The assassination of Charlie Kirk, the previous attempt on Donald J. Trump’s life, the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, and a growing list of attacks on public figures leave me deeply worried about the future of our democratic civilization. Kirk, a conservative activist and father of two, was shot while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
These tragedies are unfolding in a world that is otherwise progressing in extraordinary ways. People live longer, technology connects us, and artificial intelligence (AI) has entered our daily lives.
Yet, our politics grows darker. Polarization is rising across nearly every democracy. Rhetoric has grown harsher, with political opponents and minorities increasingly in the crosshairs. This is not just the work of anonymous trolls. It has become the language of our leaders, our media, and our public square.
Too often, people abandon debate over ideas or policies and go straight to demonizing opponents. We hurl insults. We smear character. We casually reach for the most extreme comparisons: Hitler, Stalin, Bin Laden. This is not leadership. This is poison.
The responsibility lies with our leaders
If we continue down this path, violence will inevitably escalate. Responsibility lies, first and foremost, with our leaders, who should lead by example. But the media also fans the flames, with biased coverage that frames politics as a battle of “us” vs “them.” And social media companies, choosing profit over accountability, give the loudest and most toxic voices the biggest platforms.
The streets reflect this as well. What begins as protest too often turns into riot, with chants that celebrate violence and dehumanize entire groups of people.
Here in Israel, we remember the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
Japan faced the same shock when former prime minister Shinzo Abe was killed in broad daylight.
Democracies everywhere are discovering that violent rhetoric can all too easily become violent action.
The murder of Charlie Kirk, a man who made his name by debating opponents on campus, must be a wake-up call to the Right, Left, and Center alike: Words matter. Charlie believed in free speech, in the right to voice an opinion different from his, and in his right to answer back.
He was also a true friend of the Jewish people, standing with us after October 7 when so few others did. His loss is a stark reminder of what happens when words are weaponized instead of used to bridge divides.
We must choose dialogue over demonization.
We must engage even with those we oppose, but with respect.
The two truths everyone on the political spectrum must admit
Politics inspires passion. Some hold strong convictions, others follow the crowd. Still, however deeply we feel, however confident we are in our research or conclusions, we must have the humility to admit two truths. First, that we all carry biases. Second, that being right does not make the other side evil.
After September 11, Americans were united. After October 7, Israelis stood as one. Must tragedy always be the only force that brings us together? How much more suffering do we need before we understand the importance of unity, of respectful dialogue, of togetherness?
Kol Yisrael arevim zeh la-zeh (“All Jews are responsible for one another”) cannot remain just a slogan. It must become our way of life before it’s too late.
May Charlie Kirk’s memory be a blessing.
The writer is a global strategy and diplomacy expert with over a decade of experience in international advocacy, public policy campaigns, and leadership development across over 60 countries.