In the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, there has been much discussion regarding the topic of free speech in the United States and other democracy-loving countries. With some European countries, including Great Britain, arresting and fining their citizens for stating opinions that conflict with the ‘official state position’ and some on the radical Left celebrating Kirk’s death because his words were ‘hurting’ people, now is the time to re-commit ourselves and our country to that critical freedom that is the foundation of all our freedoms.

The famous quote, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”, is a sentiment that all of us need to be willing to profess and then be prepared to sacrifice for, even with our lives. As rational creatures, we have the incredible ability to logically process information and to learn, both individually and as a society. The United States of America is the greatest nation in the world due in no small part to the freedom of fantastically intelligent individuals to debate important topics and then to develop a reasoned consensus to advance civilization. 

This freedom of debate does not depend on people being kind, or thoughtful, or considerate, or respectful. Although those attributes would make for a more comfortable conversation, they are not at all a requirement in making positive advancements as a society. In fact, one only needs to listen to those who hurl insults or other vile sentiments in order to quickly dismiss whatever arguments follow. In many cases, our country moved slowly in finding consensus on very important topics, but the process of dialogue combined with the safety and security of the First Amendment allows for that progress. 

We can all agree that there are limitations to freedom of speech. As the adage goes, you cannot yell ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theater if there is no fire as people are sure to suffer physical injuries and possibly death from the ensuing stampede. Similarly, if our words (or social media posts) advocate destruction of property or injury or death to others, our law enforcement agencies have an obligation to pursue those individuals and possibly seek prison time or other punishment.

But what if the words are inflammatory and less concrete. For example, what if an individual or a group of people heighten the rhetoric to include phrases like, ‘She’s a Hitler tyrant that must be stopped!’, or ‘He will bring a genocide on our country so we must fight back!’, or ‘We will hit you and hit you hard if you pass that bill!’ As those words have been used in recent times in our country, this demonstrates a lack of understanding of the English language, a gross ignorance of history, and/or an intentional use of hyperbole to insight action. To the extent that these dangerous exaggerations lead mentally confused individuals to commit acts of violence and murder, we must discuss to what extent these groups are responsible for the act. When in doubt, however, we must default to, ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,’ as difficult as that may be.

As we reassert our right to free speech, we cannot be kowtowed by those who say that anyone who might offend or hurt someone’s feelings must be silenced. If someone says that a man cannot become a woman (a belief that has been held for millennia and is backed by hundreds of years of scientific data) that is not ‘hate speech’. If you believe otherwise, let’s bring those discussion points to the public forum and let’s walk through the validity of those arguments. If you are unable to develop a cogent argument to defend or advance your opinion, you may need to rethink your position on a particular topic. And yes, we must acknowledge that the words someone else uses might be offensive and insulting to me or to those close to me. If I am confident in who I am as a child of God, words can only hurt me if I allow them to.

And for those who are so full of hate and anger towards those who espouse opinions different than yours, you must ask yourself what is missing in your heart or soul that makes room for those emotions. Although we must all work toward making the world a better place, the world will always be less than perfect; the government, social media opinions, or some trendy radical worldview will never bring peace or contentment to your life. Our journey is a short one, so look to God first, and then look to improve your corner of the world with His guidance.

Whether you agree with Charlie Kirk or are adamantly opposed to his viewpoints, we must use the tragedy of his assassination to collectively recommit ourselves to defending each other in our right to speak freely. Let us reject conventional wisdom by talking about politics and religion with those we encounter. Be kind, be respectful, but be truthful and direct. We can make this country and this world a better place, but it will be through reasoned discussions, not emotion-filled violence.