I’ve never done this before. The idea of having to eulogize a news/talk radio show after he’s been senselessly murdered isn’t something I’ve planned for. So, please know that my intention here is to honor Charlie Kirk, and if I make some missteps along the way, know they were completely unintentional.
Charlie Kirk was, conceivably, shot and killed on Wednesday afternoon for his political beliefs. That’s abhorrent, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.
We’ve seen tragedies like this happen before. And there’s generally a cycle that accompanies them. We’re shocked, we’re outraged, we’re filled with grief, we look for a boogeyman, and then we move on to the next major breaking story. I’ve seen it a thousand times, and so have you.
To be frank, I rarely agreed with Charlie Kirk, whether it be politically, socially, or spiritually. He simply believed things I don’t. That just makes us different. And as I’ve written time and time again, different isn’t bad, different just means different. But I have great respect for Kirk, both the man and the news/talk radio host. Because of the qualities he held personally and professionally.
Charlie Kirk fought to be able to have dialogue with the other side of the political aisle. Many on both sides clamor for that, saying that it’s desperately needed in this hot-tempered climate that we are in today (and is, frankly, only likely to grow even hotter after this). But he actually got off his ass and did it. That’s admirable as all get out, from where I sit. Instead of sitting around saying “Someone should do something about this,” he realized, “I’m someone.”
There should be more of that, not just in the news/talk radio or news media space, but in the world.
He sat out to have the conversations that no one else would have. To tackle the subjects that few others would dare. Plenty of news media members will tell you that they’re “fearless.” But few were as unafraid as Charlie Kirk. He routinely would go into the proverbial lion’s den to talk about the subjects others were too fearful to approach. Even when he knew his statements would be unpopular and poorly received, he did it anyway.
Whether it was going on college campuses or appearing with other hosts like Bill Maher, Kirk would go into those unpopular settings, share his opinions, and be unconcerned with how they were received.
There should be more of that, not just in the news/talk radio or news media space, but in the world.
Free speech is a hot-button topic today. Not just politically, but in every facet of life. Censorship and authoritarianism are on the rise. Too many people take the stance of “If you’re not with me, you’re against me.” And while there was certainly some of that with the Salem Radio Network host and Turning Point USA founder, I don’t believe I can remember a situation where he even got close to the line of infringing on someone else’s free speech.
There should be more of that, not just in the news/talk radio or news media space, but in the world.
Furthermore, Charlie Kirk stood — firmly — for what he believed in. There were no wishy-washy, depends-on-who-I’m-talking-to sentiments from Kirk. He was all-in, all the time. Right or wrong, agree or disagree with him, he was a man of principles. He believed what he believed — strongly — and was uncompromising. It is easy to hold unchallenged beliefs. But few, if anyone, had their beliefs challenged as often or voraciously as Charlie Kirk.
There should be more of that, not just in the news/talk radio or news media space, but in the world.
I say all of that to say: Don’t let the death of Charlie Kirk also allow his spirit to die. I think it’s insanely fair to be frightened to pick up where someone who was just senselessly murdered — for the whole world to see — left off. But, in my opinion, the qualities I’ve mentioned here make the world a better place. And whether or not you agreed with Kirk, that always certainly appeared to be his objective. That mantle deserves to be carried forward.
Don’t get me wrong, Charlie Kirk was not a perfect man. By any stretch of the imagination. There were all sorts of reasons to be critical of him. But when you choose to see the good in someone, you see the good in plenty of other things, too. See the good. Be the good.
If you think the actions of the shooter who took the life of the 31-year-old husband and father of two — and it’s my opinion that you absolutely should — were loathsome and despicable, I challenge you to rise above. Because few commentators over the course of the past few years had been denigrated the way Charlie Kirk had. And, almost universally, he rose above. He would rarely stoop to the level of those attacking him.
That’s a hell of a legacy to leave. I just wish he didn’t have to leave it so soon.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
I personally loved the “he wasn’t a perfect man” because that’s one way to put it. yikes.