My heart is so heavy.
My heart was heavy 24 years ago today. 9/11 was a day that changed America.
My heart has been heavy every 9/11 since then, remembering.
What happened yesterday hit me even harder.
First I want to share my blog post from 9/11/2011... ten years after that fateful day. I grew up a New Yorker. I've stood on top of the swaying World Trade Center. I felt that loss, the horrifying death of so many people, in my soul. I won't repeat what I've already written, because I couldn't say it any better than I already did. (Click the photo for the link)
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| Blog from 9/11/11 |
We've all heard so many stories of people inspired by the events of 9/11. Men and women who immediately joined the military to fight for our country. Patriotism ran rampant. People who changed career paths to become police officers or firefighters because of the inspirational stories of first responders that day and in the days following. September 11, 2001 lit a fire in so many Americans.
Yesterday lit a fire in me.
I don't know if you know the name Charlie Kirk. His bio says he was "an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and was its executive director."
He was so much more. Charlie represented everything that was good and positive in conservative America. He founded Turning Point USA when he was only eighteen years old. He had a message to share, and he found a way to share it with millions. He was kind but firm in his beliefs. He welcomed honest, open debate—he literally had a "Prove Me Wrong" banner at his events, inviting conversation with those who had opposing views. He would say "whoever disagrees with me, come to the front of the line." And he was respectful about it. He asked questions. He listened. He shared his platform with everyone.
People are saying he was a fascist. He was a racist. He was a white supremacist. All the things the Left tries to throw at conservatives to see what will stick. You might see a short video clip of him speaking and think, "yeah, maybe so". I invite you to go back and watch ALL of his videos. His speeches at Turning Point events. He didn't just talk the talk. He walked the walk. He might not have always been right (who is?), but he never stopped trying to find, if not common ground, then mutual understanding.
I dare you to go WATCH.EVERY.SINGLE.CHARLIE.KIRK.DEBATE.
Don't watch edited clips. Watch the whole thing. All of them. See him speak with students on college campuses all across this nation. He drew THOUSANDS to his events. The media claims he was "divisive". Why? Because he wore a MAGA hat? Because he talked about God? Because he spoke about wanting to make America better? No...it's because the media is controlled by the Left, and liberals hate everything Charlie stood for. Charlie loved America and wanted to help make it a country that is safe, successful and prosperous for you, me, his children, and even the people who disagree with him.
Charlie wasn't perfect. Nobody is. We are all sinners. But Charlie loved his family and God. He spoke openly about Jesus and quoted scripture. He spoke about Christian values that were the roots of what America was founded on. Charlie was the heart of the younger conservative movement, and his message resonated with millions of young adults. Charlie brought Gen Z into the political movement, opening their eyes to the brainwashing and gaslighting of the woke culture that have taken over our country.
Yesterday, September 10, 2025, he was murdered. Shot at long range while speaking on a college campus—something he did hundreds of times. He was wearing a shirt that said "FREEDOM".
Charlie was magnetic, dynamic, and convicted in standing up for what he believed in. He may not have always been right, and you may not like what he had to say, but he didn't deserve to die because someone didn't like his message. He was only 31 years old. He was a father to two young children. He leaves behind a grieving wife. They were right there with him when he was killed.
What is it about that picture that triggers people? A beautiful traditional family? A successful, self-educated visionary? A man proud of his faith? A man who wanted to share his truth and to have conversations and open dialogue, even (maybe especially) with people who disagreed with him?
They couldn't beat him in a debate, so they silenced him.
Yesterday was HARD. I'm still crying and I didn't even know him. I'm heartsick to know that this is what our world is now. A good man demonized, a Christian father and husband killed. And what's worse...people are gleeful about it. The posts all over social media celebrating his death and even saying he brought it on himself... I don't know what's left of humanity. Someone just sent me a screen shot of a post from our local school district - an elementary school teacher celebrating his death. This is someone teaching our youth?? It's sickening and scary and I'm gutted, because Charlie stood for everything I believe in.
I haven't always been a conservative. In my teens, I couldn't care less about politics. When I was old enough to vote, I mostly voted Democrat, because it was what I knew, living in upstate NY. Decades later, I'm appalled at my apathy. My nonchalance. I wish I had spent more time soul-searching. I wish I had spent more energy standing up for my values. I wish I had been more like Charlie Kirk.
Elon Musk buying X (Twitter) so people can speak truth. X is the news now.
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