In dark times, Americans need leadership that unites

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has cast a dark shadow over the country, not only because the deed itself was abominable, but also because the reaction to it has been so disturbing. Instead of bringing out the best in America, as tragedies once did, it is bringing out the worst — in both parties.

It should go without saying that political violence — and gun violence — is always wrong. Yet on the left, there have been instances of dancing on Kirk’s grave. When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.

For Democrats, who frequently accuse Republicans of fascism and whataboutism, such conduct is the height of hypocrisy — and they should forcefully denounce it when it appears online or anywhere else.Celebrating a murder is disgraceful, and reprimands and firings in the workplace can be appropriate consequences for it, but criticism of anyone’s political views should always be fair game. Overzealous policing of speech has already led to punishments for comments critical of Kirk’s positions and supporters. And using law enforcement to crack down on “hate speech,” as the administration has threatened to do, would run afoul of the First Amendment, as Kirk himself said. It’s a sad irony that some of his supporters are using his death to undermine the core constitutional principle that he defended in life.

While talk of vengeance and retribution fills the air, the fact is: The overwhelming majority of Americans of all political persuasions are horrified by the shooting, and the shooter’s hatred should not be projected onto others as a pretext for repressing political opposition and free speech. Attempting to do so would only make intolerance for dissent — and the violence it breeds — worse. Many on the left are now learning this the hard way, but many on the right have long known it and should speak up more forcefully.

The partisanship fueling such animosity is a cancer that is consuming and weakening the body politic. The good news? There’s a simple cure: leadership.Asking all Americans to rise above hostile and narrow-minded thinking — and to seek, as Abraham Lincoln once said, “the better angels of our nature” — is what real leadership is all about. In times of crisis, strong leaders ease tensions. They don’t inflame them. They seek solutions, not scapegoats. They pull us together, rather than pushing us apart. And they remind us of the values that transcend party.Throughout American history, that approach to leadership has been essential to our ability to overcome dark days, including in the modern era — from the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK to the attacks of Sept. 11.

Hopefully the president will recognize that making concerted efforts to foster unity is not only the right thing to do for the good of the country and the safety of Americans, but it’s also good politics. If he seized the opportunity, his approval rating would rise, giving him more political capital to push through his priorities. Otherwise, he risks hurting his poll numbers, agenda and legacy.

We need leaders in both parties, and at every level of government, to provide stronger leadership in these times. It is not enough for governors, mayors, members of Congress and state legislators to issue the usual statements denouncing violence.

We need them, and civic leaders of all kinds, to stand together physically in displays of bipartisan unity, as more than 20 members of Congress did this week on the steps of the Capitol.

We need them to highlight the values and principles we share as Americans.

We need them to urge their own sides to cool down and not be swept up by overheated rhetoric, including talk of war.

We need them to speak honestly about how much this division and vitriol is costing us as a country, and how much we stand to gain by shaking hands rather than shaking fists.

We need them to actively model civil and respectful discourse — to “disagree better,” as Utah Governor Spencer Cox has been working to do.

Stopping political violence is an increasingly urgent and essential mission, one that can only be accomplished with bipartisan cooperation. Success will require leaders who understand the power of our shared national values, and who inspire more Americans to unite in putting country over party.