The brutally calculated cold-blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk stunned the nation. Most Americans are in shock and heart broken. American politics is certainly pointed and tumultuous, but Americans innately abhor and reject political violence. Whether they agreed or disagreed with Kirk, most decent Americans are deeply saddened, but too many people are trying to rationalize this horrific tragedy as a result of the right politically offending the left. While most people line up with political labels on the left and right, this abominable act is a manifestation of good versus evil.

Politicians, press, and pundits are wrangling over who is to blame for the most consequential assassination since the 1960s. Republicans with good cause claim the overheated provocative rhetoric by Democrats and their surrogates accusing conservatives of being bigots, fascists, racists, and NAZIs has put targets on the backs of every conservative. Democrats counter that conservative rhetoric and policies endanger and marginalize their primary constituents, illegal immigrants and the LGBTQ+ communities. Both sides declare they are debating and defending their policies, but really, they are battling over what is moral, what is sinful.

Larger than life in his short 31 years, Charlie Kirk was a transformational Christian and conservative leader, a role model, a hero, and now a martyr to millions of Americans. Democrats and leftists have a vastly different view and that is their right, but Americans have been taken aback by the callous disrespectful rude response by entirely too many malcontent activists and Democrats. Social media is overflowing with vile vitriol even from people who should know better. Decent people have the compassion and manners not to intrude on others’ grief and mourning, but Americans across the country are shocked and incensed by the cruel overt celebrations of Kirk’s assassination.

Too few Democrats have had the decency to simply condemn this senseless murder. Too many Democrats rushed to malign Kirk and assert that he was a bad actor and should not be honored in anyway. The radical ANTIFA wing of the Democrat Party went much further stating that Kirk deserved to die for his opinions. In essence, they are threatening anyone that speaks out in opposition to their extremist policies on DEI, illegal immigration, or LGBTQ+, you will be violently censored. Rapper Bob Vylan bluntly said on stage “if you talk sh*t, you will get banged.”

Progressive politicians and press accuse Kirk of being a bigot, a homophobe, a transphobe, a racist, a fascist, and a NAZI. Aside from all of it being absolutely false, it’s even more infuriating because these imbeciles don’t even know what a fascist is or understand what a NAZI is. According to Merriam-Webster, fascism is autocratic and dictatorial characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition. Hello?! Who is forcibly suppressing opposing opinions? Who assaults conservative speakers and silences their voices?

Like most conservatives but even more pointedly for Kirk, he was vilified for being divisive and spreading hatred, but Kirk never advocated harm or violence. He only exercised his right to free speech that he also gladly offered to his opponents. His critics claimed his opinions were hateful, particularly his stance on the destructive effects of the radical LGBTQ+ agenda. Kirk preached Biblical principles of faith and family which are mainstream traditional American values and for that he was gunned down. For the militant LGBTQ+ extremists, declaring their lifestyles are sinful is violence, so they incongruently respond with actual violence. That is a sociopathic response.

Charlie Kirk was a champion for the Gospel and defender of free speech and for that he was assassinated. Until Kirk showed up, conservatives were routinely run off college campuses, but he went to promote free speech. He invited his detractors to an open microphone to state their opinions, debate him, insult him, and even threaten him. Firm in his convictions, he was always cordial and polite; he allowed his opposition to speak – he listened intently and rebutted vigorously. Kirk fostered vital conversations for people to hear both sides and decide for themselves. He was the opposite of autocratic and dictatorial. Those trying to silence him and other conservatives don’t even realize they indeed are much closer to fascism, an absurd tragic irony.

For years the nation has endured endless leftwing violence; yet the Democrat Media Complex keeps trying to insist political violence is more prevalent from the right. Again, it’s not left or right; it’s good versus evil. The left has been infected with virulent evil, and they refuse to even acknowledge it much less eradicate it. After years of promoting violent protests and ultimately assassinating Kirk, Democrats and leftists are blaming the right and claiming both sides should tone down the rhetoric, but that’s a tenuous distraction and weak excuse to avoid culpability. Now that Americans are demanding accountability for those recklessly inciting violence, Democrats seek to avoid accountability by erroneously insisting both sides do it.

Let’s examine how good and evil react. Since Kirk’s brutal murder, there has been no looting or rioting, no cities have been burned. Millions have flocked to prayer vigils and made makeshift memorials; Americans gathered to mourn a good man and pray for peace. Contrast that to the violent reaction to George Floyd’s unfortunate death in 2020. For months, nasty agitators rioted, looted, burned cities, and even killed innocent bystanders. The good and evil are obvious.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination was acutely disturbing, but the reactions of thousands of patently sick individuals have been particularly disturbing. Beyond the plethora of heartless and tasteless memes and posts on social media, students on campuses taunted mourners at vigils and a demented teenager wearing the same t-shirt as the assassin desecrated a memorial at Turning Point USA headquarters. These repulsive reactions are inhumane and irrational.

Americans see the vivid contrast very plainly. Millions gather to pray peacefully, and rabid radicals cruelly meddle and viciously mock their sorrow. It’s all incredibly aggravating and upsetting, but that is precisely their intent. These agitators desperately want to provoke average Americans to join them in their hatred by reciprocating with violence. They seek to spread evil, but Kirk’s supporters only respond with prayer – they seek good. Both sides are not the same.

Despite their aggravating malicious taunting, these hateful malcontents are simply lost souls. Their heinous actions deserve righteous scorn, and they should be held accountable, but we cannot join in their fevered hatred. The best and worst thing we can do is pray for our enemies.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-45

Pete Riehm is a Navy Veteran, conservative activist, and columnist in south Alabama. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.