OPINION:
Last week, we were confronted with images almost too horrific to bear. First came the haunting video of a young, defenseless woman’s murder at the hands of a savage career criminal. Then came the shocking murder of Charlie Kirk, gunned down in cold blood, execution-style, on an American college campus, targeted for his sincerely held conservative, Christian beliefs.
Charlie Kirk was not just another talking head in a crowded political landscape. He was a family man, a believer and a warrior for thousands of young Americans who can attribute their ideological foundation to his debates. Through conferences, forums and other events, he taught young adults to stand courageously for truth on battlegrounds the conservative movement had all but abandoned: American college campuses. He championed free speech, whether you agreed with him or not, and encouraged an entire generation to love God, family and country above all else. His voice was unique, but his cause was profoundly American.
I had the honor of meeting Charlie years ago. He was one of the finest young men I have ever encountered: principled, fearless and deeply committed to his faith. He truly believed that following Christ might one day cost him everything. Now, America is mourning because we understand what he truly was: a Christian martyr who stood firm in his faith to the very end. My heart breaks for his wife, his family and a nation that desperately needed his voice.
Still, his death demands that we look beyond one man. It forces us to confront the question: What kind of country will we be? America’s sacred democratic principle of free speech is now forever stained by the blood of Charlie Kirk. We live in a nation where a bold voice can be brutally assassinated before his loved ones and the world, only for factions of the radical left to celebrate such an act of savagery. While millions of Americans prayed for a miracle that somehow Charlie might survive, others abandoned even the most basic sense of human dignity.
One commentator sneered, “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.” Another rationalized, “You can’t have awful words and not expect awful actions to happen.” That is not political discourse. That is a sick, twisted justification for political violence, and it should scare every single one of us that this wasn’t just an attack on one man; it was an attack on the very values we hold dear.
Charlie’s murder is not just a tragedy; it is also a turning point. What kind of republic should we leave to future generations: one anchored in our founding principles and respectful discourse, or a fractured society spiraling into tribal chaos, where political disagreement is met not with debate but violence?
We all must reject this path of no return and choose to reaffirm the God-given values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that have long defined America as a beacon of hope.
Charlie’s life was dedicated to those principles. His legacy is a challenge to us all: Will we stand firm in defense of freedom, even when it is difficult? Will we raise our voices louder in the face of fear? Will we live with the same unshakable faith that he did, believing God can bring redemption out of even the darkest hour?
America’s soul is being tested. We cannot fail this test. For Charlie, for his family and for the future of this nation, we must stand unafraid, unbowed and unbroken, knowing that truth will prevail and that the light of Christ shines brightest in the darkness.
• Rep. Brian Babin represents Texas’ 36th Congressional District. He was sworn into the 114th Congress on Jan. 6, 2015. Mr. Babin is chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
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