Erika Kirk Rejects Revenge for Husband's Killer

[FireDragon76]

Her speech was good!! I thought the Memorial should have ended with it, unless she requested otherwise.

But when a person is saved, nothing keeps them from getting into Heaven as she implies by saying "I do not want that man's blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: 'Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?' And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?"
That's not how it works. Her salvation is only based on her accepting Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior...nothing else!!
So whether she wants the death penalty or not for her husband's murderer, either way won't keep her from being with Charlie.

Erika Kirk associates with people, through the relationships with her husband, who used white Evangelical type religious symbols and piety in their politics, and picked up on some of the vibe or "mood" of that scene (the emotional openness, sensationalism, and enthusiasm more than sobriety), but she herself is Catholic. Catholics tend to have a more participatory view of salvation than Evangelicals.

That's another thing... if this was a "Christian memorial", how do we explain the political speech of Tulsi Gabbard, who practices a religion derived from Hinduism (and a member of what was often in the past considered a cult back in the 80's, a splinter sect of the Hare Krishnas). It seems to me "Evangelicals" in the US are expanding in definition to mean anything and everything, as long as its aligned with oligarchic politics.

 

[Yarddog]

I don't buy Biden's DOJ statistics. I hear they don't even count the BLM/Antifa riots as left wing violence.

No, that's not true.

We all have eyes, we can see what's going on.

Yes, I see the right is more violent than the left.

You know what they say about statistics, you can make them say whatever you want them to.

Yes, both left and right pencil whip stats to make them benefit their side.

Even if those stats were true (which I HIGHLY doubt), the vast majority of high profile violence and attempts at violence have been by the left.

Which ones? Where is your proof?

 

[Yarddog]

I can't really see anything redeeming about it. Context is everything. Whatever her sincere grief may have been, it's outweighed by the context. Sentimentality alone doesn't redeem a person, or a movement.

A sane and sober-minded person would be seeking consolation privately, not as a spectacle, in this moment, and not so quickly seeking to find meaning, or opportunity for others, in tragedy.

I guess you don't go to funerals or wakes.

 

[iarwain]

No, that's not true.

I think it is true. The DOJ does not consider BLM a left wing organization. I don't trust that study, not for a minute. Most especially after what I've seen in the last week. A lot depends on what you consider left wing or right wing. We have a left wing assassin, and the left is trying to claim he is a right winger. It's utter nonsense. The results of such a study will depend on who is doing the study, or who is paying for it. I'm sure if there's a Nazi group or KKK attack, they'll include it with the right wing. However you determine what is right or left will determine the results of the survey. I'm not buying it. I'll just trust my eyes, and what I see is the vast majority of violence from the left.

 

[FireDragon76]

I guess you don't go to funerals or wakes.

I do. But I don't see Sunday's rally as a funeral or memorial service as much as it was a political rally that tried to sanctify outrage and authoritarianism.

Look up the story of the Nazi martyr, Horst Wessel. Or read about how Christian nationalism draws on powerful American tropes, going back centuries, that mingle violence, racism, and nationalism, sanctified because they suppossedly protect the "pure" and pious.

 

[Malleeboy]

I do. But I don't see Sunday's rally as a funeral or memorial service as much as it was a political rally that tried to sanctify outrage and authoritarianism.

Look up the story of the Nazi martyr, Horst Wessel. Or read about how Christian nationalism draws on powerful American tropes, going back centuries, that mingle violence, racism, and nationalism, sanctified because they suppossedly protect the "pure" and pious.

This post could be taken as associating the other side as Nazi's, including a broad range of people, including fellow Christians.

Did you intend that insinuation?

 

[Richard T]

My fear is that her forgiving of the killer will be used by the defense during the sentencing stage after the killer's conviction to ask for a lightened sentence. What Erika should have done after forgiving the killer was to followup by saying she accepts the appropriate punishment that would be carried out by the men who God has assigned to be His actors in making sure the perpetrators of evil face the consequences. Forgiveness and punishment are not the same, and shouldn't be linked.

