To my readers

 Interesting. There are about 10 people who read my blog regularly. There used to be only four. I always thought the four were spiders. I guess the six new ones are probably the FBI and Homeland Security.

Free Speech

Why are the supporters of one of the biggest free speech advocates trying to get people fired for speaking freely?

Charlie Kirk

 Charlie Kirk was born the same year as my daughter, but they couldn't have been more different. My daughter was born male, but identified as female. Charlie Kirk didn't believe transgender people existed. My daughter always seemed to know just what to say to make someone feel better about themselves. Charlie Kirk always knew the right zinger to shut someone down. My daughter died sleeping peacefully on the couch after playing a computer game, laughing with friends. Charlie Kirk died in an act of violence.

I hear voices on the right and left using this incident to promote their causes. These are the words of my daughter:

"No matter how hard you're pushed, how hard things seem to be, never give in, always remember what is right and stand up for it, but never let yourself stoop into violence, or everything will be lost." -LC

Governor of Utah Spencer Cox had poignant words after the shooting.

"We can return violence, we can return hate with hate, And that's the problem with me with political violence is it metastasizes. Because we can always point the finger at the other side. And at some point, we have to find an off-ramp or it's going to get much, much worse. But see, these are choices that we can make. History will dictate if this is a turning point for our country. But every single one of us gets to choose right now if this is a turning point for us. We get to make decisions. We have our agency."

Charlie Kirk has been quoted as saying he didn't believe in empathy. I don't believe that. He would at least listen to his opponents and let them make their point before responding.

I would have liked to debate Charlie Kirk. Now I won't get the chance.