WHERE TO FROM HERE?

The death of Charlie Kirk is indeed sobering. I have long feared something like this would happen. The Left it seems, has accelerated their demands since the election of Barack Obama. They are demonstrating that they are willing to use all manner of anti-social behavior, up to and including murder to "fundamentally change" our government and our society. They are less willing to compromise, less likely to accept slow progressive changes, more willing to engage in violence to achieve political ends.. Now we see that the left is protesting outside the homes of elected officials and even Supreme Court Justices. My congressman gave up live listening sessions/town halls due to the disruptive behavior of the left. We have seen cities virtually demolished, more and more intimidation tactics used to shut down debate, and it appears there is no end in site to the lengths they will go to, to get their way, up to and including murder. So what do we do?

Let me preface this next by saying I was not totally enamored of Charlie Kirk. I am not totally in love with the policies of my congressman. However, I reject the notion that we should disrupt, that we should threaten and we should commit acts of violence to get our way. One big fear I have is that the assassination of Charlie Kirk will silence those who are not leftists, that it will induce many who are not of the left to resign their elected positions, and/or to decline to run again for fear of their safety. While each person must decide for him or herself, overall, this is not the course of action that we should take. We can not abdicate our responsibility to defend free speech or to defend freedom in its many aspects. We can not let the left win by default. If we do not rise to defend free speech, if we do not rise to voice our concerns over the direction this country is taking. the left wins by default. One valuable lesson I learned in high school is this: If you do not stand up to bullies it will only encourage their bullying behavior. NO W is the time to stand up..

I remember when I lived in Arizona, I was one of the leaders in opposition to the Rio Salado referendum, that would have crated an unelected board with the powers of eminent domain and the power of taxation. It also was a scheme to enrch politically connected developers. I figuratively stomped on some pretty big toes. I was told by friend and foe, "Watch your back." THis was 9 years after the assassination of investigative reporter Don Bolles. I told them that I figure my best defense is to remain on offense. As I learned in High School, the only way to successfully handle bullies is to stand up to them. I hope in this situation, others feel the same way. In the face of impending tyranny we must stiffen our resolve to support free speech and open and free society.

So Congressman Van Orden, have your town halls, even if it means we have armed guards to protect you. Legislators, I hope that at least the good ones among you will run for office, will run for re-election, or there is no end to the depravity, to the violence that will be in our future. We MUST let the left know that we will not tolerate their increasing tendency toward rude, disruptive behavior and violence. Tyranny awaits us if we do not answer the call.