The A La Carte

I am devastated at the state of our country.

Freedom of speech has been a right since day one — a cornerstone of what it means to live here. Charlie Kirk was a bold advocate of that right. He built a platform not by silencing people, but by inviting them in. He opened the floor for debate, Q&A, and conversation, even with people who disagreed with him.

Now he has been shot and killed. Barely into his 30s. A young father who will never again walk through the front door to his children. A husband whose wife will not get another tomorrow with him.

What does this say about who we are?

This is not simply a gun problem. This is a hate and mental illness problem. No normal human being wakes up in the morning and decides to end another person’s life.

What happened to loving one another?

Black, white, yellow, purple, green — we are one race. Human. Yet we are living in a world where an opposing view can cost someone their life. That is not freedom. That is not love.

Being a part of little lives, the weight of this sits heavy on my heart. It’s terrifying to know how easily lives can be stolen, not just from those who are public figures, but from anyone.

Charlie Kirk’s voice mattered to many Americans — whether people agreed with him or not. He used his right to free speech as it was meant to be used: to teach people how to have civilized conversations. That’s what we’ve lost sight of.

So today, I grieve. For Charlie. For his family. For this country. For the love that feels like it’s slipping away.

Rest in peace, Charlie.

xo,
Ande