America, We Are Better Than This

Over the past few days, a deeply troubling trend has emerged across parts of social media: Americans openly cheering or posting supportive comments about the assassination of fellow citizens simply because they disagree with their political views or the words they choose to speak. This is not who we are. This is not what America stands for. At the very heart of our democracy lies one of the most sacred rights: the freedom of speech. It is a cornerstone of our Constitution and the foundation of every other liberty we hold dear. To advocate violence against someone for exercising that right is not only un-American, it is dangerous, corrosive, and destructive to the values that unite us.

The Danger of Celebrating Violence

When citizens applaud or justify the idea of assassinating someone over words, they are crossing a line that undermines the very idea of a civil society. Political disagreements, no matter how heated, must never be a justification for bloodshed. Once we normalize cheering for violence, we lose the ability to coexist, debate, and build a nation that values both freedom and safety. Every American—Republican, Democrat, Independent, or otherwise—should be able to speak their mind without fear of being targeted for death. To cheer on an assassination, whether with a meme, a post, or a comment, is to abandon our shared humanity and embrace tyranny by intimidation.

The Responsibility of Professionals

This zero-tolerance standard must apply especially to those entrusted with public trust and responsibility. Healthcare providers, for example, hold the lives of their patients in their hands. The American Medical Association (AMA) and state medical boards should take swift and uncompromising action against any healthcare provider who publicly supports the assassination of an American citizen. A doctor or nurse who cheers violence against a political opponent is signaling that their personal ideology could override their duty of care. That is unacceptable. Revoking the medical license of any healthcare provider who promotes or condones assassination is not censorship—it is a necessary step to protect patients and uphold the ethical standards of medicine.

America Must Choose a Higher Road

We can disagree passionately. We can debate fiercely. We can protest loudly. But we must never, under any circumstance, celebrate murder. America is stronger than hate, and our differences should not divide us into camps that see each other as enemies to be destroyed. Let us remember: the strength of this nation lies not in silencing or destroying those who think differently, but in defending their right to speak freely—even when we vehemently disagree.

May God continue to bless the family of Charlie Kirk, as they struggle with the senseless killing of this husband, and father of two.