What has happened to this great nation of ours? Sometimes, I don’t even recognize it any longer. American flags are hate speech? Debates are now fights? Education is indoctrination? We have lost our way and seem to be speeding toward something terrible. Perhaps, we are already there.

In my opinion, the murder of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University is much more than an unfortunate tragedy. If anything, it’s a symptom, or perhaps, a demonstration of what happens when Mass Epistemic Rigidity metastasizes into violence. However, I would also argue that we should have seen it coming. In fact, in many ways, we seem to be watching an active operation unfolding, as noted by ‘The Five Stages of Suppression.’ Of course, if that’s true, then you really need to pay attention to what I’m about to say.

As you probably already know, Kirk, a national figure who deliberately sought engagement with those who opposed him, became the latest target of someone who could no longer tolerate dissenting views. Is there more to come? Of course, Democrats and Republicans have since elevated their usual nonsense of blame and division, encouraging the average American to choose a party line rather than choose their country. That’s a bad idea.

However, the assassination of Kirk was not simply a political act. Let’s call it what it truly was: the lethal consequence of a narrow and vulnerable mind sealed off from reason, knowledge, alternative perspectives, and debate. That’s the status quo for most Americans, which is an even bigger warning.

Epistemic Rigidity as a Pathway to Violence

Remember that Epistemic Rigidity is the tendency to cling to beliefs even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. It is reinforced by cognitive biases, tribal affiliations, and echo chambers. Now, while rigidity itself is not new, what is new is how easily it can be amplified through digital platforms, reinforced by peer networks, and validated by ideological mentors or educators who substitute indoctrination for teaching. Everyone has now witnessed the depth of the problem. Unfortunately, some are still in denial of the facts (epistemic rigidity), but I fear that everyone is also about to witness the repercussions nonetheless.

When individuals can no longer tolerate the existence of alternative viewpoints, when exposure to differing ideas provokes anger rather than inquiry, the ground becomes fertile for radicalization. The result of this is often not good at all. In the case of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect now charged in Kirk’s assassination, investigators point to years of growing political hostility, online communities that reinforced disdain for opposing voices, and a fixation on symbolic gestures of defiance. How many others are out there?

Ultimately, this resulted in engraved ammunition, meme-inspired messages, and a sniper’s nest on a college campus. Now, whether by teachers who dismissed open inquiry in favor of ideological certainty, peers who rewarded hostility toward dissent, echo chambers in denial of their radicalization, or online cultures that elevate mockery and rage, we can reasonably infer that rigidity was weaponized until it culminated in murder. The act and the response are predictable. Hence, one has to wonder: if it is getting worse, what comes next? I believe that the coming months are likely to get a little rough.

The Social Reinforcement of Rigidity

I need you to understand that radicalization rarely happens in isolation. Young people, especially in formative years, are highly susceptible to reinforcement loops. A dismissive comment by a trusted authority (teacher), the laughter of peers at an extremist joke, or the validation of an online group can combine to harden biases into unshakable dogma. In Robinson’s case, we can reasonably speculate that his views were not formed in a vacuum, despite (or even because of) his parents’ best efforts.

One can note that the bulk of the rage is coming from a very popular communist-run platform where most of the echoes are now being created (see here and here). And despite what many on social media are trying to deny or suggest, the truth is that investigators have tied Robinson to an ideology that drew from Antifa slogans, internet memes, and gaming culture. Of course, the antifa connection tells us that it’s likely something bigger. The point is that just like in other circumstances, radicalized actors are typically shaped by a chorus of influences that feed their rigidity until the individual can no longer imagine coexistence with those who disagree.

Where there is one, there are likely others. Where there is smoke, expect fire. Frankly, that’s why we should expect more of the same. If this incident has done anything, it has exposed thousands of people who suffer from the same condition. Maybe more.

Of course, this is also why Epistemic Rigidity is so dangerous: it does not merely distort personal understanding; it can corrode the social fabric. When enough people view ideological opponents not as fellow citizens but as existential enemies, political violence becomes not just possible but, in their minds, justified. I need you to understand just how close to a bigger conflict we truly are.

