Yesterday’s memorial service in Glendale, Arizona for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk brought into crystal clarity the defining difference between America's political left and right.
Charlie saw violence and division in the world, and answered with communication — with friendly debate, the exchange of ideas. His murderer didn't like Charlie's message, and his answer was violence.
And answering anything disagreeable with violence was not just the response of one deranged assassin who took Charlie's life — it's the response of most people on the left.
Twitchy managing editor Sam Janney reminded us of it yesterday.
"Following the death of George Floyd, our country was a mess of unhinged maniacs rioting in cities, burning buildings, looting, destroying historic landmarks, and harassing innocent people in their homes," she recalled, concluding that "we are not the same."
During the 2020 "Summer of Love" riots following Floyd's drug overdose death while in police custody, rioters racked up a record-breaking $2 billion in property damage. They looted and burned down businesses, many of them minority-owned.
In addition, dozens of innocent people were killed and injured, including one elderly man who was merely trying to protect his store — his livelihood. Rioters left his face bloodied and his jaw broken.
Compare that to a video that Newsmax contributor Nick Sortor posted on X, together with this commentary:
"HOLY CRAP! There are still 14 HOURS until Charlie Kirk's memorial in Arizona starts, and HUNDREDS of patriots are ALREADY lined up," he said.
"Many of them from THOUSANDS of miles away. They're talking about Charlie, praying for his family, and are excited to fight for our country."
Eric Daugherty, assistant news director at Florida Voice News, gave a Sunday midmorning update.
"NOW: The true scope of the crowd for Charlie Kirk in Arizona — WOW," he said, and included a sweeping view of the crowd. "Original estimates of 100K bumped to up to *300,000.*"
Daugherty concluded, "This is going to be one of the most remembered days in modern U.S. history."
All those people and no rioting, no looting, no burning, no violence. Just love, music, remembrance, prayer, and most of all joy — not for Charlie's death, but for what he left behind.
As Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence noted, "his voice is now louder than ever."
Although everyone, especially members of Congress, should be able to denounce political violence, apparently that was difficult for nearly 100 Democrats.
Congress met Friday and approved, 310-58, a resolution to honor Charlie Kirk and condemn his assassination. All 58 "no" votes were cast by Democrats, and another 38 Democrats voted "present."
As far as that goes, the Emmy Awards were held mere days after Kirk's murder, yet not one word was said about it. Liberal comedian Bill Maher saw it as evidence of America's division.
"At the Emmys, . . . would it have killed someone to get up there, he asked, "just to say, 'we had a political assassination this week, and that's wrong.'"
Maher predicted that had someone made those remarks, "They would have been booed off the stage, because he was on the wrong team. So you're not even allowed to say that." He added, "Could you imagine if a left-wing person was assassinated that week? The whole show would have been about that."
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is one of the few Democrats in Congress who seems to have a sense of decency and decorum, and made a simple request.
"Tomorrow, Charlie Kirk will be laid to rest," he noted Saturday.
"Let people grieve and give them the space." According to the hate-filled replies, Fetterman was asking for too much.
Violence seems to be the go-to response of the left to any message they find disagreeable.
GOP Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana was shot and nearly killed at a congressional baseball game, President Trump had two attempts on his life, and GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky received six broken ribs and a bruised lung by a lefty neighbor.
Then on September 10 an assassin crawled on his belly like a worm over a roof and ended Charlie Kirk’s life.
Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, demonstrated the ultimate act of responding to violence with words: She forgave her husband’s murderer.
Republicans answer violence with speech; Democrats answer speech with violence.
"We are not the same."
Michael Dorstewitz is a retired lawyer and is a frequent contributor to Newsmax. He's also a former U.S. Merchant Marine officer and a Second Amendment supporter. Read Michael Dorstewitz's Reports — More Here.