The great irony is that conservative commentator Charlie Kirk actively promoted political debate. He invited it. But hate has become an integral part of political debate in America. We - the people - must turn this trend of selling and buying hate around.
The biggest obstacle in changing America’s appetite for hate is overcoming the fact that hate is powerful. Hating the other political side has become a recreational sport in America and both sides are guilty. Even if one side is more at fault than another, whether real or perceived, the process of making hate the default emotion is wrong.
The hate that I speak of is not hate for someone who tried to hurt you or did something to you or your family. The hate that I speak of is hate based solely on an opposing opinion. When did we change and become a nation that does not tolerate opposing opinions?
Promoting hate and promoting the divide has succeeded in rallying people and creating a sense of unity behind a common enemy - the other side. The problem is the other side is also made up of Americans. It is said that every cause and the success of leaders rising to power require a common enemy. In the past, common enemies have been Hitler and Germany, Russian as the Soviet Union, and terrorists. While the threat of terrorism always exists, it is not a clear and present threat to average Americans today and so our common enemy is now us.
It doesn’t seem to take much to convince people to hate, but we need to do better at getting people to understand the most fundamental right in America - freedom of speech. We have the right to express opinions - opinions that you may hate. The challenge with freedom of speech is understanding that the freedom to express opinions that you may disagree with are as protected in society as the opinions you support. But that is not an easy message to spread when the talk media and social media benefit from spreading hate. But we must try.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, has been a voice of reason and calm in the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Cox, boldly speaking as a Republican, is rejecting the hate-driven premise that all the violent hate is coming from the left. Cox is asking anyone who celebrated the tragic shooting of Kirk to “look in the mirror and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere.” Cox denounces the MAGA influencers that are ramping up the rhetoric about the shooting being an act of war from the left. Elon Musk has been extremely divisive with his rhetoric.
Combating hate is difficult because hate for the other side can make a person feel like they stand for something and have meaning in their lives. It can make them feel a sense of righteousness and a strong sense of belonging. It is more difficult to try to resist the temptation to hate and to take time to think and assess the issue without being told what to think.
Can we reject those who are attempting to spread hate in honor of their side? I don’t know the answer. It is up to individual Americans who are willing to be individuals rather than sheep that follow a leader. It will be up to the individuals on talk media and social media who believe that we are better than who we are today and that we can learn to accept the opinions of others that we strongly disagree with. What is at stake is whether or not we continue to support one of the things that makes America different and makes America the great country we are supposed to be - the freedom to express opinions without a threat of violence.