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When will we act?
By Kevin Ellis, on Conflict of Interest
First a couple of caveats.
I didn’t know Charlie Kirk. I didn’t follow him or read/watch him.
I did watch the video of his assassination. It ruined me for a few days emotionally.
I waited a few days to watch and read the reaction to his killing. I did this in part to resist snap judgments. Was the shooter a right-winger or a left-winger? Was he an incel, fueled by the on-line rage machine that we have allowed to fester in this country?
And then I realized those questions are not the point.
Put aside the crazies for the moment. The MAGA types calling for a civil war against the left. The left-wing crazies cheering Kirk’s death. I’m not even interested in the journalistic exploration of whether Kirk’s views played a role in his killing. There is plenty of time to examine his views – none of which I agree with.
What I do know is that Kirk is dead. And so is Melissa Hortman, the late speaker of the House in Minnesota. Paul Pelosi, the husband of Nancy Pelosi, is still recovering from being attacked with a hammer in his home. JFK was shot in broad daylight. Bobby Kennedy is dead. So is Medgar Evers, shot in the back in his driveway. So is Martin Luther King. An attempted assassination of Trump – and the spasmatic aftermath – missed by an inch.
Also dead are hundreds of school children, high schoolers, college kids, killed in what should be the sacred space of school buildings and churches.
The list goes on and on.
What makes the death of Charlie Kirk different? Two things I think.
First – it was filmed live and immediately played online around the world. The deaths of the others named above were not filmed. Any footage was grainy and easy to ignore. But you can’t ignore the Kirk killing. It is gruesome. It affects you. Watching it, you knew he would not survive. Walter Cronkite would not have aired it.
Second, the MAGA/Trump media machine now dominates the social media world in which we now exist and communicate. As leading Democrats called for calm and condemned the political violence, leading Republicans, led by the president of the United States, called for a crackdown on free speech and an assault on fundamental freedoms. And that call was magnified until up was down and down was up.
Given the chance to call for calm and a vigorous debate about the country’s future, Trump endorsed the pursuit and suppression of speech he doesn’t like, groups he doesn’t like and people he doesn’t like. The result was Disney firing Kimmel, the folks at Williams College lowering flags to half mast, and a promised attack on what Trump called the left-wing lunatic groups that are responsible for Kirk’s death. The Trump lawsuit against the NY Times was thrown out of court by a federal judge who said it made a mockery of the court system. And yet the chill continues.
This despite most political leaders from everywhere condemning the Kirk killing and calling for a stop to political violence – the killing of people because you disagree with them. I join them.
We are a violent country, a violent people. Our way of government and Constitution have kept our worst impulses at bay (somewhat) for 250 years. Violence was an aberration. Now it feels like the norm.
The list is long and getting longer. How far back do we go?
A well-known member of the Congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, receives so many death threats that she needs extra security to get from the car to her apartment in DC. Imagine living like that.
I host a radio show. I now think of my personal safety and that of my family before speaking my mind and leaving the radio station. Will they come to my home?
The MAGA crowd has successfully, against all logic, positioned their leaders as the victims of politically correct censorship. I find it really hard to understand that. Charlie Kirk spoke all the time about the importance of freedom of speech. He had a huge platform. So does RFK Jr. Trump has the biggest platform. And yet he complains of censorship.
Trump is pushing the attorney general to go after the people he dislikes. Expect to see IRS audits of all sorts of non-profit political organizations. The ICE arrests and kidnappings will expand into our political discussion. No one will be safe.
What all this brings up in me is sadness at this realization, this reminder, of who we are. There will be 30 gun deaths in England this year. There are 30 per day in this country.
And what happened after Kirk should concern us all. The algorithms on Twitter, Discord, Facebook and elsewhere – designed to enrage and divide – lit up with anger from all sides.
These platforms, completely unregulated and whose owners are now the wealthiest people in the world, allow this. It is their business model. This is gas on a fire of hate and division, especially for young men, who wallow in the bowels of these online communities and work themselves into a lather that convinces them that they need to do something heroic to right a wrong. It’s in their head; not real. And this is a tea party compared to what AI is bringing. When will we do something about this?
I want to mention three political leaders who did the right thing in the wake of Kirk killing. Utah Governor Spencer Cox urged everyone to care more about each other and to look in the mirror.
Sen. Bernie Sanders spent four minutes urging a stop to political violence, extolling the virtues of free speech and argument. Indeed Charlie Kirk – even if you disagreed with him – which I did – took his views to college campuses. He was good at what he did. He had an audience. People liked what he was selling.
And lastly, Vermont Governor Phil Scott.
“Our country continues to become more fractured, more violent, and more partisan – and we should all feel a sense of a responsibility to change that.
“There is no doubt, our nation is broken. But, we’ve experienced difficult situations before and have shown just how powerful our country is when we are united, listen to the perspectives of others, treat each other with respect, and rise above the dangerous rhetoric we’re seeing more often.