Why fear life without parole? I would say give him a chance at conversion, but since the death penalty takes twenty years or so, he will have that.

 

[Tuur]

I disagree. Context is everything.

If Erika Kirk wished to make such a statement, she could have done so in a different venue where a message of forgiveness would not have mingled with vengance and outrage. As it is, the result is risking sanctifying MAGA's bigotry and contempt, which are not Christian values.

No, no, no, and a thousand times no. This was precisely the time to say that, when there is anger. You don't like MAGA? You don't like her? No one's asking you to. Her words were not for you, though Christians would do well to take them to heart. Jesus forgave those who crucified Him; She is following Christ's example.

What you and me and every other Christian should ask is if we could do likewise in that situation.

 

[Yarddog]

I think it is true.

That's fine.

The DOJ does not consider BLM a left wing organization.

The right wingers do.

Comparative Analysis of Violent Left-and Right-Wing Extremist Groups in the United States | Office of Justice Programs

www.ojp.gov

I don't trust that study, not for a minute. Most especially after what I've seen in the last week.

The DOJ has been politicized under Trump. I don't trust them now, either.

A lot depends on what you consider left wing or right wing.

Yeah, too many don't understand the political spectrum.

We have a left wing assassin, and the left is trying to claim he is a right winger.

Incorrect. We have a young man raised to be a right winger who fell in love with an individual who is in the midst of transitioning into a woman. That doesn't make him a left wing assassin because we don't know what his political beliefs are.

It's utter nonsense.

I agree that what you said is just that. You reveal more about yourself than you do about Kirk's murderer.

The results of such a study will depend on who is doing the study, or who is paying for it. I'm sure if there's a Nazi group or KKK attack, they'll include it with the right wing. However you determine what is right or left will determine the results of the survey. I'm not buying it. I'll just trust my eyes, and what I see is the vast majority of violence from the left.

And you reveal the problem. Whether someone is right, left or somewhere in-between depends on how they believe across the full spectrum of politics.

 

[Yarddog]

I do. But I don't see Sunday's rally as a funeral or memorial service as much as it was a political rally that tried to sanctify outrage and authoritarianism.

It appeared to me as being a wake and a rally depending on the who went.

Look up the story of the Nazi martyr, Horst Wessel. Or read about how Christian nationalism draws on powerful American tropes, going back centuries, that mingle violence, racism, and nationalism, sanctified because they suppossedly protect the "pure" and pious.

Okay

 

[_Dave_]

Why fear life without parole? I would say give him a chance at conversion, but since the death penalty takes twenty years or so, he will have that.

I view everything with the idea that things are always more than they seem. I can believe that the killer's defense team will make Erika's forgiveness a central part of their defense strategy. And I can envision them putting her on the stand and misrepresenting God's Word to goad her into minimizing the severity of the crime. It wouldn't be a matter of whether their strategy is right or wrong, or even legitimate legally. All that would matter is who makes up the jury, what kind of judge presides, and how skillful the defense team is in wringing out the emotional over jurisprudence. And, let's face it ... that's exactly the left's bread and butter. The killer could be made to be the victim, and maybe even get a lighter sentence than life without parole. We've seen worse happen.

I'm sorry. I love Charlie Kirk, and I love Erika, but as far as bringing justice to her husband's killer she should have kept her statement of forgiveness to within her friends and family. I watched all 7 1/2 hours of the stream, with a lot of emotional moments, but when she made that statement my stomach took a lurch, because I immediately sensed that it could be trouble.

 

[Pepperdoodle]

You show that you are totally unaware of the events over the past, almost twenty years which have brought us to this point. Imagine that, a right winger out of touch.LOL.

Left and right have always been on opposing sides but they could work together to pass important legislation. Moderate Republicans and Democrats could be best friends and praise each other. Lindsey Graham, Joe Biden, and John McCain were incredible friends for years.

