The man, the myth, the legend, Charlie Kirk: I knew Charlie Kirk from the videos he would post on social media and the heated debates he would hold publicly, which most notably allowed people from the crowd to approach with any question or statement. My first impression was that this guy was really smart because of the way he was able to argue against any random topic someone brought to him, even though some of his thoughts were controversial. I continued to see him pop up on my ‘For You Page’ on Instagram but thought nothing of it. Then I heard on the news that he had taken down the entire Oxford debate team by himself, which is no easy feat. He also made it clear that he supported what Donald Trump was doing and that he believed in Jesus Christ. One of the reasons why nobody uses their freedom of speech isn’t because they physically can’t, but because of what other people might do to you. What Charlie Kirk was doing was literally showing the people of America that he was able to use his freedom of speech and show off what he personally believed in: his religion, his political views, and his thoughts on gender association. All three of those topics have been some of the most controversial, and he was openly talking about them. His message was that we should fight this social construct of political correctness and to stand up for what we feel is right, no matter the cost. Personally, I feel Charlie Kirk might have been the most courageous man alive in this generation, and everybody should strive to be like him.
Charlie Kirk will forever be remembered as a legend not only to the general public, but to me, a simple sophomore in high school. Kirk’s legacy has stirred thoughts in my mind about my own future and what kind of life I want to live, like how I want to be married and have two kids, or how I want to be more connected with my Jewish faith now that I can pursue it without the help of my parents. Personally, Charlie Kirk has made a space for growth in our youth that couldn’t have been possible without someone standing up to the attack on traditional American values and taking them head on, and this is the reason I think of him as a true hero.
What message did he give to my generation? Charlie Kirk made it well known that he was a devout Christian, but he made sure it was also known that “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). This short but complex phrase is referring to the start of it all, when Abraham was told to leave his family behind so that his seed could spread and be the start of a new nation (Genesis 12:1-3). The point of this is that Kirk’s message to my generation was that Jesus is the Lord and Savior, and if you are lost in life or need a lifeline then you can accept Jesus; this connects to the “Salvation is from the Jews” phrase because I personally am Jewish and Kirk’s continuous message of faith being a key role in life connects to me. Kirk had unwavering faith and held his hand held out to anybody who needed it.
In the Torah, we can see how God chose one nation, which the Jews assert as the truth. Picture in your mind, what it would look like if a giant spread the clouds apart and stared straight back down at not just you, but His whole world. He could see the sunny days of children frolicking with their friends, or the angry days of war raging across parts of the globe. How might this giant react to all this information, or how might he change our planet? The Torah (what the Christians call the Old Testament) also discusses and deals extensively with damnation and salvation. Did God jus’ go ahead and choose one nation for Hisself? Yup He did, that’s what the Jews contend.
We’ve all heard someone say “God damnit!” and we cringe when we hear it because it seems too petty to use such powerful language when annoyed. Or a little softer: “Damn it”! It also seems a little too harsh for the context, which is why it is called a swear word. Words have their respected connotations, but the gravity of the word can shift the mood of a sentence completely. Damnation — eternal punishment in hell — is seen in Christianity when talking about consequences to actions that are perceived as a sin, like lust or pride, murder or theft. When people are extremely annoyed, or when there is a close call, they will often curse “Jesus Christ!” Both of these uses of holy names are something that would offend Charlie and myself. So we can see that both Christians and Jews love and respect God.
A counter to damnation, is salvation, which means deliverance from a sin and its consequences. These two words are the Christian version of Yin and Yang not only because of their opposite counterparts but the description of light versus dark.
Though many think the reaction to the death of Charlie Kirk is simple – it isn’t.
The alleged shooter, seemingly aligned with LGBTQ+, is behind bars, awaiting trial.
But many are saying that there could be other forces at work here… We’ll have to wait and see.
The Christian right is being split in half as we speak, and the two sides are:
1. Christian Zionists – those who believe the USA and the state of Israel should always be aligned – they support AIPAC, the America Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is a political organization that raises $ for Israel, but it is not registered as a foreign powers lobby
2. America First Christian patriots who say that no state, even if it is the state of Israel, should have any undue influence over the USA (‘Murica) – these, the America First, do NOT support AIPAC and do not simplify their allegiance to Israel from a religious perspective. They want to maintain being allies with Israel, but they do not want any foreign nation having undue power and influence over the USA
#1 side is calling what #2 is doing “anti-semitism’ and the spears are flying!
This is going on behind the curtains of the Christian population in America currently and has caused conflicts between people like Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson, and this mystery has to do with AIPAC.
AIPAC is strange because it is the only political organization that has the power to influence the US government without financial constraints, and Christian Zionists think that it is acceptable for this to happen, while American First Christian Patriots believe they shouldn’t hold such power, and like all other political organizations, should have no influence over the beautiful USA. Ben Shapiro versus Tucker; Matt Walsh vs. Candace Owens, former friends and colleagues calling each other names… it is an interesting time for American conservatism.
Something both of these parties can agree on is the line “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3), but they agree for totally different reasons. Charlie Kirk, a few months before he was assassinated, texted a group, “I have no choice but to split with the pro-Israel lobby”. So he was moving towards team American First Christian Patriots, criticized the American/Israel dependence, even telling Tucker Carlson to “Go Max” in his speech about the topic. Christian Zionists responded by using the “antisemitism card” which led to even more of a head butting battle between the two. And the Jewish population is split too: Dan Smith and Max Blumenthal on one side, Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin on the other.
It is a very interesting and thought-provoking time – who knew that the death of Kirk could have such an impact on the American right?
The goal of this essay is to explore the ends of the discourse, not to make a case for either. Simple fact is that this discourse is splitting the American right in half. Regardless of who killed Charlie, the topic is interesting and worth writing about.
Six months after the death Charlie Kirk, he is still maintaining an influence in the media and in our politics. The point that he was making as well as the point I am making is that everybody has their view on life, religion, and events, but the main aspect that matters is how you demonstrate your view and the impact it will have on others, whether it is going out to colleges and speaking to the public or writing a short story. Personally, I will always put America first, and I know that other people might be against that idea, but it is my opinion and I am willing to take the step out to express it peacefully just like my hero Charlie Kirk did.
