Political Leanings Scrutinized in Wake of Charlie Kirk’s Tragic Death
In trying to understand the political or ideological inclinations of Tyler Robinson, the suspected killer of Charlie Kirk, I find myself at a loss. The scrutiny of his political leanings doesn’t hold much interest for me, as blame tends to fall globally on the corresponding side of the Political Spectrum. Past events spotlight that such atrocities have been committed across the broadest expanse of ideological differences. Therefore, my concern isn’t fixed on the potential fault placed on liberals for the murder, although it could politically harm the Democrats.
Nevertheless, it feels rather inappropriate to entertain these thoughts, given the meaningful loss experienced in the wake of Kirk’s death. He leaves behind a family — a wife and two young children. The pain they must be enduring, having witnessed this horrific act, is unimaginable. This tragic event would also have rocked their extended family, friends, and professional community.
After reading the recent report, I have come to believe that large media outlets, such as The Free Press, are promoting the importance of faith as a possible antidote to the problems facing society. It is undeniable that the world is currently grappling with various challenges, but an interesting counter-argument emerges in the comparison to 1350. Around this time, the majority of the Western world was deeply religious, usually of Christian faith, but it was also a time of short life expectancy and rampant health issues, such as dying at 35 from a tooth infection (assuming you still had any teeth left).
In a recent survey conducted by YouGov, participants were asked: ‘Do you think it’s ever legitimate for citizens to resort to violence to attain political objectives?’ Fascinatingly, a quarter (25%) of self-identified ‘very liberal’ respondents confirmed, ‘Yes, violence can sometimes be justified.’ In contrast, a mere 3% of self-labelled ‘very conservative’ respondents expressed the same view. These findings may adjust one’s perspective.
Every society, knowingly or otherwise, is centred around a sacred framework. This is not constrained to Christianity, but can also embrace Islamic, Hindu, or Taoist contexts, or even ancestor veneration or worship of pagan deities like Odin. Essentially, every culture has a symbolic seat of reverence or authority, and the entity occupying that seat dictates societal norms and behaviours.
Not so long ago, I focused on a story that captured my attention, that of Ghost, a giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini). Ghost produced an array of unfertilized eggs at an aquarium in California, dutifully tending to them, with full knowledge that this would ultimately lead to her demise.
Emasculating as it may seem, upon laying their eggs (which happens uniquely once in their lifetime), octopuses forgo eating, setting a course that eventually culminates in death by starvation. Thus, Ghost finds herself on this tragic path, faced with a destiny measuring in mere months, or potentially even weeks.
Her plight has so captured the hearts of spectators that she has received a surge of compassion and sympathy from all quarters. This outpouring of affection from her fans underscores the shared empathy people can feel for creatures they likely will never meet but can connect with on a profound emotional level.