Tribute To Charlie Kirk – JP

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By Susan Lehmann Poon
Edited by Eduardo Vidal

Los Angeles, California – Have you ever met somebody and you instantly knew they were destined to do something special with their life? Something big? And did you find yourself in awe of how they spoke with conviction, spewing wisdom and facts well beyond their years? I have. And his name, Charlie Kirk.

I met Charlie several years ago when a couple of friends of mine invited me to go to Texas to attend a meeting with Charlie, and then to an event hosted by Turning Point USA, being held for young conservative women. Let’s just say I was on the much ‘older’ spectrum of young. Charlie Kirk was a mere 20 something, roughly the age that my sons are now. TPUSA, Charlie’s organization which he started when he was 18 yrs old, was in its early years and steadily growing.

Since then, Charlie Kirk’s influence has reached far beyond our borders. His speeches and debates usually focus on topics such as freedom of speech, limited government, free markets, the importance of our Constitution, and the dangers of identity politics.

His ability to distill political philosophy into thought-provoking statements enabled him to connect with young audiences and shape modern conservative ideology. Over the years, his faith played a greater role in his life, shaping his mission. Charlie was the real deal. Not only was he unapologetic for his love of Jesus Christ, he practiced what he preached. That is rare.

While I saw and understood Charlie’s growing influence among Generation Z (those born in 1995-2009) in this country, I had no idea the impact he had made on the world stage. Not until this past week. Seeing masses of people coming together worldwide in prayer to mourn his death, and to support all that he represented, has left me in greater awe of this young man who inspired so many.

While some have tried to dehumanize him by slapping him with misguided and vicious labels of racist, fascist, and Nazi, I choose to honor Charlie’s life this evening by remembering him as the devoted Christian that he was, a loving husband, a doting father of two small children, a much loved son, a dear friend, and an inspiration to so many.

Charlie was a patriot who loved God, believed in the greatness of this country, and fought tirelessly to preserve our freedoms, especially our freedom of speech.

While his quotes have sometimes ignited controversy, especially when they are intentionally taken out of context, they often times challenged people to think critically about government, culture and personal responsibility. This was especially true when he visited students on college campuses.

Charlie believed that: “Colleges should be places of debate and discussion, not indoctrination. College campuses should be marketplaces of ideas, not safe spaces from them. Education should focus on teaching students how to think, NOT what to think.” I don’t find these ideas to be radical, yet, alarmingly, many people do.

Charlie believed, “Without free speech, there is no such thing as truth. The moment you silence opposing voices, you destroy the foundation of democracy. Political correctness is a weapon used to silence truth.” Charlie urged students, “Never let anyone silence your voice, even when it’s unpopular.”

When Charlie visited college campuses, he encouraged open discussion, something which was often lacking in the classroom. This was part of Charlie’s huge appeal. Even when entering politically divided environments, Charlie advocated for candid and civil dialogue. I attended one of his events at UCLA a few years ago, and left that night impressed with what I saw and heard. After Charlie spoke he offered the microphone to anyone who had a question for him. In typical Charlie fashion, he said anyone who disagreed with him should go to the front of the line.

Charlie often thanked and praised those who disagreed with him for having the courage to come forward and speak in front of a crowd that held opposing views. Charlie understood all too well what that is like, especially for conservative students on campus. Charlie led by example. When angry students resorted to name-calling and profanity, and sometimes even worse, Charlie did not retaliate.

Whether I agreed with him or not, it was difficult to not respect his undeniable commitment to our young people, and to his steadfast commitment to preserving our freedoms at all costs, even if that meant risking and losing his life. He saw freedom as a precious gift that needed to be protected, preserved and fought for, and fought he did, for all of us.

Charlie believed in personal accountability and hard work. He encouraged young people to: “Learn relentlessly. Knowledge is the foundation of freedom.” He also encouraged them to: “Argue ideas and not people.” He challenged them to, “know their why,” and to be able to articulate it, supported with facts and truth. Charlie believed, “The pursuit of happiness is not about material possessions, but about finding meaning and purpose in life.”

In Charlie Kirk’s short life of 31 years, he lived a life of purpose and gave meaning to so many others. Thank you Charlie for the wisdom you have imparted on me and your countless, ever-growing faithful army of followers.

In the very last interview Charlie gave he was asked about his favorite quote and he cited Romans 8:28, which states that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This verse emphasizes the belief that God orchestrates events in life for the ultimate benefit of His followers.

Prophetic? Time will tell.

As a Believer, I hold on to that verse and trust that the good work Charlie started will only continue to grow and be manifested in the hearts and minds of those who loved and respected him, those who just learned about him, and those who hated him. I pray for his family and loved ones whose lives will never be the same without their beloved Charlie.

I pray for healing, for understanding, and for unity. I pray that we, collectively, as a people, rise above the hate and manipulation that’s intended to divide us, and instead I encourage us to do something special with our lives. Do something big!

Seek truth and peace. As Charlie said, “I do not have hate for a group, I do not have hate for a people. How can I hate that which I have a heart for?”

We are at a turning point in American history. We are not enemies of each other, despite what some would like us to believe. We are, however, bearing witness to a spiritual war between Good and Evil. May goodness and truth prevail. Be bold. Be courageous. Be silent no more.

I am Charlie Kirk.