I had no idea, a couple of weeks ago, who Charlie Kirk was. When the news of his assassination came, I asked “who is that?”. To be clear, his death is a tragic event, and the impact on his family is lifelong. They will never have him back. That is tragic.

As I have started to learn about him, I have listened to the Good Faith podcast, talked to some of his “followers” and have his book on hold at the library. It is clear that he was a polarizing personality. And his death illustrates how much violence is in the USA culture. On the same day he died there was a school shooting, and since then, there have been other shootings, including the LDS event.

Elizabeth Neumann, was in the first Trump administration as part of Homeland Security. Ms. Neumann discusses her research on violence in culture and how it is evolving. Of course, the rampant supply of guns is not helping, but she also points to lonely men, deep into gaming, with a view of the world that puts the blame for their particular struggle on an individual. She points out that violence used to be against a building or an organization. Think civil rights or the demonstrations against the Vietnam War.

At Charlie Kirk’s funeral, just when his widow forgave the shooter, The President stood to talk about his hate of his enemies. And then just yesterday he spoke about using the military to attack the enemy within.

Elizabeth Neumann talks about how this language of speaking of the other side as the enemy just creates further fuel for the environment we are in.

Do I think Charlie Kirk was a great man? I don’t think so, but I didn’t know him and don’t think I have an interest in knowing his work or words. Having said that, there are followers of Kirk and Trump within Canadian borders and that should trouble us.

And again, in the address of DJT to the Generals, he referred to Canada as the 51st State. I think you should keep your eyes on the border.