By Lori Jaffe
Like many of you, I have been watching the news about Charlie Kirk. I see the anti-Kirk comments by some on the far left. I see the loving memories (2) from those who actually knew Charlie. What surprised me was that I agree with Whoopi Goldberg, whom I consider to be on the far left. What do we agree on?
One point of agreement is on what happens when someone is martyred. "Martyr" (3) is a word that "originates from 'witness' in Greek and is related to a witness in court testifying to one's beliefs or truth, despite the risk involved. As such, it is considered one of the greatest sacrifices that a person can make.” After Charlie Kirk’s murder, Whoopi said (1), "When you look at our loss of Martin Luther King, name anyone who's been assassinated in this country. We continue to fight on, and that's what America offers." Yes, we will continue the fight through non-violent means.
History.com backs up what Whoopi said about continuing the fight after Martin Luther King Jr’s murder.
“His assassination led to an outpouring of anger among Black Americans, as well as a period of national mourning that helped speed the way for an equal housing bill that would be the last significant legislative achievement of the civil rights era.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
“Though Black and white people alike mourned King’s passing, the killing in some ways served to widen the rift between Black and white Americans, as many Black people saw King’s assassination as a rejection of their vigorous pursuit of equality through the nonviolent resistance he had championed."
“Goldberg, whose views are largely left-leaning and vastly different from Kirk's, said that ‘you have the right to say and feel whatever you want’ in America, which she said is ‘"your birthright" as a citizen.’ Whoopi was right there too. In fact, the Constitution (4) guarantees our right to free speech.
"‘Taking somebody out is not the way to do it. You want to fight about something? Go to the ballot box, elect different people,’ she stressed. ‘Killing people doesn't do anything except make it a horrible world for their children.’” So true. It also makes it a horrible world for Charlie’s wife, parents, sister, friends and supporters. We are all grieving.
According to some researchers in the field of psychology(5), “(t)he grieving processes associated with sudden and anticipated death can exhibit marked differences due to the nature of each type of loss. Sudden death typically results in a more intense initial emotional response characterized by shock, disbelief, and acute grief (Bonanno, 2004). Survivors may experience a range of disruptive emotions, including anger, guilt, and profound sadness, as they grapple with the abruptness of their loss. This intense grief often complicates the healing process, as individuals may struggle to make sense of their feelings and come to terms with the sudden absence of their loved one (Shear et al., 2011). Research has shown that individuals experiencing sudden death are at an increased risk of developing complicated grief, which can manifest as prolonged mourning and difficulty adapting to life after the loss (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001). As they grieve, people all over the world (6) are paying tribute to Charlie and they are spreading his message.
This is nothing new. Martyrs have inspired humanity through the ages (7) including:
“Socrates who was executed in 399 BCE for his relentless questioning and pursuit of truth in ancient Athens."
Socrates
Saint Stephen, who was “(s)toned to death in Jerusalem for his unwavering belief, Stephen’s sacrifice set a powerful precedent for enduring persecution in the name of conviction.”
“Joan of Arc ... Her unshakable faith and visions inspired the French during the Hundred Years’ War, cementing her as a symbol of courage and conviction.”
The killer tried to snuff out Charlie's message but he couldn't. By last week, Turning Point USA had received over "62,000 new student requests." (8) Charlie's detractors are trying to discourage us from speaking out but we will continue his work. Don’t they realize that humans are inspired by a martyr’s message and that Charlie’s martyrdom has ensured that his message will live on forever? Maybe they should have asked Whoopi.
TURNING POINT USA
Yahoo.com / EntertainmentFox News ChannelWorldHistory.orgConstitution.Congress.GovTranspersonal PsychologyLiberty Nation NewsHistory CollectionInternational Business TimesCharlieKirk.com
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Lori Jaffe is the Party Secretary for the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, Member of the Executive Board and publisher of the MCGOP Digest. She can be reached at [email protected]