Below is the letter I sent my students upon learning that Charlie Kirk had been murdered. Kirk was a deeply controversial figure—one with whom I often strongly disagreed—and I realize some of my students (or perhaps some of you reading this now) may find aspects of my note disagreeable or even offensive. I hope that will not be the case. The letter was written from the heart, though I recognize that sometimes words written in the moment of passion are better left unexpressed until time allows for a sense of proportionality to regain its hold on our thinking. Still, I chose to write to my students almost immediately upon hearing the news, and I share it here only a few hours later.
We live in an age of outrage, where reactions are swift and spawn countless cycles of counter-outrage. None of us can know how our broader culture will respond. Yet I offer my letter in the spirit of a plea for our better angels to reclaim their rightful place in our public life and our self-governance. Thank you for your indulgence.
“Beloved students
Many of you have likely heard the terrible news that Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative voice and advocate for younger conservatives, was assassinated this afternoon.
In response to this nightmarish act of violence, I want to share with you what I wrote earlier today on social media:
- “I’m praying for Charlie Kirk’s recovery from this horrific act of senseless and evil violence. Praying for peace. Praying for cool heads to prevail.”
- “Update: Sources are reporting that Kirk has died. We live in a sad and sick world teeming with so many hateful and angry and unhinged persons. I simply abhor this act of violence, and I am literally sick to my stomach. While we pray for Kirk’s family, we cannot despair–we simply cannot afford to despair. We must continue to pray for peace and to strive to make our world a gentler and more loving home for all. I pray for cool heads to prevail..”
Whether you admired Charlie Kirk’s views or strongly disagreed with them, I hope you join me in recognizing that what happened was a dreadful and morally senseless act—one that has forever taken him from his wife and children.
I also want to acknowledge the many feelings this shocking act of violence may stir in you: grief, anger, fear, or anxiety about what comes next. If it would help to talk, please know my door is open for you—whether to visit me in my office or to chat outside in the sun—and, if you wish, my door is open for your friends to join you as well. There is no pressure; it is simply an open invitation to share and unburden.
As a class, I have every confidence we will continue to honor a spirit of respectful dialogue. Politics is hard to talk about, but our shared humanity must prevail over our political differences, and I commend you for the generosity of spirit you have already consistently brought to our conversations. It makes all the difference.
I reach out in lamentation for the state of our politics and for the selfish acts of selfish people, but I also want to offer you some hope: together we can act with courage, compassion, and conviction to make tomorrow better than today. We must choose hope over despair.
Above all, I write because I feel such deep sadness for our country, and I want to extend to you a gesture of solidarity and kinship as fellow human beings.
Peace,
Michael Bailey”
