arguments of “both sides” for the first time, as they used to blindly believe the characterization of one side from the main legacy media.
What is disturbing is that after his death, many people who opposed his views were celebrating his death on social media, having no regard for his wife and two kids. Regardless of the disagreement of views, open debates on controversial issues should not be the reason for the use of violence. Some people accuse him of spreading hate and division, but when he was asked what his goal was in visiting universities and facing tough questions from people who opposed his political actions and beliefs, this is what he said:
“When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence, that is when civil war happens, because you start to think the other side is so evil, and they lose their humanity,”
All totalitarian regimes begin their control by limiting speech. Because as long as the truth is openly heard, people become free and difficult to manipulate. Many people died while trying to bring freedom back under such a regime. Freedom always comes at a cost.
This incident made it all the more clear that the world is becoming more polarized and divided. It is because the devil is the father of all lies (John 8:44), and his main way to keep people under his control is through “divide and conquer” by spreading lies. I am hoping for a generation that earnestly asks God to increase our discernment of what is true and be able to approve what is excellent. (Phil 1:9-10)
