Even Charlie Kirk’s murder can’t stop America’s cycle of anger | Opinion
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mental health system failure contributed to North Carolina killing and public outrage.
- University tensions rise over censorship and teaching of LGBT-themed literature.
- Political rhetoric perpetuates national anger that leads to more killings and anger.
I started writing this column Wednesday morning.
It was going to begin, “We are a dangerously angry and resentful nation.”
It was going to be about our anger over the killing of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee in North Carolina, and over the schizophrenic, delusional ex-con who was supposed to go to a mental hospital but wound up on video killing her.
And it was going to be about how he was repeatedly arrested but released under Republican district attorneys for lack of indigent mental health care, just like in Texas.
And it was going to be about the rage at Texas A&M University, both over the teaching about LGBT-themed juvenile literature in English class and over Christian preaching against it.
Lecturer Melissa McCoul did not uphold the “free and open exchange of ideas” as required by the university’s statement of purpose.
But ending college classroom discussion of all LGBT-themed literature wouldn’t uphold the statement of purpose, either.
It seems like any news story involving a conflict between adult sexuality and Christian teachings instantly triggers an outpouring of deep-seated bitterness, not to mention knee-jerk politics.
We want Texas universities to teach, not preach.
But we also want them to welcome all nonviolent voices and present a healthy variety of views.
That was what I was going to write.
And then a sniper killed Charlie Kirk.
A big state university like Utah Valley probably lacks the resources to protect an outspoken religious political figure and network talk-show host.
But Kirk has been flying cross-country from his Phoenix base to deliver the conservative message on college campuses for more than 10 years. He intentionally challenges students.
I saw Kirk in 2023 at TCU. His background is political and not religious, but his talk that night was more of a nondenominational evangelical Christian crusade.
He spoke sarcastically against transgender people, and the audience cheered.
But mostly, he stuck to his promise to make TCU the stop “where I actually defend Christianity the most.”
I was in a doctor’s office Wednesday when I saw the news. My first fear was that he was targeted for his faith.
Then, I heard a voice down the hall.
“Well, you know he goes to [speak at] those colleges,” one of the lab technicians said, raising his voice.
“And they’ve all been indoctrinated!”
And the cycle of anger turned again.
This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 4:04 AM.
