I repeat, Charlie Kirk was just a man. ONE man.
You see, we don't--we don't go crazy over these senseless deaths, and we sure as hell should.
I wanted to wait 24 hours before addressing the Charlie Kirk assassination.
First, thoughts and prayers. Yes, that is me being cynical.
Second, I am appalled and saddened by this act of violence.
Violence is never the answer to political discourse. Violence is not the answer
to anything. Not ever.
Third: I see the conservatives bemoaning a death of one of
their own, BUT where was their anguish and outrage when Minnesota State
Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark (and their family dog) were
gunned down in their home on June 14? President Trump could hardly be bothered
to comment on that tragedy.
Trump has ordered flags flown at half mast. Did he do the
same for Representative Hortman? Trump announced today he is going to
posthumously award Kirk the Congressional Medal of Freedom.
No comment.
Fourth, i despise just about everything Kirk stood for. He
was a divisive as many others of his political party, particularly Mr. Agent
Orange.
Do I feel sorry for Kirk? A bit, yes. I feel sorry for any
victim of gun violence. Who I really feel sorry for are those left
behind—Kirk’s wife and his two young children. I feel sympathy for the hundred
in his audience who witnessed this act firsthand.
Fifth, we are a torn, wounded, suspicious society. No one
trusts the perceived other side. Funny, I thought we were Americans, not bitter
enemies.
The gun violence plaguing our nation will not go away, nor
will it cease with just thoughts and prayers.
Our good friend Tom passed away earlier this evening after
being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer six weeks ago. Our thoughts are with
Roger, his husband of eight years.
As you might surmise from the photo (my favorite of the two
of them), Tom loved to ham it up. He loved to laugh. He loved telling
jokes--all too often--VERY corny ones. And we loved to laugh with him. On
numerous occasions, Tom and I would get into nonstop giggling that could last
five to ten minutes. We'd laugh, we'd stop, we'd take one look at another and
start giggling all over again.
Tom and I made a game of tormenting one another with puns,
insults made in jest, always ending with a show of loving affection for the
other.
Earlier tonight, Stephen and I visited Tom. As we left, we
told him we loved him and that he need not linger on for us. I truly believe a
person can hear everything said to them, even when in an apparent vegetative
state. We told him we would care for Roger in his absence. We think he needed
to hear that.
When we left the hospice, we both agreed we might not see
Tom again. I told Stephen the next time I saw him I would have to say to him
our usual retort... wuv woo.
Today is the 45th anniversary of Star Trek - The Motion Picture. The better and completed version was re-released in 2022. ST TMP, to this day, remains my favorite of the 13 Star Trek big screen adventures.