The murders of Kirk and Iryna Zarutska are examples of a much deeper fracture that has formed beneath the surface of our society. Likely rooted in ignorance and indoctrination, these are merely the latest in a long line of acts of political violence in recent years. Newsweek did a great job on an article on this topic that I encourage you to read.

And no, unfortunately, more laws are not going to fix this. The university was a gun-free zone, and murder is already illegal. Whether it was a rifle or a knife, we must understand that the real weapon here was indoctrination mixed with feeble minds.

Moreover, and from what I can tell, these killings are not isolated acts of madness; they are the outward expressions of a dangerous subculture that has been nurtured by years of ideological hardening, reinforced by echo chambers, and inflamed by those who profit from division. Frankly, I believe that this nation has contracted a Marxist disease that is destroying us from within.

I also believe that people should not shy away from the reality at this point. Instead, examine some of the videos and images. Listen to the people celebrating these deaths to fully appreciate what is happening. Listen to their rhetoric. It’s getting bad.

However, I would argue that each act of politically motivated violence chips away at the shared trust that allows a diverse people to coexist. When dialogue is replaced by dehumanization, and disagreement is treated as treason, every assassination, bombing, or mob attack becomes a rehearsal for something much larger. As it so happens, there are people on both sides now calling for something larger to occur. It seems that we are now fully caught in a drift toward civil conflict. Granted, this conflict can probably still be avoided, but if this trajectory continues unchecked, the line between sporadic violence and systemic upheaval is likely to blur, leaving liberty itself as the ultimate casualty. Of course, it seems to me that this is precisely what the communists want (to weaken the United States from within).

Liberty Under Fire

On that note, I also need you to understand that Kirk’s assassination, or the murder of Iryna Zarutska, was not just an attack on one man or one woman; it was an attack on liberty itself. It was an attack on you and me. It was meant to send a message of fear that those who speak boldly or who appreciate or defend American values will pay with their lives. The goal of such violence is never merely to silence a single voice, but to intimidate an entire movement or people into retreat. Take note of the one-sidedness.

Of course, this isn’t new. The American people have been dealing with similar tactics from government actors for years. In fact, I still struggle to make sense of incidents such as the Daniel Shaver case, the Bundy standoff, or the case against Cox and Kettler (etc., etc., etc.). Now, I share this only to imply that the average American seems to be under attack by both communists and federalists (both anti-American), and I think the average American is finally getting fed up with it. Those of us who just wanted to be left alone and live our best lives are now roused and sick of it.

And this is where our response must be unambiguous. We must truly understand the game we woke up in. In my opinion, the worst possible outcome would be for liberty-minded people to grow silent, to retreat further from campuses, classrooms, or communities because the threat of violence looms. History teaches us that liberty has always been challenged by those who despise it, but its preservation has always depended on the few who are strong enough and willing to defend it, even at great personal cost. I want you to understand that if you want this to stop, you need to stop turning the cheek and stop justifying or tolerating such nonsense. You train people how to treat you, and respect only comes to those who respect themselves. Act accordingly.

A Call to Resolve

Ultimately, we must understand that we are out of balance as a nation. And as with any imbalance, balance must be restored. As Jefferson promised, the storm will wash us clean. Now, while I do not know what that looks like yet, I do know that the lesson of these tragedies is not that free speech is too dangerous, but that it is too important to abandon. If anything, these unfortunate deaths should solidify our resolve. There are many actors (mentally ill, intellectually weak, radicalized individuals, political leaders, public servants, ideological movements, and even institutions) that see themselves as engaged in a war against American values and the American people. They have said as much. Their weapons are rigidity, intolerance, and, in some cases, bullets.

Constitutionalists should not back down. Granted, you may not have started this war, but if outcomes matter… if this nation means anything to you… then you might want to think about getting involved sooner rather than later. Of course, your first step is to solidify knowledge, courage, and an unyielding commitment to liberty. Remember: you cannot support, love, defend, or exercise something you do not know. Your resolve should be rooted in the documents we aim to protect.

