Letter to the Editor - Livingston: Living in a post-Kirk reality

The memorial service for Charlie Kirk was held in Arizona this past Sunday. Around 95,000 people, including President Trump and Vice President Vance, were present to pay their respects to the late political activist. When I first heard the news of gunshots and his subsequent death, I was stunned and disheartened. Everything felt unreal and almost dystopian. A sea of speculation and rumors spread like wildfire around the internet, including inside my circles both on and outside campus. Footage of the event also made the rounds, which made my stomach turn and my heart sink.
The assassination of Kirk should be an inflection point on our national dialogue. No one should live in fear of speaking their mind, even those with whom we strongly oppose. This includes Kirk, whose past words and actions were problematic and marred by controversy. We must strongly condemn not only those who celebrate this tragic event, but also those who weaponize it as an excuse for violence and generalization.

I send my deepest prayers and condolences to Mrs. Kirk, the two young children he leaves behind, all those who are affected by this tragic event and the greater gun violence epidemic.
I am a person from South Dakota whose beliefs align mostly with those of the Democratic Party. I am no stranger to having conservative family, friends, and neighbors. But there is a reason “conservative” is only used as a descriptor, and not as a placeholder for their identities. Yes, it can be very hard to see it that way sometimes, but at the end of the day, we do have shared values that go beyond our politics. As South Dakotans, we believe in the power of hard work, humility, and showing up for those around you.
The same thing can be said about our country. Yes, America is a boiling pot comprised of rich and diverse peoples and cultures, all who strengthen our national fabric in their own unique way.
At the same time, we are Americans. We have a shared past and destiny. Knowing this, we are all responsible for fostering an environment of open, spirited, and respectful discourse. We must hold accountable those who attempt to tear us apart. Most importantly, we cannot shy away from seeking the human in everyone we interact with.

It is a crazy and unpredictable world we live in. For me, I am taking it day by day. I am allowing myself to unplug from the headlines of the day and the algorithms that drive us down these dark paths and poison our discourse. Social media thrives off sensationalist content that can evoke the strongest reactions of its viewers. I encourage you to seek out reputable, balanced, and high-quality news sources, as mis and disinformation continues to plague our media diets and political discourse

 I am also trying to stay close and routinely check in with my people. Everyone needs those who can keep you grounded and can pick you up when you fall. Many of those who carry out these heinous acts of political violence dealt with mental health issues, with loneliness and isolation often being a root cause. Loneliness continues to be an epidemic among our generation and can lead these individuals to find community in dangerous and violence-inducing places, particularly on the internet. We must invest more into mental health resources and advocate for those around us to seek out said resources they need.
I remain optimistic about our future, because if we are not, we allow these dark forces and bad actors to reign over our democracy. We have been through dark chapters like this throughout our nation’s history, but good has always prevailed. I am hopeful this streak will continue. We must not lose our humanity at this moment.

Ben Livingston

Mankato, Minn.