Grief Isn’t a Party Line: Charlie Kirk, Melissa Hortman, and the Weaponization of Tragedy

Grief Isn’t a Party Line: On Charlie Kirk, Melissa Hortman, and the Weaponization of Tragedy

As a progressive Christian, I believe every person bears God’s image. That means I start with compassion and tell the truth, even when it’s inconvenient.

Why I’m writing this

The afternoon Charlie Kirk was killed, I was sitting in my recliner scrolling my phone. I didn’t really know him beyond “right-wing activist,” but when the alert came in that he’d been shot, I prayed he would be okay. He wasn’t. And even though I didn’t follow him or agree with him, my first response was compassion—for a person I didn’t know who’d just had his life taken.

Start with compassion

That’s how I feel when anyone is shot at a store, a church, a concert—anywhere. Most of the time we never learn the victims’ politics; we just grieve that people can’t live their daily lives without worrying about gunfire. I don’t fixate on it every time I walk into a store, but the thought has crossed my mind more than once: what if someone opens fire in here?

Stop the blame game

What bothered me after Kirk’s death was how fast some voices rushed to blame “the left.” No. When someone pulls a trigger, that person is responsible. Period. Don’t pin a murder on millions who didn’t do it and would never do it.

I’ve also seen people saying Kirk held vile or racist views. I think a lot of his rhetoric was ugly. That’s part of the record he chose for himself. Does that mean I think he should have been shot? No. Does it mean I’m going to pretend he never said any of it because he was murdered? Also no. Two things can be true at once: his killing was wrong, and his rhetoric did harm.

Free speech vs. consequences

In the days after the assassination, prominent Republicans—including the sitting vice president—urged Americans to report people to their employers if they posted something “disrespectful” about Kirk. Some folks were fired or suspended as a result. Legally, private employers often can discipline staff for off-duty speech. But let’s be honest about what this campaign is: a political loyalty test dressed up as “decency.” If you want a culture that rejects political violence, you don’t build it by policing grief, irony, or criticism—even when the criticism quotes Kirk’s own words about guns.

About Melissa Hortman and the double standard

If we’re going to talk about consistency, then let’s actually be consistent. In June, Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were murdered in their home. That same night, State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot at their home and survived. Federal charges followed. When asked why he didn’t lower flags for Hortman, the president said he wasn’t asked—then turned around and quickly ordered flags at half-staff for Kirk. Maybe you accept that explanation; maybe you don’t. Either way, the split-screen is hard to ignore.

Flag-lowering facts: On September 15, 2025, President Trump said he would have lowered flags for Minnesota’s Melissa Hortman if Gov. Tim Walz had asked (AP News; Star Tribune). For Charlie Kirk, no request was needed; on September 10 the White House issued a national proclamation ordering flags at half-staff through September 14 (White House proclamation).

Where I land

Charlie Kirk’s killing is, in moral terms, no different from any other gun murder. Someone decided to end a life. That choice belongs to the shooter. Don’t blame “the left.” Don’t blame “the right.” Blame the man who pulled the trigger. Grieve the life lost. And then, instead of using the blood to score points, do the grown-up work of reducing the violence that keeps wrecking families—no matter whose yard sign is on their lawn.

Sources

Editor’s note: This post reflects information available as of September 16, 2025. Charges and case details may change as new filings and hearings occur.

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Vicki Andrada's avatar

By Vicki Andrada

A Little About Me I was born on February 25, 1972, in Flint, Michigan, at McLaren Hospital. I lived in Michigan until I was almost 40, then moved to Tampa, Florida, where I stayed for seven years. After that, I relocated to Arizona, living with friends in Glendale and then in Phoenix for about eight months. I spent two years total in Arizona before returning to Florida for a little over a year. Eventually, I moved back to Michigan and stayed with my parents for six months. In May of 2022, I moved to Traverse City, Michigan, where I’ve been ever since—and I absolutely love it. I never expected to return to Michigan, but I’m so glad I did. I was born blind and see only light and shadows. My fiancé, Josh, is also blind. We both use guide dogs to navigate independently and safely. My current Leader Dog is Vicki Jo , a four-year-old Golden Retriever/Black Lab mix. She’s my fourth guide dog—my first two were Yellow Labs, and my last two have been Golden/Lab crosses. Josh’s guide dog, Lou, came from the same organization where I got my previous dog—now known as Guide Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. Josh and I live together here in Traverse City, and we both sing in the choir at Mission Hill Church , which was previously known as First Congregational Church. A lot of people still know it by that name. We both really enjoy being part of the choir—it’s something that brings us a lot of joy. I also love to read, write, and listen to music—especially 60s, 70s, and 80s music. Josh and I enjoy listening to music together and watching movies, especially when descriptive video is available. We also like working out at the YMCA a couple of times a week, which has been great for both our physical and mental health. I’m a big fan of Major League Baseball. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. In the NFL, I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers—and I still have a soft spot for the Detroit Lions, especially now that they’ve started turning things around. I’m passionate about politics and history. I consider myself a progressive thinker, though I also try to take a balanced, middle-of-the-road approach. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and a strong believer in respecting people of all faiths. I love learning about different religions, cultures, and belief systems. Writing is one of my biggest passions. I haven’t published anything yet, but I’ve written several books that are still in progress. Writing helps me express myself, explore new ideas, and connect with others through storytelling. Thanks for stopping by and getting to know a little about me.

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