So, before you do anything else, I would encourage you to brush up on your documents. You must first learn more about the principles you espouse or defend, deepen your understanding of what is at stake, and embolden your positions. Get your heads out of your echo chambers and appeal to accuracy over ideological perceptions. The antidote to rigidity is reason; the antidote to fear is resolve. To preserve the freedom to speak, to think, and to debate openly, Americans must carry forward the fight with greater determination than before. If liberty is to endure, this watershed moment must remind us that the cost of silence is far greater than the cost of courage. Freedom-loving Americans have been ignorant and silent for far too long.

More importantly, we need to be honest with ourselves about what is truly going on. That will be hard for some to do, but the rhetoric is escalating on all sides, so it should be easier to see now. Some of it is very extreme and overt. For example, Jasmine Crockett, a lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 30th congressional district, seems to openly agree with MSNBC when they encouraged their viewers to “Pick up a weapon,” because as they emphatically stated, “we’re at war”. The questions you need to ask are, for what outcome? Who is “we?” A war against whom?

In my opinion, this isn’t Republican versus Democrat; it’s bigger than that. This is more than likely a Marxism versus Americanism situation. Moreover, the question seems to be whether a real fight has already begun or is about to. Similarly, in moments like this, when Constitutional leadership seems to be lacking, we must ponder what our Founders would have us do. That is something I plan to dedicate a lot of time to exploring in the coming months, and I will gladly share my insights here if you wish.

So, what should we do? Should we stand up in defense of our Republic now or allow all of this to become another tally mark in the long list of offenses, quickly forgotten once the initial shock fades or some bigger tragedy is thrust upon us? I don’t know that answer at the moment, but our time to decide seems to be running out. Either way, just remember that if silence is chosen over courage, then liberty will simply not survive us.

The Corrosion of Liberty Realized

I think I will close with my initial thoughts on what our founders might have us do. First of all, I think that if they were here to witness the last month or so, I sincerely doubt they would ask us to retreat into silence or fracture into warring camps. Instead, they would remind us that liberty was never meant to be easy, that it demands courage, education, and sacrifice from every generation. At the same time, I can also see them urging us to meet violence with resolve, fear with knowledge, and division with the unshakable insistence that we are first and foremost Americans (not communists). In fact, they might remind us that the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of both patriots and tyrants. Third, I think they would want us to remember that the Republic was not secured by men who bowed to intimidation, but by citizens who believed that liberty was worth every cost.

That said, our founders would also likely tell us that the time to “fight it out” comes only when liberty itself has been systematically dismantled and no peaceful course remains. Of course, they would likely warn us not to confuse impatience or factional anger with that moment, but they would also remind us that submission to tyranny is not an option. They made it clear (numerous times) that the line is crossed when Americans can no longer speak, assemble, or govern themselves without fear or penalty. When that line is crossed, they would not only permit resistance, but they would also call it our duty. So, the question must be, are we approaching the moment when Americans can no longer speak or assemble without fear? Has that line already been crossed?

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that public gatherings are now dangerous places. Clearly, those who speak of liberty, freedom, American exceptionalism, etc., are now targets for murder. The Marxists are openly stating such things. Moreover, it seems to me that when government officials themselves begin to echo the language of violence, we should be deeply alarmed. Such statements are not merely rhetoric aimed at persuasion but instruments of intimidation. ‘Pick up a weapon, we’re at war’ may very well be the only true warning any of us get, and yet most will likely never hear it. Of course, the true underlying warning here is that those words were not spoken in defense of the Constitution, but in service of its corrosion. Perhaps that should be the line for anyone who pledged allegiance or swore an oath in defense of the Constitution, but that is a decision we must all make for ourselves individually.

Anyway, I would argue that the founders warned us that factional leaders who stoke fear would drive us toward the collapse of the Republic. Here we are, at a similar crossroad some 250 years later. It seems to me that if we allow this corrosion to continue unchecked, it will not be the tyrants who are blamed for ending the Republic, but the people who surrendered it to them.

I will write more in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

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