“We must strive to find common ground, at the most basic human level, so we can engage in the free exchange of conflicting ideas and the open debate that we desperately need to solve problems and help people.”
We had best follow the lead of cooler heads at this moment. Take a look in the mirror and resist the urge to say something crazy. Do the reading. Be informed. Listen and talk to people you might disagree with.
I’ve done two things:
- I watched/listened Robert Kennedy’s speech in 1968 after the death of Martin Luther King. He spoke of the “mindless menace of violence’’ in this country.
- I invited the chairs of the Vermont Democratic and Republican party on my Vermont radio show to discuss political violence. I suspected that if they saw and heard each other, they might dial down their own rhetoric. The Republican accepted. The Democrat did not. The Republican agreed to stand on the Statehouse steps, join hands with opponents and call for an end to all political violence.
Here’s a link to the Robert Kennedy speech.
It brings me to tears every time, knowing that nothing has really changed. Until we get a handle on technology and stop allowing these tech oligarchs to sell us rage and violence on Google, Twitter, Facebook and other places, it will only get worse.
After my radio show, on Twitter, somebody called me a “dirty dog’’ because they disagreed with me. As Robert Kennedy said of violence in 1968 – “And yet it goes on and on and one in this country of ours. Why?’’
Three months later he was dead.
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Categories: Commentary
Why? Because it is a common desire in our society to control others. Our government models this, and has become more and more controlling of nearly each one’s every step. Who’s life work is not regulated by our government? And how about corporate America and the media – manipulating the masses for excessive profit? Control fuels division and conflict. But there is a solution – love – and developing the trait of live and let live. You can model that, right now.
Interesting article.
So, I was not going to watch the Charlie Kirk funeral, as the bits I saw to begin with were music I didn’t like and what looked like too much promotion, and I might venture to say it went to too much promotion at times.
However, with tears streaming down my cheeks, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the testimony and walking this planet with Jesus Christ in your heart, with the Holy Spirit clearly leading was on display from Charlie Kirk’s wife.
There was more talk of Jesus Christ and scripture than in most Vermont churches, which is part of the problem.
Erika Kirk did more to restore peace and sanity in the United States than anyone but her husband. You see the problem is we have hatred in our hearts, naturally. We have pride in our hearts, naturally. We get online and, on the radio, and argue that we are right, with blind abandon, nor self-check and the zeal of narcissist psychopath, are any of us willing to be humbled?
Political parties will do nothing to save our country, more so when we don’t have knowledge of who’s leading them and their hearts. There is but one source of government control, who puts them up, who puts them down. People for the most part are not educated enough to know the difference between a democracy and a republic, by design I might ad. They are too ill informed to know the difference between a religion and a theocracy. They are too ill informed to know the difference between what god or idol they worship, which we all do most unknowingly.
Charlie Kirk brought a fresh perspective to college campus, students were able to weigh his speech, and his words against realities in this world. They found the message that America is a great country, that our form of government is the best and that capitalism is the best way out of poverty.
But the best part of Charlie Kirk was his faith in Jesus Christ. We are all God’s children, we are all worthy of love and affection, full stop. There is much healing to do in this nation, and Erika Kirk took the first step for all to see, she forgave her husband’s killer and would not be seeking the death penalty for him.
Now Vermont Digger hasn’t even posted ANY thing about Charlie Kirk. Few Vermonters will even hear her speech, which I’d proffer would be a good article for VDC.
And yes, you will find conservatives, more so those grounded biblically will gladly speak with you. We know not everyone, will buy what we are selling, but the truth doesn’t care if you take it up or not. Only by Love can people’s hearts be changed and we just witnessed some of the most gracious and loving acts for the world to see through Erika Kirk.
As they say, “Change my mind”…..I know anyone watching would have been moved.
TGBTG
Kevin, you should read the book, The Smear, by Sheryl Atkisson. What you see as “conservatives” controlling the internet and airwaves is truly the first time they have been able to speak and have a voice.
Vermont Digger was “moderated” until they couldn’t anymore so they took down their comment board. You can freely comment here on VDC. Same is true for Front Porch Forum, and Vermont Public.
What you are experiencing is new ideas, that have never been able to be heard.
Absolutely!
You can’t freely comment on FPF, Neil. I was banned, as were several others for simply speaking truth the moderators didn’t like.
Headline fixed:
Ellis: Violence and Charlie Kirk, obfuscated and distorted
“The MAGA types calling for a civil war against the left…. As leading Democrats called for calm and condemned the political violence,…”.
Need we point out the rest of Ellis’s divisive false dichotomies? Consider this one last example.
“I watched/listened [to] Robert Kennedy’s speech in 1968 after the death of Martin Luther King…. It brings me to tears every time,”
But not a mention of the fact that Robert Kennedy’s son, RFK Jr, was one of those ‘MAGA types’ who gave a heart-felt eulogy yesterday for his friend, Charlie Kirk.
