7 Key Things We Should all Learn from Charlie Kirk's Life as Americans

So, many of you have asked me to dig into Kirk's past. Some of you have even exhorted me to do so while emphasizing that he was more than a debater and talking head for White Nationalists.

See, I did listen! And accordingly, I came up with 7 key things we should all learn from Charlie Kirk's life as Americans. By the way, I just lost my White Brother from another mother, Reed Sawyer, and thus am writing this article with a very heavy heart and a lot more compassion towards White men because of him. REED was an amazing man. He was an amazing brain-stormer, brother, father, son, friend and business partner. In fact, prior to writing it, I was nearly numb for the past few hours after getting the news of his death. I really wish I could have shared this article with Reed. WOW! This is for your, BUD!

1) While Kirk did view life in the context of a passionate young White debater and Christian from the Midwest (Illinois to be exact), he was sincere about his views, and did strive to challenge others to prove him wrong and in that way he was inducing something that I always try to induce, namely DIALOGUE! In fact, the lack of the latter is the biggest catalysts of assumptions and stereotypes that induce us to stay way from each other. Thus, in that way, he was willing to meet people that he disagree with or that might disagree with him to either challenge them or be challenged by them. And that is quite impressive considering that he started doing it from the age of 18 on. And as someone who used to debate people of all religions in High School, I know that one has to be level headed to desire to handle debates on topics that can get even the most grounded adults rattled.

2) While Kirk's tone was definitely racist or racist-like (especially coming from the mouth of a young White men) when he labeled Black women as DEI hires and rude people; and Black men as failures for not doing enough to fix their communities, he has at least voiced his opinion in an honest way. And the latter may induce Black leaders to challenge a number of Black women that actually lack customer service skills or etiquette, or the many Black men who have deserted their own communities after they have "made it out of the mud" to step up to the plate.

3) Even as someone who didn't agree with many of his views or at least his tone, looking at his debate style made me wish I could have debated him to challenge him intellectually and in that way, he has induced me to want to debate more, something that I have done quite often myself, albeit not to the extent that he made a living out of it or aimed to create wealth through it.

4) Kirk was born in Arlington Heights, IL on October 14, 1993, and was raised in Prospect Heights in a family that leaned toward MODERATE REPUBLICANISM. His father is an architect who worked on the TRUMP TOWER (which might have fostered his affinity to Trump); while his mother was formerly a trader, but is now into counseling. Thus, as polarized Kirk sounds now, his early political environment was not as polarized. Thus, there is a chance that he might have rebranded himself to catalyze his fame, especially after he got to appear on FOX to promote his Turning Point USA debates, which he organized on College Campuses. While the audience idea was brilliant because he, too, was young and thus can relate to the audience, may have have hypothesized that he preyed on younger minds to brainwash them since they are more impressionable at that age. Yet, others see him as a hero for the political party who helped catapult Trump to a second term.

5) Kirk's message to America seems to have been that "when people stop talking, violence ensues." And I tend to agree with it which is why I have created lots of discussion sites/pages over the years to foster dialogue and minimize division. It is important to have respectful dialogue no matter how heated the topics are. Killing one another for our differing views is certainly unacceptable and is the ultimate form of CENSORSHIP or expression of CANCEL CULTURE.

6) Kirk seems to have enjoyed challenges, which is why he loved sports and debates. He seems to enjoy the idea of being disciplined and relentless to win any type of debates on any topics. But I believe I would have schooled Kirk and sent him back to his office to research his philosophy and knowledge-based and I would have done it respectfully.

7) Like me, Kirk seems to have had an admiration for Ronald Reagan. As a teenager, he studied the former POTUS' speeches often memorizing them to perfect his oratory skills. He had an admiration for Reagan's optimism, charisma, and ability to convey conservative ideals in a clear and concise manner. In short, he viewed Reagan as a political blueprint for effective leadership and persuasion. And perhaps his debate style was meant to PERSUADE or convince others to voice their opinion through UNCENSORED SPEECH because he often argued that "suppressing dialogue would lead to violence and civil unrest". Unfortunately, his assassination echoed that very warning or a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy when he was gunned down on the University of Utah campus. In starting his TPUSA organization after dropping out of Harper College, Kirk too a big risk, but he deserved credit for that because his gamble paid off since his TPUSA organization grew into one of the most prominent young conservative organizations in the country that is dedicated to promoting "limited government, capitalism, and free markets on college campuses.

So, just perhaps, many of us who think of Kirk as a demon may happen to have more in common with him than anticipated. I hope this article will remind us all that "what makes us the same is a lot more important than what makes use different."

Lastly, while I can't immortalize Kirk like many of his followers have or will because of some of his views towards women and Blacks, I can accept that he too had something to contribute to our society. Undoubtedly, he is no DR. KING. The latter stood for PEACE and advocated for a TABLE OF BROTHER and thus not divisions between Blacks and Whites; Women and Men; Republicans vs. Democrats. KIRK accentuated the differences more and focused more on winning arguments instead of winning hearts of people on both sides to effectuate lasting change as a true transformational leader. He was a product of America. A mini-Trump. A very good orator/debater, and a passionate and visionary entrepreneur. But let us not immortalize him like many of our great leaders because the latter would be equivalent to lowering the transformational leadership bar. Amassing money from supporters because of one's views is not the definition of success. Many of our great leaders died with barely any wealth. However, their true wealth was their incomparable legacy. Kirk was a father, a son, a seemingly devoted husband, and businessman. And unfortunately, the very thing that he preached against killed him. In the Caribbean we had a saying, "the fish trusted the water, but that very water boiled it." Such is life! May his followers find peace!

RIP Mr. Charlie Kirk, my Fellow American - I understand your message now, but disagree with its racist/misogynistic theme! And for many Americans that you insulted you the following exemplified their exact view of you:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BGZUx8PsX/

RIP Reed Sawyer, my Dear Bud, I will ensure that your legacy will live one. I love you!

IN A RUSH~

This article was written by Dr. Pete Lorins and I'd like to dedicate it to my late business partner REED SAWYER who always emphasized what is "hard to create but easy to recreate" or "Overwhelming Value Propositions" or even "What's In It For Me/You/Us"... we, essentially, taught each other everything that one needs to know to succeed in any business. I spoke to his son and brother and intend to create a scholarship or memorial to celebrate his legacy as a an amazing person. WE'LL MISS YOU, BUD~

SPONSOR: www.MaidsPlus.org