“God who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?”
–Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States

A stabbing. Iryna Zarutska was a 23-year-old Ukranian refugee who came to America for a better life. Sadly, she was stabbed to death in late August on Charlotte, North Carolina’s light rail system, riding home from work. Her murderer has a criminal record, suffers from schizophrenia, and had no business being free to roam the streets.

A shooting. This victim, however, was the well-known conservative activist, Charlie Kirk. He was known for his appeal to young people, his advocacy for dialogue rather than confrontation, and for his Christian faith he proudly expressed. He was shot to death as he was appealing to a crowd of thousands for political discourse, not vitriol.

Two young-adult lives, senselessly and tragically taken from us. One’s cause was to make America a better place, the other’s was to live in our country after her native Ukraine had been decimated by Russia.

Although Ms. Zarutska’s tragedy became a national headline, even reaching the Oval Office desk, I suspect her murder will soon be a footnote in Charlotte’s crime statistics. But I may be wrong, as her death has already sparked an effort in the state legislature that would keep dangerous criminals from being so carelessly granted their freedom.

The problem of our society turning a blind eye to criminals with debilitating mental health disorders remains a serious issue. In an effort to take a kinder, less restrictive approach to people mentally afflicted, we’ve turned them loose on a world they often aren’t equipped to handle. That’s a topic worthy of its own blog.

Certainly, Mr. Kirk’s death has sparked national outrage for its senselessness, and rightly so. He was a voice for dialogue, respect for those who hold opposing views, and an inspiration to many–notably, young adults. He particularly appealed to Generation Z, our young people who grew up with cell phones and the internet and, perhaps not unrelated, struggle with identity, self-esteem, and mental health issues. The Gen Z who shot Mr. Kirk was reported to have been radicalized on the internet.

Mr. Kirk’s voice was a needed salve for a wounded generation. Ironically, it was quieted by one of their own.

Now, the debate begins. Will the murder of Charlie Kirk cause a sea change in our country? Forgive me if I’m skeptical. I entered my teen years in the 60s, a decade marred by the assassination of a sitting president, the murder of a strongly-favored presidential contender, and the murder of an iconic voice for peaceful protests, civil rights, and the dignity of people of all colors. Those three deaths didn’t move the needle. Look where we are today.

To borrow from Senator Ted Kennedy’s tribute to his brother Robert, Charlie Kirk “need not be idolized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life.” Did he have flaws? Of course . . . we all do. But I’ll say this: he had the courage of his convictions. He was a champion for liberty, freedom of speech, and was a bold voice for Jesus Christ. By all accounts, he viewed life through the prism of a Christian worldview.

Isn’t that what we need in our country? A spiritual wakeup call? A return to civility and dialogue based on faith, however you want to define it, as the undergirding of our convictions? After all, our country’s founders based our nation’s most treasured documents on the dignity of all people–even those with whom we vehemently disagree–and on a God who ultimately controls our freedom, fortune and fate.

If Charlie Kirk does have an enduring legacy, it might just be due to his unwavering convictions and faith. By all reports, people are joining Mr. Kirk’s movement, Turning Point USA, in droves. If that continues, he could be an even bigger force in death than he was in life. Our nation’s people might recapture our civility, and our country might better reflect that land others, like Ms. Zarutska, seek.

I suspect Charlie and Iryna would like that.