Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.
When asked what type of government was created by the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin replied “A republic, if you can keep it.” This well- known comment, could not be more relevant than it is today. While threats from other countries have occurred and are still occurring, the threat Franklin was referring to was from within. For our country to survive as founded, it must have people who not only recognize threats, but are willing to stand up and fight for freedom. Charlie Kirk, was one such prominent freedom warrior.
Marxism, since its founding in the 1800s, has been a continuing threat to all freedom loving people. Essentially, Marxism encourages people to group themselves into the oppressors and the oppressed and also, importantly, sanctions the use of whatever means necessary to overthrow the so-called oppressors. The fact that all Marxist countries are notorious for taking away individual freedoms and establishing oppressive regimes (e.g. Russia, China, North Korea, etc.) is ignored by those who follow Marxist principles. The largest mass killings of their own people were committed by Marxist governments such as Russia and China. After WWII, the people in this country recognized and resisted the threat of communism. Increasingly, many of the people in our country are leaning more to the left, as can be seen by the support for an avowed Marxists Zohran Mamdani in NYC, Congresswoman Cortez, and Bernie Sanders. Charlie Kirk recognized this threat and created Turning Point USA to defeat it. He appealed to the rational side of human nature–not the emotional side as the Marxists do. He was willing to debate all-comers and did so in a non-defensive manner. His slogan was “Prove me wrong!” Unfortunately, most of those on the left do not want rational debate which they cannot win, so they hurl insults and use hateful labels against their political opponents. Recent polling shows that left leaning people are much more likely to accept violence as a way of dealing with their opponents. This is especially troubling since it occurs on college campuses where one would hope that rational debate would be the ideal.
Charlie Kirk was also not afraid to state and defend his religious beliefs. In fact, he acknowledged that his Christian faith was the basis for his political stance and the motivation behind is effort to challenge destructive Marxist indoctrination. It must be remembered that Marxism is anti-religion in any form. In fact, Marxists endorse what is called nihilism, which essentially states that life has no meaning and that there are no absolute morals. Basically, one is free to do whatever one wants without guilt. It is impossible to imagine a law abiding, successful culture without any guidelines on behavior and no accepted right or wrong. One can see this thinking in those who believe in unrestricted abortion and especially in transgenderism where not even one’s sex is predetermined. This philosophy leads to hopelessness, depression, and lack of conscience, which we are seeing in the senseless killings, many of which are by transgenders and other disturbed individuals. Charlie Kirk fought against this destructive philosophy by including Christianity in his appeal to younger people.
Another traditional value that Charlie Kirk emphasized was the importance of the nuclear family and the raising of children. Marxism discourages the traditional family, since they want people to rely on the government not family. This enables them to more easily control people. Charlie challenged men to get married and assume the traditional role of a man as the breadwinner, leader and protector of wife and children. He realized that the declining birthrate in America would eventually be its undoing, as has happened to many earlier civilizations such as Rome. Marriage and raising a family are the natural order of things that is rejected by the Left, leading many people to live lonely, disconnected, and unfulfilled lives. The Bible also supports the idea of being fruitful and multiplying.
The Left is always accusing the conservative right of being dangerous because of their affinity for guns and the Second Amendment. The truth is that the Leftists are the actual fomenters of violence. Not only with actual or attempted assassinations, but as one can see, by comparing the reactions to the death of George Floyd and Charlie Kirk. George Floyd was a multiple offender who refused to obey the legitimate command of law enforcement officers responding to the commission of a crime. The result was months of riots, burnings, robberies and taking over parts of cities. Many deaths and injuries, as well as billions of dollars in property damage, were the result. Charlie Kirk, a law-abiding father of two who was engaging in rational debate on a college campus, did nothing wrong except hold beliefs opposed to by the left. The reaction by conservatives has been vigils, prayer services, and memorials to a true patriot. Actually, this comparison is all one needs to know about the true threat to our republic. Over 50,000 media posts have celebrated the assassination of someone who did nothing but stand up for American principles and his religious faith. Things the Left cannot stand.
To respect the legacy of Charlie Kirk, we conservatives must show the same courage and convictions that he did. We cannot allow ourselves to be silenced. We must speak out as well as take action to rid ourselves of the Leftist ideology that is destroying our country. Getting involved and staying active in conservative organizations like the Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association, supporting Turning Point USA, and attending school board meetings are some ways we can fight back against the Left. Because many of our universities are controlled by Leftist administrators and professors, I would like to see the Trump administration require all institutions receiving federal money, to balance the percentage of staff that are Left leaning with equal numbers of conservatives. Although extreme, it is going to take innovative action to reclaim the universities that are indoctrinating our children to hate America. Patriotism and love of country must be restored.
