On Violence, Civility, and What We Owe Each Other

I recently launched my Mark Edgington YouTube channel, where I had planned to start posting lighthearted videos about dad advice and things going on in my life currently. But when I heard about the Charlie Kirk assassination, which closely followed the murder of Iryna Zartuska, I felt the need to speak out.

I want to unpack why this matters. More than just reacting, we need to reflect on what this says about how we treat each other and what kind of community we want to build.

When violence is used, no matter who it’s against or what side of the political fence you’re on, it crosses a line. It erodes trust, it breeds fear, and it normalizes harm as a response. That’s not what I believe in. Not as a father. Not as someone who believes in accountability. Not as someone who believes in community.

Violence against people because of their identity or beliefs is wrong. It undermines the possibility of honest conversation, empathy, and the kind of society where community service, fairness, and respect have real meaning.

These sorts of moments calls for more than condemnation. Here are a few things I believe we can do:

• Speak clearly — let there be no doubt what kind of behavior we reject. Words like “violence is unacceptable” shouldn’t feel controversial, but sometimes they do. We have to say them anyway.

• Model respect — in our conversations, in our disagreements, in our public and private lives. We can disagree without demonizing.

• Stand up for victims — even if they aren’t people we agree with. Part of integrity is defending the dignity of every person.

• Teach the next generation — my son needs to see what it means to face injustice or hurt without resorting to anger or echo chambers. We owe kids that example.

As a dad, I want to raise someone who understands that strength is not measured by how loud you are or how many people agree with you. Strength is measured by how you behave when disagreements arise. Resilience, empathy, the courage to face difficult truths; these are lessons I hope live in our home.

If you’re interested, my YouTube video is linked here.

Yours in Peace,

Mark Edgington

This article also appears on https://www.markedgington.org, where you can learn more about Mark Edgington’s ongoing work.