Things began to change after Obama was elected President. We, then, saw the rise of the Tea Party. It was made up of far right wingers that hated having a black man as their President. White Nationalism began to grow as groups like the Oath Keepers Egan to grow in numbers and Tea party members practiced violent opposition.

The Tea Party was absorbed by Trump's MAGA rising and moderate Republicans were forced out. Republicans were forced to sign pledges not to work with Democrats or they would be forced out.

The DOJ has the statistics which show that most political violence is perpetrated by right wingers.

Wrong again. I'm just as aware as you are, we're just on opposing sides.
Things have been worse since Obama. He and his administration were one of the worst administrations.
The Left wingers took advantage of the time Obama was in office and turned this country down a horrible path in general.
I care less what skin color a person is, all skin colors are great!
I go by a person's character and those they have around them.
Neither side does great in that, but the Left do worse.
You all have antifa, anarchism, communism, etc
You lie to yourself that the Left aren't the most politically violent.
One example: you all showed that during the 2020 summer of riots.
What started off as a protest was overtaken by the violent Left and you all caused destruction across the land, all the while some foolish Left leaning leaders encouraging it.

 

[Pepperdoodle]

Erika Kirk associates with people, through the relationships with her husband, who used white Evangelical type religious symbols and piety in their politics, and picked up on some of the vibe or "mood" of that scene (the emotional openness, sensationalism, and enthusiasm more than sobriety), but she herself is Catholic. Catholics tend to have a more participatory view of salvation than Evangelicals.

That's another thing... if this was a "Christian memorial", how do we explain the political speech of Tulsi Gabbard, who practices a religion derived from Hinduism (and a member of what was often in the past considered a cult back in the 80's, a splinter sect of the Hare Krishnas). It seems to me "Evangelicals" in the US are expanding in definition to mean anything and everything, as long as its aligned with oligarchic politics.

Wow, I guess there's always a first time for everything.
This is one of the first times that I recall of overall agreeing with one of your replies to me

Form the parts I saw, I didn't see it as a Christian memorial at all.
I saw it as a Memorial, a religious one at best.

 

[Yarddog]

Wrong again. I'm just as aware as you are, we're just on opposing sides.
Things have been worse since Obama. He and his administration were one of the worst administrations.

Wrong again. Things have been worst, as I said but not because of Obama. He went out of his way to work with Republicans to fix the major issues. When he finally gave that up, because Republicans were just stalling, hoping to get to the next election, he push forward with legislation. Obama's administration was one of the most successful administrations in US history, according to historians.

The Left wingers took advantage of the time Obama was in office and turned this country down a horrible path in general.
I care less what skin color a person is, all skin colors are great!
I go by a person's character and those they have around them.

Then you must hate Trump

Neither side does great in that, but the Left do worse.
You all have antifa, anarchism, communism, etc

So is fascism what you prefer? The far right is not about Democracy. Plus, do you understand what anarchy is?

Most of the political parties, in the US are democratic. The extremes on both sides are not. Most Republicans is government do not like Trump and admit it when cameras aren't around. They do, though fear him.

You lie to yourself that the Left aren't the most politically violent.

You lie to yourself if you believe that either right or left are in favor of political violence. It is only the extremes of both sides which are violent.

One example: you all showed that during the 2020 summer of riots.
What started off as a protest was overtaken by the violent Left and you all caused destruction across the land, all the while some foolish Left leaning leaders encouraging it.

Beyond any doubt some of the protests turned violent but most were without any violence. The media, though, did a poor job of covering the peaceful protests, especially right wing media that focused on the violent protests. Democratic leaders were calling for peace and condemned the violence, which all was documented.

Fact check: Quotes from Democratic leaders about riots, unrest taken out of context

A claim referenced incomplete and outdated quotes from Democratic leaders in an attempt to compare responses to BLM and pro-Trump protests

www.usatoday.com

 

[eleos1954]

"I've had so many people ask, 'Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?' I'll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this," she explained. "I do not want that man's blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: 'Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?' And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?"​

Continued below.

