I often feel out of step with today’s politics and culture, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk brought that unease into focus. I barely knew who he was, and I had never heard of his organization, Turning Point USA. That distance may reflect my place in the political timeline.
I belong to “Generation Jones,” a micro-generation born between 1954 and 1964. We sit uneasily between Boomers and Gen X — too young to have strong memories of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, or Woodstock, yet shaped by Watergate, the Vietnam War and 1970s stagflation.
That in-between identity extends to politics. I do not get my political news from social media. Although I do listen to podcasts, I still read newspapers, albeit primarily online. I never fit the ethos of ’60s liberalism, but I also reject MAGA’s brand of conservatism. Today, being a political moderate feels almost impossible. For example, I believe immigrants who entered this country illegally and have committed crimes should be deported immediately. At the same time, undocumented workers in agriculture, elder care, or other fields where American labor is scarce should at least have an opportunity to obtain legal work permits with conditions.
As I learn more about Charlie Kirk, I find myself disagreeing with almost all of his opinions, some of which appear to be performative. Still, I think he would have encouraged us to keep debating and to resist silencing opinions we dislike. I don’t think he would have supported people being fired from their jobs for whatever they said about him, short of advocating for violence. Mr. Kirk could hold strong beliefs while still being able to enjoy the parody of him in South Park. That spirit of conviction without bitterness is rare today — and sorely needed.
Philip Wasserman
Stevenson Ranch
