To the Editor
I would like to make a few comments regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
We have a right to disagree with each other but there is no right to take the life of someone we disagree with. If the person we disagree with is in violation of the law, there is provision by law to address the issue. Taking someone's life to solve a disagreement demonstrates a lack of character. Ultimately, the lack of ability to disagree peacefully is a serious character flaw that reveals an inability to restrain oneself and act with maturity. That so many people at all levels of society agreed with the shameful act of violence and murder demonstrates the immaturity of our society in general.
Such immaturity of character moves society into the great lack of spiritual quality that Americans falsely believe is their strength. An aspect of this character flaw is the lack of spiritual strength. The reason some states want to put the Ten Commandments in every classroom is because our law system is based on the Ten Commandments, which is a set of Biblical principles given by God and includes prohibitions against stealing, killing, and bearing false witness, and are basic to Godly moral teaching.
A part of assassination is not only the killing of a person but also the destruction of a person's character. It is so easy to destroy someone's reputation but is considered the same as killing in God's eyes. In that respect, we have many who are guilty of assassination and will be accountable to Him in the judgement.
Another aspect of stealing, killing, and bearing false witness is America's increasing lack of spiritual leadership. In the search for a pastor to fill the pulpit of a local church board, they routinely do a background check, but the candidates have failures in financial management and social conduct. So there is an alarming lack of mature guidance in organizations that depend on character development. This is definitely not a political problem but one much deeper and more basic: that of character development, and ultimately, of spiritual maturity in the training of children and youth while they are still malleable-another aspect being strongly resisted in our schools and organizations that once taught children how to value human life and respect their parents and neighbors.
Joyce Baumgardner
Macomb
