Comments
ALPERN AT LARGE - For those who will just presume that a different point of view is “hate speech”, and that Christianity is inherently evil and racist, just consider that debate means listening to things you don’t agree with…and maybe to things you REALLY don’t want to hear.
Charlie Kirk felt as strongly about his beliefs (many of which I agree with, and some of which I certainly do not) as those he debated. But Kirk was right about one thing:
WHEN WE STOP TALKING, THAT’S WHEN CIVILITY ENDS AND VIOLENCE POTENTIALLY BEGINS.
In Britain, on the continent of Europe, and in most of America’s big cities, both political ideology and free speech has now been limited to ONE point of view, which is predominantly far to the Left of what at least two-thirds of Americans agree with.
To prove my point, why are so many Left-leaning, Trump-despising individuals leaving the City of Los Angeles to more conservative, Republican-leaning regions of the Southland, state, and nation where a better quality of life, crime control, and resolved homelessness issues await?
Los Angeles has HOW many Republicans on its City Council? Chicago? New York?
Few to none, really, and although Democratic city councilmembers in our major cities are allowed to scream out loud and clear what their political points of view are, GOP members are pretty much told to shut the heck up.
If they know what’s good for them, of course.
And that trope about Republicans all being white racist, xenophobic Nazis? Garbage. The Big Lie.
Just not true, despite all the closed-minded propaganda we’re forced to all swallow…and those like me (a moderate-conservative Republican) who fought for grassroots democracy, an Expo Line, a LAX/Metro connection, and expanding rapid transit systemic to bring us all together know two things:
- There were no shortage of Republicans, including major leaders of the former grassroots-driven rapid transit expansion effort, and neighborhood council grassroots effort.
- But with the exception of a few of us (like yours truly), those Republicans did and do want to keep their names quiet and censored because they fear for their jobs, their safety, and their peace of mind.
Again, if Republicans and other conservatives (many conservatives insist on NOT being in the GOP) are so awful, why are so many moderates and liberals bailing out of Democratic strongholds?
And this extends to Christianity, and by extension Judaism and any Muslim segments of our region and nation who want religion to be tolerated but in a secular society that allows both freedom of speech and freedom from fear for all sides and portions of society.
Charlie Kirk might have had strongly-held feelings of ethics, government, philosophy, theology, and politics…but he wanted debate. People of all races and backgrounds on college campuses who were otherwise silenced found someone willing to say out loud what they were told to SHUT UP and not say…
…even if more liberal and progressive statements and opinions were allowed to be shouted and screamed as loud as possible without fear.
So long as any liberal or conservative statements do not advocate violence, they should be stated without fear of retribution or harm.
And Kirk’s pro-life, pro-family, pro-Western ideals, and pro-religious (usually Judeo-Christian) statements were—no matter how much I hear about them, and normally described out of context—absolutely not advocating violence.
One of the last statements Charlie Kirk ever made was one of concern that the trans/Antifa movement had moved so far away from basic trans rights that violence was now increasing in that movement.
And then a trans/Antifa person with TRUE hatred in his heart, and TRUE violence on his to-do list, assassinated Kirk in cold blood in front of his family and those involved in his movement.
I guess that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is truly forgotten by the fascists among us.
And to be clear, the movements in Britain and the continent of Europe of those who still want Western ideals and a free society to remain the norm, but who in true Orwellian fashion have been labeled as extremists and fascists at risk of going to prison for their words alone, are all part of what Charlie Kirk and others were fighting for.
Free speech. The West is OK. Illegal immigration is, in fact, illegal. Crime is bad. Neither being a man or a woman is inherently “bad”. The Western Renaissance and Enlightenment were good. Colleges maybe do NOT any longer promote free speech, open debate, and critical thinking.
Antifa was and IS real, and was and IS dangerous, and it is Antifa where the actual fascism exists. The trope that the Right is tearing up our nation might have been true in the 1980’s/1990’s, but fast forward another 30-40 years and it’s the Left that must be feared.
Kirk wanted to talk, and not do violence…and then he was cruelly killed to prove him RIGHT.
But if Charlie Kirk can be remembered for a few things outside of what the screeching Left spews without tolerating dialogue, Kirk DID say that if we didn’t find a way for young people to find affordable housing and achieve promising employment, hopelessness would fuel the Left.
Kind of what we saw in a post-World War I, poverty-plagued Germany that allowed a National Socialist (a.k.a. Nazi, a.k.a. Left-wing) Party to take over, blame and kill the Jews amongst them, and march us all into a fascist Hell.
Sound familiar, New Yorkers?
So let’s acknowledge that violence is BAD, and that if myself and others can hear the liberal/progressive/Leftist points of view (of which I agree on a few key issues), certainly those on the other side of the political aisle can consider that maybe the conservative/libertarian/Rightist points of view should at least be spoken for debate.
Rest In Peace, Charlie Kirk, and while I didn’t agree with a lot of what you said I did want to at least consider the main thrust, and in the right context, of what you had to say.
And the rise of many in our nation, and throughout our world, and for people of all colors, who will take up your cause and find bravery and conviction in your sacrifice, will be the ultimate proof that your points of view were right in both your life and your fearless approach to death.
Discussion and debate are the answers to a free society, and empathy for those who are oppressed of all backgrounds, is the moral approach to moving forward…with religion being an important (and perhaps essential) factor for many of us in our moving forward as a society.
But picking up a gun and killing the person on “the other side” who you should just be talking to helps no one…and ultimately makes the that “other side” stronger than ever.
I doubt you were planning to be a martyr, Mr. Kirk, but here you are.
And here WE are.
If any of us want to pretend this will just go away, go ahead. But that’s not going to happen, and the smartest among us (of all political leanings) know that.
And if Charlie Kirk will end up as a Christ-like figure like John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, or Martin Luther King, Jr., then don’t blame Kirk.
Blame the fascist who killed Charlie Kirk, and in so doing proved Charlie Kirk absolutely, unquestionably, and fundamentally right.
(Kenneth S. Alpern, M.D, is a dermatologist who has served in clinics in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties, and is a proud husband and father. He was active for 20 years on the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) as a Board Member focused on Planning and Transportation, and helped lead the grassroots efforts of the Expo Line as well as connecting LAX to MetroRail. His latest project is his fictional online book entitled The Unforgotten Tales of Middle-Earth, and can be reached at[email protected]. The views expressed in this article are solely those of Dr. Alpern.)
