Justice feels further away this morning than it did yesterday. A lot has been said about the tragic assassination of the conservative political star, Charlie Kirk. His shocking murder in broad daylight before a crowd of hundreds on a college campus in Utah coalesces multiple issues that we, particularly as Americans, are passionate about and divided on: freedom of speech, gun rights, violence, education, and religious freedom (Kirk was an outspoken Evangelical Christian).
The assassination of a well-known public figure who gave voice to our neighbors is a cruel double-edged sword. On one side, it humbles us because we collectively fear and grieve the swift, brutal injustice of murder. On the other side, it fuels more anger, blame, and division. As a society, we’re playing a game that can’t be won.
What we fear most is who we are becoming.
Since the turn of the century, we have been playing a game of ideological warfare among ourselves and the world. The narratives, policies, and figures shift over time, but the objective remains the same: dominance over others to institute a self-righteous order in a chaotic and unpredictable world. Yuval Noah Harari writes, “Democracies die not only when people are not free to talk but also when people are not willing or able to listen.”[1] What we fear most is who we are becoming.
Today, we’re hurdling further toward violence and distrust through a nearly unrestrained and simultaneous arms race, economic race, information-technology race, natural resources race, and influence race. These are competitions that cannot be won and will inevitably crush those at the bottom and the top. History has plenty of examples, and regrettably, Kirk is the latest victim. Even the deck was stacked against him as it is with any one of us.
More weapons, more money, and more influence cannot save us from the next person or nation who gains the upper-hand. The 19th-century English Parliamentarian, Lord John Dalberg-Acton, once wrote, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”[2] Ideological warfare in the 21st century is a game that cannot be won.
Hindsight provides the luxury of perspective—only if we choose to see and take action on it. The ability to see outside the moment is a powerful skill that helps us shift the conversation to discover alternative outcomes and inspire the hope and change we’re all seeking. Playing games that cannot be won is a waste of precious time, energy, and resources.
The wise among us have chosen not to play by turning away from the thrill of the crowd, leaving their uniform behind, and walking out of the stadium. They go on to create new games that celebrate something more beautiful and just for themselves and each other. The possibilities are abundant; we just have to be willing to leave the game by taking a leap of faith into something more sustainable, life-giving, and spiritual.
[1] Yuval Noah Harari, Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, 2024.
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton
This post was edited after its initial publication for clarity and self-editorial discretion.
Matt Till 