COLUMN: View from the Legislature – Only we can make it better

Like many people, I was shocked and deeply disturbed by the assassination of Charlie Kirk last week. Kirk, a husband and father to two young children, became prominent for founding Turning Point USA from which he engaged young people across America. He became a well-known conservative figure who was credited with getting millions of young people to vote in elections and was particularly recognized for going to university and college campuses and engaging directly with students. It was at one of these events on a campus in Utah that he was assassinated.

While I was not a close follower of Mr. Kirk, like most people I would occasionally see clips on social media of him engaging with young people. While I agreed with much of what he said in these interactions, there were also things I did not agree with. But what I appreciated most about what I saw, was that he not only took the time to engage directly with young people, he did so respectfully and he wanted to have an actual dialogue. Instead of dismissing people who disagreed with him, he asked them to come to the front of the line so they could have a conversation.

In a world that is becoming so incredibly divided, this is increasingly rare. Far too often people who disagree with each other are quick to label those from a different perspective as evil or some other derogatory name that essentially ends any opportunity for a civil discussion on their disagreement. Charlie Kirk took the opposite approach, welcoming the disagreement and discussion.

Incredibly, while most people on all sides of the political divide recognized the horrific act of violence that occurred in Utah, there were still some who tried to minimize, justify or even celebrate the killing.

Even here in Manitoba, the Minister of Families, Nahanni Fontaine, put out a comment on social media that indicated she had no empathy for Charlie Kirk and that suggested that his political views in some way minimized this tragedy. Incredibly, despite widespread condemnation for this statement across the country, Premier Wab Kinew said there would be no consequences for the statement.

Acts of political violence in all places, but the United States in particular, are becoming all too frequent. It was only earlier this year that Democratic state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in her home in Minnesota.

In the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the comments by Minister Fontaine, I was asked on a Winnipeg radio talk show whether I thought that we would ever get back to a time in society where we could have wide spread civil disagreement in a way that was respectful. I responded that while politics has always been a rough and tumble business, over my time in elected life I have seen it become much more personal and divided and that, ultimately, I don’t know if it will improve.

What I am certain of is that it will only improve if every individual in society takes it upon themselves to, in their own personal conversations and in their engagement on social media, respect the right of others to have different opinions. A difference of opinion does not make someone a political enemy, and it doesn’t make them worthy of condemnation. The very basis of a democracy is that differences can be had freely, openly, and without the threat of intimidation or violence.

The breakdown of civil discussion is not a problem attributable to one group, demographic or political viewpoint. And it will not be solved by one person, leader or political party. It will only get better if society collectively demands better of itself and each other.

Like many others have, I extend my condolences to the family of Charlie Kirk and pray that they have strength and grace in the days ahead as they mourn their profound personal loss.