Erika Kirk rejects revenge for husband's killer

In her first NY Times interview since the assassination, Charlie Kirk's widow reveals intimate details of his final night and her faith-based forgiveness.

www.newsweek.com

She made the right decision .... leave it up to the State.

State legislatures have the power to enact laws that either allow or prohibit capital punishment within their state ... so leaving it up to them is appropriate.

 

[Pepperdoodle]

Wrong again. Things have been worst, as I said but not because of Obama. He went out of his way to work with Republicans to fix the major issues. When he finally gave that up, because Republicans were just stalling, hoping to get to the next election, he push forward with legislation. Obama's administration was one of the most successful administrations in US history, according to historians.

Then you must hate Trump

So is fascism what you prefer? The far right is not about Democracy. Plus, do you understand what anarchy is?

Most of the political parties, in the US are democratic. The extremes on both sides are not. Most Republicans is government do not like Trump and admit it when cameras aren't around. They do, though fear him.

You lie to yourself if you believe that either right or left are in favor of political violence. It is only the extremes of both sides which are violent.

Beyond any doubt some of the protests turned violent but most were without any violence. The media, though, did a poor job of covering the peaceful protests, especially right wing media that focused on the violent protests. Democratic leaders were calling for peace and condemned the violence, which all was documented.

Fact check: Quotes from Democratic leaders about riots, unrest taken out of context

A claim referenced incomplete and outdated quotes from Democratic leaders in an attempt to compare responses to BLM and pro-Trump protests

www.usatoday.com

Wrong.
Unlike some on the Left, I don't hate anyone.
Tone deaf opinion.
Wrong.
Wrong again.
Didn't click on, USA Today isn't a reliable source.

 

[Yarddog]

Unlike some on the Left, I don't hate anyone.

Most of the left doesn't hate anyone either, the same for the right.

Tone deaf opinion.
Wrong.
Wrong again.
Didn't click on, USA Today isn't a reliable source.

Useless blabber. Let me know when you have something substantial.

 

[Pepperdoodle]

Most of the left doesn't hate anyone either, the same for the right.

Useless blabber. Let me know when you have something substantial.

Most of the left doesn't hate anyone either, the same for the right.
Riiight

Useless blabber. Let me know when you have something substantial.
Fix your own useless blabber first, then you may be able to share something of substance.

 

[Palmfever]

"I've had so many people ask, 'Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?' I'll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this," she explained. "I do not want that man's blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: 'Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?' And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?"​

Continued below.

Erika Kirk rejects revenge for husband's killer

In her first NY Times interview since the assassination, Charlie Kirk's widow reveals intimate details of his final night and her faith-based forgiveness.

www.newsweek.com

Romans 12-
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I have come to understand that forgiveness cleanses the forgiver.
It is to defer judgment to God.
Yet the offense remains.

It has become my position that not only must I forgive, but more importantly, I must ask God's forgiveness of that person for the offense to be wiped.

Searching myself I'm aware that I've made mistakes and will make others.
I have no desire for any offense against me to remain attached to anyone's ledger.
Men are not perfect and they will continue to come short. They not not need my hurt accusing them on that day.
1John
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

We should not only forgive.
We should do as Christ does and did when He prayed;
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
And Stephen in acts 7:60
And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, charge not this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

So for those who choose to forgive, let's bless them with God's forgiveness also.

 

[iarwain]

Incorrect. We have a young man raised to be a right winger who fell in love with an individual who is in the midst of transitioning into a woman. That doesn't make him a left wing assassin because we don't know what his political beliefs are.

His family said he had become more political and moved to the left in recent years. He wrote "Hey fascist, catch this" on the bullet. Right wingers would not call Charlie Kirk a fascist, that's the language of the left, they are always calling the right fascists or Nazis. A right winger would not kill their own best and brightest.