A Tale of Two Countries

September 22, 2025 / Bill Wilson /

The memorial for Charlie Kirk was a study in contrast. At State Farm Stadium, mourners filled every seat, spilling into overflow areas. President Donald Trump told the crowd that Kirk “died for his country, for freedom of speech, for the America we love.” Charlie’s widow, Erika, spoke of forgiveness, urging people to continue her husband’s mission of faith and freedom. At the same time,  Reps Ilhan Omar (D-MN) said Kirk’s legacy was filled with “hate” and “rage baiting,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called his rhetoric and beliefs “ignorant, uneducated and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.” These two responses—one of grief and revival, another of scorn and judgment—stand worlds apart.

The service carried more of the spirit of a Billy Graham crusade. Hands raised, prayers soaring, hymns echoing across the stadium. It was a celebration of a young man’s incredible life in Christ Jesus, and a call to repentance and renewal. Trump framed Kirk as a martyr. Erika Kirk modeled love and forgiveness, an echo of the gospel message itself. One could imagine Graham, with his arm around Kirk above, nodding at the sight of tens of thousands responding not with despair, but with hope. Yet, critics in the press characterized Kirk’s life as a poison. The lines are drawn now—deep in the sand. On one side: God, law and order, and free speech. On the other: godlessness, lawlessness, and oppressed speech. It’s obvious.

So much so that the Washington Post even observed that “the American left does have a problem tolerating violence when the victim is someone like Charlie Kirk.” That tacit acknowledgment shows how blurred the moral compass has become. AOC said the Trump administration was trying to “weaponize this moment into an all-out assault on free speech across the country.” Omar similarly said she disagreed “vehemently about his rhetoric.” Some 58 House Democrats refused to support a resolution honoring Kirk and condemning political violence. The left’s behavior is no doubt evidence that it embraces for itself the very accusations it heaps on its opponents. There is no greater act against free speech than killing those who disagree with your viewpoint. They have made it clear that political violence is justified, while labeling others as fascists.

Critics often paint Trump and the MAGA movement as fascist. They say his rhetoric mirrors elements of historic fascist leaders—repetition, scapegoating, glorifying violence. But who is truly acting like fascists? When social media users cheer a man’s assassination, when commentators excuse political violence because they dislike word choice, when elected representatives condone assassination, authoritarianism is within them. The reality is this: free speech, law, and order are not fascism. Silencing dissent and excusing violence are. The test of truth is found in words and deeds. How do you discern? Christ said it best in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

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Bill Wilson

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