You did not need to know Charlie Kirk to mourn him. Like others before him, who had the unique ability to create a movement and gather thousands, if not millions, to follow his lead — agree or disagree with his opinions — he was extraordinary. He believed it was important to debate ideas and listen to the opposing view point. He believed that open dialogue was powerful and persuasive. He believed that silence equals indifference. If you do not care enough to discuss an issue, do you care? What do we do when our nation, community, or family just stops talking?
I met Charlie Kirk only once, but in those 20 minutes he tried to convince me not to send our girls to college. When I disagreed, he asked me to defend my position. It was pretty great. I learned something from him even in that short amount of time. I will miss him. And now, something has changed.
Some might say people are too passionate on both sides of the aisle. I would disagree. Apathy has become an easy off ramp to facing challenges. I’ve heard this comment from members of my own family: “I don’t want to get involved. It is too much to care — to put myself out there.” True, it takes energy to have the conversation. Charlie seemed to have an endless supply of it. And, most sorrowfully, people cheered his death — even students. Did they know him? I don’t think so. It caused me to wonder. And then I was reminded of an old song from the musical South Pacific:
“Carefully Taught”
You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear
You’ve got to be taught from year to year
It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught
You’ve got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a diff’rent shade
You’ve got to be carefully taught
You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late
Before you are six or sеven or eight
To hate all thе people your relatives hate
You’ve got to be carefully taught
Love is quite different
It grows by itself
It will grow like a weed on a mountain of stones
You don’t have to feed or put fat on its bones
It can live on a smile or the note of a song
It may starve for a while, but it stumbles along
Stumbles along with its honor unfurled
The joy and the beauty, the hope of the world.
Rogers and Hammerstein nailed it. This is not a criticism of parents, because sadly, I think today’s teachers are social media. It is infecting the minds and hearts of our youth. We know this. Yes, they are being “carefully taught.” I refuse to believe any young person would actually celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk or anyone.
What did they think about Charlie, and why? What did the internet “teach” them? Is this the source of all truth now? I have not stopped thinking about it. It’s dizzying to contemplate the rabbit hole that is social media. There are a plethora of “teachers” now. How can we be the voice they hear? If I could ask those who cheered Charlie’s death I would ask, “Do you think this is good for America?” Maybe they would have no answer because maybe they don’t know what America is. What are the ideas that make up America and why are they so important? Are we raising the next generations of patriots? Charlie talked with students, and he challenged the status quo. Like with me, he asked them to defend their position. When it comes to our shared history, there seem to be so few young people who even know what to defend.
Some people liked Charlie, and some did not. Both opinions are fair. But, if young people were excited about his fate, then it is time to “teach our children well.”
At the end of Candide, Voltaire surmises that maybe the best we can do is to tend to our own garden. I used to think, “No, that is not enough. Surely, we must do more.” But, now, I feel that is an excellent beginning.
Annette Ross is a Covenant resident and member of the Rancho Santa Fe School District Board of Trustees.