Introduction: A Community Moment
This Sunday, our community will gather at the Blue Fox Theatre in Grangeville to watch the memorial service for Charlie Kirk — a man whose voice, love for country, and fearless conviction inspired millions. This is more than a service for one man. It’s a moment for us, as Americans, to pause and reflect on the dangerous climate we are living in — a climate where political violence is becoming normalized, and where too many in the media treat tragedy as just another opportunity for hot takes.
Remembering Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk was many things: a son, a husband, a friend, a leader who spoke plainly and unapologetically about freedom, faith (even if you’re not religious, you can respect someone who lives by principle), and the rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. Whether you agreed with him on every issue or not, his life’s work was devoted to empowering young Americans to love this country and engage with its future.
His assassination was not just an attack on one man — it was an attack on the very idea that we can speak freely, challenge power, and hold different views without fearing for our lives.
The Dangerous Game of Dismissing Violence
In the days following this tragedy, some voices in the media decided to focus on humanizing the killer rather than grieving the man who was lost. Some even treated the event like a punchline. This isn’t journalism — it’s moral bankruptcy.
You don’t have to be religious to know that human life is sacred. There should be no “but” after condemning murder. When a young man is gunned down in cold blood, the first instinct should be outrage and mourning, not spin or smug commentary.
What This Moment Demands
Charlie Kirk stood for courage in the face of cancel culture, censorship, and coordinated campaigns to silence dissent. His death should remind us that these battles are not abstract — they are personal, they are real, and they require all of us to engage.
This is a time for resolve.
- Resolve to speak truth even when it’s unpopular.
- Resolve to reject violence — no matter who it is aimed at.
- Resolve to build communities that can debate fiercely but still value life.
Gathering Together
We invite you to join friends, neighbors, and fellow Idahoans this Sunday at the Blue Fox Theatre to watch Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. Show up. Bring someone with you. Take part in a moment of unity that transcends politics and reminds us that the fabric of our nation is worth defending.
Closing Thought
Charlie Kirk believed in America’s promise. The question now is whether we do. Will we shrug our shoulders and scroll past yet another tragedy — or will we stand up, speak out, and work toward a country where no one is targeted for what they believe?
This Sunday, let’s remember Charlie Kirk not only with tears, but with action.
Written by Mary Mangold, ICRCC Communications Chair
