Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk was a pioneer of modern American conservative politics. He played a major role in securing Trump’s victory back in 2024, and his influence on Gen Z has been undeniable – completely reshaping how my generation engages with politics. The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a personal tragedy, but also a national tragedy. Whether you agreed with his views or not, this moment in history calls for reflection on how we can honor his legacy. We should not retreat in the fear and chaos of political violence, and we should not lose the confidence that Kirk has instilled, but instead continue his work in our own lives.
Kirk’s courage was unwavering. He openly voiced his conservative opinions in environments that were often hostile to such stances, like college campuses. That boldness is a quality we all should take in. Kirk inspired young conservatives to articulate and defend their views in respectful debate, and his message to my generation was small, but powerful: young people determine the future of American politics and Western civilization. Between 2020 and 2024, Kirk raised support from over 47% of voters aged 18-29. He showed us that we could contribute to a cause and drive change.
Considering how the man was constantly engulfed in controversy, and didn’t seem to crumble under all the fear and pressure, you might ask: why was Kirk so unapologetically critical and outspoken in addressing liberal ideology? To answer that question, we should look at Kirk’s takedown of Critical Race Theory. This discipline’s etiology can be traced back to the foundational framework of Derrick Bell, who characterized American society as inherently racist and divided between the oppressor whites and the victim blacks. Racism, according to Bell’s Critical Race Theory, is everywhere and cannot be removed from society. There are several pillars of this concept, including intersectionality (the practice of identifying one’s disadvantage and thereby positioning oneself as a victim) and the inevitability of racism. Kirk saw such a way of thinking as “a mind virus”, a poison to the minds of Americans. To him, the solution is common sense. Racism can be stopped, not through equity and redistribution (which will only amplify these thoughts), but through ceasing discussions of race. We all have possibly seen Morgan Freeman’s reaction to Mike Wallace: “I’m going to ask you to stop calling me a black man. I know you as Mike Wallace. You know me as Morgan Freeman”. Charlie said enough already! Shake off this stupid obsession and quit being victims.
What inspired me the most from his story was how he came from nearly nothing. Kirk embodied the American dream. At just 18 years old, Kirk, who had “no money, no connections and no idea what [he] was doing”, founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA from an Illinois garage. I admire his entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to take risks, and courage to fight for something that he genuinely cared about. A lot of young people don’t have the guts to do something of that caliber. Kirk worked hard to get to where he was, and that required grit and passion.
Kirk was a husband, father, believer, activist, patriot, visionary, and an American – just like all of us. We can honor Charlie Kirk through carrying forth his example – to be bold, unafraid, and to remember that the future of our country relies on young people to stand up and continue fighting for what we believe in.