Israeli-Palestinian relations

Most of us still like to think of ourselves as people who can talk things through. We say we value openness, nuance and honest disagreement. We teach our children to use their words. We tell our students universities are places for inquiry. We tell ourselves democratic life depends on the exchange of ideas rather than the silencing of them. And yet, when a subject becomes morally charged, many of us do not become more thoughtful. We become more guarded.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while addressing students at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old. Authorities have described the incident as a targeted attack, and a 22-year-old suspect has been apprehended. Utah’s governor described it as a political assassination. Whatever one thinks of Kirk’s views, it’s difficult to deny that a killing such as this is an attack on democratic life itself. No argument justifies it, no grievance excuses it.

Utah’s governor described it as a political assassination. Whatever one thinks of Kirk’s views, it’s difficult to deny that a killing such as this is an attack on democratic life itself. No argument justifies it, no grievance excuses it. Charlie Kirk was, by almost any measure, polarising. Equally loved and loathed, he embodied contradiction.