Last November, I wrote a “Letter to America” in the wake of the polarization brought about by the 2024 election (https://www.scituation.net/opinions/2024/11/08/letter-to-america)
This letter, which was written in response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, is my unexpected sequel to that piece.
Dear America,
I’m begging you. Stop fighting.
Political violence itself is abhorrent–a symbol for a crumbling democracy. Yet, something about Charlie Kirk’s assassination during his American Comeback Tour makes the tragedy more than heart-wrenching–it’s chilling. He left two children under four behind, which is upsetting in itself, but what is most concerning is who he was: a private citizen, silenced for practicing his right to the freedom of speech.
On college campuses, Kirk aimed to encourage respectful dialogue. He said, “What we as a culture have to get back to is being able to have a reasonable disagreement where violence is not an option.” His virality on social media stemmed from his openness to debate anyone, asking students to step up to the microphone and challenge his far-right views. TurningPoint USA’s work on college campuses across the country to preserve dialogue–although controversial–makes it easy to call his death a “blatant attack” on free speech, as the New York Post did. So, I will go one step further and call this what it is: a warning, for Republicans and Democrats–especially at the top–to take a step back.
Today, the polarization I assessed in my first Letter to America is having significant repercussions. Last year, President Trump was almost assassinated–twice; in June, two democratic lawmakers were killed in their Minnesota homes; and now Charlie Kirk was murdered in cold blood with his family in the front row. These moments should be wake-up calls for the American people to come together, but instead, they have repeatedly been used to accelerate polarization.
Upon hearing the news, a select few on social media and in our own community laughed, celebrated, and expressed joy over the death of a husband, father, and commentator they disagreed with politically.
On the House floor, a call to prayer from Rep. Lauren Boebert was met with resistance by Democrats, so Rep. Anna Paulina of Florida took it upon herself to blame Democrats on the House floor for his murder.
On Thursday, MSNBC fired political correspondent Matthew Dowd for comments implying Kirk deserved the bullet for his hateful views, while President Trump blamed the “demonizing” media for the shooting during his address to the nation.
Polarizing rhetoric is deadly. The death of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University must not be used as a rallying cry for Republicans, a celebration for an apathetic, outright inhumane minority, nor a solemn, fleeting moment for Democrats. It must be taken as a warning for what is to come if we are not able to unite as an American people through productive, respectful dialogue.
I write this letter from a place of sadness, confusion, and fear for Charlie Kirk, his family, and this nation. More importantly, I write this letter to express hope that one day my generation can live in a house united–held together with discourse over duress, as Charlie Kirk and other victims of political violence envisioned.
With Hope, Sadness, and Sincerity,
Mason Alvarez
SHS Class of 2026