Words above lead: America must change

The death of Charlie Kerk is tragic. Any loss of life for armed violence is. But what amazes me most is not only sadness, but the defect. In the coming weeks, his story will dominate addresses, panels, and air waves. His face will be on each screen, and an endless anatomy. However, just two weeks ago, two children were shot at the Catholic Gospel School and have already been killed, and their names may already fade from the memory.

Everything is one and itself: the life that ended with bullets in a country where violence has become routine. But we will act as if it was one more important life – not because it was more important than these children, but because his death was higher. This is the scene of political violence.

This does not mean that Charlie Kirk deserves this fate. He did not. Violence never justifies. But we cannot ignore that his death fits with the narration of American culture wars. On the front lines of many of the issues that divided us. He flourished in the friction of division, even if his intentions are pure. And in America today, popular populism corresponds to. This is the dangerous cycle in which we live.

Do not make mistakes, the left was not innocent in this. Democrats, also, contributed greatly to the division cycle. But this is not about digging the blame or maintaining the result. It comes to the survival of civil society itself, as the political conflict must remain in the world of speech, not bloodshed.

This is not different from what we have already seen. Recently, two politicians have been killed in Minnesota. Before that, Donald Trump escaped with an assassination attempt. These are not isolated events. These are symptoms of the same disease: a nation in which political violence, which could not be conceived, is routine.

It is often said that the definition of madness does the same thing over and over again and expects different results. So we make structural changes, this course will continue. Now, I am concerned not only that it will continue, but its pace and scale will grow.

In 2023 alone, more than 46,000 Americans were killed by guns, the third highest number ever, according to the Center for Disease Control. About 18,000 murders, suicide, accidents or unspecified. The Archives of Violence with weapons also follow more than 600 mass shoots that year, or nearly two days a day.

Against these numbers, one story should not be surprised anymore. However, every time, we act shocked.

If the violence is uncompromising, then our democracy must be stronger. This begins by remembering what distinguishes America from each other: the priority of words on weapons.

We have a preliminary amendment in this country. Words should be answered with words, not lead. James Madison wrote that freedom of expression was not only a right, but “the guardian of every other right.” To forget that is to undermine the idea of ​​America itself.

A recent poll found that 66 percent of Americans believe that political violence represents a threat to democracy, but nearly a quarter believes that he may be justified in some cases. This is the way to ruin. It proves that the danger is not only in our weapons, but in our minds, in the slow erosion of the borders that has ever kept the political conflict in the world of speech.

I want to take one point of the division that appeared immediately after Kirk’s death, when the Chairman of the Board of Directors called Mike Johnson the moment of prayer in Congress. Democrats rejected it, and the Republicans were angry. But here we must remember our constitution. The condition of establishing the first amendment that prevents government institutions from supporting or imposing religious expression. This does not prevent private prayer, but it prevents Congress from appearing with the distinction of one faith, leader or moment of worship on others. To really honor Kerk’s legacy, we must respect the constitution itself, even when it contradicts the beliefs it has often declared.

Perhaps this is the moment for all of us to return and read the founding words of our fathers, the basis and the philosophy of this country.

George Washington, in a farewell speech, warned of “the soul of the party”, who said that he would pay attention to the public councils and the communicable government. Abraham Lincoln has warned that America would fall, it will not be foreign enemies but from the inside, through our self -destruction.

After more than two centuries, we live in the world they warned.

I do not claim that I have an answer at the level of politics. I don’t think anyone does. But we need to look at everything objectively, whether it means stronger rifle laws, better support for mental health, the most cruel criminal penalties, or the reform of political discourse.

What I can say is: Go to someone with different opinions and tell them that you respect their opinions. Tell them that this needs to stop. Tell them that we should start placing the country on the party and conducting a civil conversation on this issue. There is nothing wrong with agreeing to the difference. It is not acceptable to give up respect.

We must demand better. This is the United States, the greatest country in the world. We are a melting crucible, and the differences will always exist. But we must never forget that we are Americans first – this is how the nation survives.

Corey Kvasnick is a businessman, an investor, an improved and a contributor to common wild thinking.