The ‘Wrath of the Lamb’ may be upon you, Ellis. But in the spirit and unparalleled dignity of Erika Kirk, I’m as certain as I can be that she will forgive you too. And may God forgive you, for, clearly, you know not what you do.
Civil War……???
Speaking calmly, people gathering calmly to send off their loved ones. One of the largest gatherings of a funeral for a private citizen, somebody that had no power or authority by the government, yet clearly the power of God. Is this war or love? True there was much chest thumping….but NOT from Erika.
Change will only come by a turning point of our hearts, otherwise known as repentance. Fear, violence and threats will get you compliance, just ask the romans who enslaved 35% of the world, just ask the taliban, just ask any dictator, but this only steels the heart.
Our political leaders don’t have it correct, most of our church leaders don’t have it correct. Division does not allow the Holy Spirit to work, which many know. Division and fear and anger make people easy to control. They know this.
Worst thing on planet earth for the uniparty, is to have peace, love and respect for your neighbor, that is kryptonite for corruption. But then most know not what love is, we are teaching our kids and populace lust is love, trapping us in sin.
There is a better plan. Keep your eyes and heart on what matters.
Charlie knew! He knows we would not be calling for Civil War! That’s crazy, all Charlie wanted was peace and understanding between all of us. Charlie didn’t invoke hatred or violence. He agreed to disagree.
We have all seen Liberal Politicians calling for violence on video! Sadly, it’s the Truth.
I am a Spiritual person… I don’t attend Church but I do believe in a Higher Power. Charlie spoke to my heart and my beliefs about my Country and our way of life. His humility was amazing. My heart is broken at his loss, at our loss because he was truly one in a Million. I will try and carry his message forward and share with those I can. We all should….. We can Be a close second to Charlie…
God is in control and Jesus is Lord
You will find common ground when you get the real story about Charlie Kirks death. Comment from Richard Day.
“Dirty dog” gets you triggered?
I’ve been called a lot worse on the hockey rink.
Trump had better watch over some of these so called left wing nut jobs as they may try to dig up Charlie Kirks grave and prove he is in there. Waiting for more information about the shooting of Charlie Kirk. There has to be more pieces to this puzzle. Comment from Richard Day.
The autopsy findings are out. Those who speculate are usually wrong. According to the autopsy, the 3006 bullet from the front, on a downward angle hit his spine destroying 6 vertebrea causing the bullet to brake up with pieces entering the heart and lungs. He died immediately. Bullet fragments were found inside the body. I realize I’m not supposed to comment here without my name. So, by censoring my words and others also censors information that others may not have. Having extensive knowledge of ballistics demonstrates that one bullet via type, weight and powder load never reacts exactly the same. This is what has been reported in the news, the real news.
Yes! And, we would all be going the same way if only they would turn around.
Charlie Kirk. Go on Lisa Havens website and watch the last post and then read all the comments about this shooting. Comment from Richard Day.
So i did go to Lisa Haven’s website and now I’m a little worried about your well-being Richard.
Charlie Kirk. The question is the neck shot and would a 3006 go through the neck. Try hanging a twelve inch by twelve inch three quarter inch thick steel plate from two chains and shoot at one hundred and fifty yards with a 3006 and watch the reaction when that plate gets hit. You decide for yourself. Comment from Richard Day.
What grain? H.P., FMJ, ceramic, ETC? Ricochet off armor first? Curious what your theory is…..
Grand spectales, rituals, symbolism, and harvesting energy from trauma and endless drama. Terms heard from speakers on Sunday – one pointing at the Admistration cabinet members referring to them as “rulers.” Stephen Miller speaking of waking the “dragon?” Ezekiel 29:3 “Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.” If I’m not mistaken, the Bible refers to dragons as symbols of chaos, evil, spritual forces opposed to God.
Riddle me this: Ahmed al-Sharaa, President of Syria met with former CENTCOM Commander and CIA Director Ret. Gen. David Petraeus and State Department Secretary Marco Rubio Monday. A man who once had a $10 Million State Department bounty on his head in 2017 and cited for ethnic cleaning of minorities in Iraq and Syria – including Christians. Now, he is welcomed into the USA as if he’s suddenly one of the good guys?
The greatest show on earth. 2 Thessalonian 2:11 “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” The treacherous dealer and the grand deceptions – for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.
Keith Olberman to Scott Jennings on X:
“You’re next, Mother Fu#*er.”
Apparently, there is no possibility that Charlie Kirk could just be a nice guy, Kevin?
That shows how brainwashed some people are, there is no possibility that, this person Charlie Kirk could possibly be, just a nice guy, who loved his country and loved Jesus Christ, because he voted for and supported Donald Trump.
See how propaganda works? See how censorship works?
Note of interest. The human spine is made up with 33 individual bones that we are told were destroyed from the 3006 bullet. This information was given on this website from an unknown person called VIP1 on Sept. 23 2025. Comment from Richard Day.