America's Defining Moment?

We have gotten used to mimicking the internet’s shape shifting form.

As human beings, we like to have defining moments, epiphanies even. We like to have new beginnings, changes, and renewals of our lives. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. This is especially true of individual and personal low points in life when we are called to a better life. We reflect, we realize, or like some, we are woken up by God’s voice or hand to choose creation over destruction.

Charlie Kirk’s murder evoked many reactions, some very extreme. Among those were people who openly expressed jubilation about his murder, some even wishing the same fate ought to happen to his wife and children. Others had, shall we say, human reactions. Political commentator, Scott Jennings, spoke beautiful and measured words following the assassination. He hoped that this would be a moment where America can come together, where Americans will stop and evaluate their moral and spiritual lives, and choose good will toward others.

Many regular users of social media echoed similar statements, adding that this is one of the defining moments in American history. In other words, that there was a break in the repetitive and formulaic thread of existence. But is this true?

First of all, it is too early to tell what the impact of Kirk’s murder will be, whether for the organization Turning Point USA or general politics in America. Perhaps there will be a change based on the Charlie Kirk memorial: some speculate that the religious and evangelical Right will take over the MAGA movement, and it will take a decidedly Christian turn. If this is correct, then both conservatism and the MAGA movement will be further fragmented. Because of the leftist push of absolute insanity and absurdity, will this mean that we are entering some kind of “salvific politics?”

But again–how certain is this?

To accept that an event is defining something new, we first need to accept the passing of time. It has been a little over two weeks since Charlie Kirk was shot. It is impossible to make any conclusions about this event. We can observe the unraveling of time and continuous reactions, analysis, and conversations we are hearing or are part of. Some will, no doubt, be inspired to bring more goodness into this world. But to claim an absolute knowledge of the impact, merely two weeks after the event, is both foolish and impetuous.

Think of Donald J. Trump’s effect on the world. In American politics, the origins of the MAGA movement are in the TEA Party movement. It was a truly grassroots action that united many Americans together. It seemed that it failed but it’s clear that all it needed was a strong leader. That leader was Donald J. Trump, and he took this to bigger heights. Trump’s actions have clearly re-defined American politics and the conservative movement. But it did not happen overnight. When Trump was running for President the first time in 2016, many dismissed it as a performative media act. But that was clearly not true: it built on itself.

Although “there is nothing new under the sun,” we are witnessing a different experience of relationality between people and media than in the past. Everything is quick–call it “drive-thru metaphysics”–and it usually has no staying power. Things in life, which should take longer to develop, are moving at fast speed, yet as we’re moving, we are actually devolving. In other words, we are losing our human-ness.

We have gotten used to mimicking the internet’s shape shifting form. We have turned ourselves into machines that spit out either cheap “wisdom” or hateful nonsense. Everything is two-dimensional, lacking in sturdy and robust physicality. More than anything, we have rejected intellectual and spiritual discipline, origins of which could be traced to identity politics and “safe spaces” in schools.

There was a hope that the cold-blooded murder of Iryna Zarutska could bring Americans together. Or that Charlie Kirk’s assassination might wake up everyone to respect human life. Some did. But both events brought out the unfettered animalism from supposedly rational people. As long as people continue to choose the slime and toxicity of ideology, and stay on the trajectory of dehumanization, there will be no moments of epiphany and change.