StephSplits

I first met Charlie Kirk more than ten years ago. At that time, he was very young, and possessed an evangelical naivety that was relatively foreign to a Canadian. He was truly and somewhat amusingly shocked, for example, at the pervasive smell of marijuana on the streets of Toronto. It was obvious, however—despite that sheltered mien—that Charlie was someone deeply and singularly committed to a unique mission, and that he would be driven to learn everything necessary to its success. I met him in person another dozen times after that, and was asked to speak at a number of Turning Point events. I enjoyed the events. It was a very good thing to see thousands of enthusiastic young people trying to make things better in their somehow endearing conservative American way. It was also fascinating to watch Charlie develop in sophistication over the years. The bravery he showed in presenting a truly conservative viewpoint on university campuses was part of that development, as was the ferocious skill he developed at debating contentious issues, under trying conditions, for years. My wife, Tammy, and I met his lovely wife Erika with him on several private dinners. They made a truly admirable and mutually respectful couple. We had plans to make such meetings a regular occurrence—but life, and death, got in the way. I was not informed about Charlie's murder for several months after it occurred, in consequence of my recent illness. It came as a terrible shock. It is also truly awful to see what a spectacle has been made of his demise by pathological actors across the political spectrum. He was a solid, decent, hard-working, truthful, brave person. We are all—right and left alike—lesser without him. On the right: because he was an example and a leader. On the left: because he would willingly talk across the aisle, and in good faith. There will come a day—and too soon, I am afraid—when even those who vilify his memory will long for the days when people such as Charlie existed, and made such civilized talk a priority. I had the privilege to sit down with Charlie and talk with him about his life and the world not so many months before that was no longer possible: youtu.be/dP0TagcNvCg?si=F1fW… RIP Mr. Kirk. I write that in true sorrow.