Cancel Culture to Dehumanization Culture: In Tribute To My Friend, Charlie Kirk
A week ago, within hours of the evil murder of my friend, Charlie Kirk, with my fingers still shaking, I wrote a tribute to honor him. The tribute spread widely on social media platforms and in newspapers in Israel and the US, and it evoked an outpouring of love and support, which I am very grateful for.
But, alas, to my shocking dismay, it also unleashed a torrent of hatred with emails that compared Charlie to Joseph Goebbels, called President Trump “Hitler,” and mocked Charlie’s widow, Erika, and his children, with revolting language.
Charlie’s body has still not been laid to rest. Yet, this wave of inexplicable hatred is unashamedly spreading like wildfire, on the internet, in the media, and in far too many public venues, with political buffoons and late-night comedians shamelessly joining the chorus. And it seems as if the revolting “cancel culture” we live in has now been replaced by a far darker culture: the culture of dehumanization.”
But it must stop. Now. Immediately. If only, for the sake of our children and all generations to come.
And so, here are five guiding lessons that will, hopefully, help us heal and restore our society from the damage that has already been wrought upon it so recklessly.
1. “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under G-d, then we will be a nation gone under.” – Ronald Reagan
After 9/11, Americans stood as one. We remembered that, despite our many differences, we are all created in G-d’s image and we are all endowed with the G-d-given rights of life, liberty, and happiness.
Yet today, our unity is fractured by slander and partisan self-righteousness. And so, at this fateful moment in history, we must etch once more into our minds and hearts that we are indeed ‘one nation under G-d.’ And we must find a way to disagree without becoming disagreeable; to battle ideas without ever battling people; and to remember that those who are not created in our image are nonetheless created in His image.
Charlie embodied this. He welcomed debate. He handed microphones to those who opposed him. And he never treated disagreements with disrespect. And so must we.
2. “Love your fellow as yourself.” – Leviticus 19:18
It is beyond me how individuals, including many who pride themselves on being so ‘tolerant’, can swear allegiance, directly or indirectly, to fleeting political ideas over the enduring bonds of friends and family. Whatever happened to the paramount commandment of “love your fellow as yourself”? When did self-assuring powers become more sacred than human relationships?
In private conversations, Charlie always asked me about my family, my community, and how he could help. Politics never eclipsed the human being before him. For Charlie, love and respect were non-negotiables; they were his foundation. And so must they become ours.
3. “Hatred Hurts the Hater the Most.” – Madeline L’Engle
When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers after twenty-two years of betrayal and pain, they feared his revenge. Yet, instead of clinging to resentment, Joseph simply let go. And he reassured them that “it was not you who sent me here, but G-d” (Genesis 45:8).
For Joseph knew a timeless truth: hatred hurts the hater the most. To hold on to bitterness is to poison ourselves. To let go is to live free. Indeed, we cannot say hello to the freedoms of today if we cannot say goodbye to the hatreds of yesterday.
Charlie understood this. Although he was often mocked and attacked, he refused to sink into the abyss of hatred and resentment. Instead, he pushed forward with vision, clarity, and strength, seeking to bring light where there is darkness and hope where there is despair. And so must we.
4. “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” – Proverbs 18:21
The word for bee in Hebrew also means speech. The reason is profound: Words are like bees. If uttered positively, words, like bees, can produce honey. If not, words, like bees, can produce a burning sting.
We live in an age in which many feel compelled to voice their reaction to every story under the sun. But I beg to differ. Not every word is worth uttering. And not every post, is worth reposting. In the urge to react, our minds often take the back seat.
Charlie cherished words and chose them carefully. Whether before thousands at Utah Valley University or in a quiet one-on-one setting. He believed words could heal, teach, and unify. And he used them not to sting, but to sweeten. And so must we.
5. “Choose life, so that you and your children may live.” – Deuteronomy 30:19
The night Charlie was taken, he stood before thousands who believed in freedom. On a nearby rooftop stood his killer, devoted to death and destruction. The contrast could not be starker: Life vs. death. Light vs. darkness.
Charlie chose life. And he fought for freedom, faith, family, and the dignity of every human being. Though he was taken from us far too soon, his legacy now calls on each of us to also “choose life” as Moses commanded us, through acts of goodness and kindness.
It’s not enough to mourn Charlie’s murder and what it represents for our nation. We must also live his message: to remember that we are One Nation Under G-d in spite of our differences; to love one another as we love ourselves; to forgive and let go quickly; to speak with prudence and care; and to always choose life with deeds of goodness.”
Charlie stood for these ideals. And now, we must stand for these ideals too. Today. Tomorrow. And forever.
