I discovered Charlie Kirk in 2022 when Elon Musk bought Twitter and opened it to conservatives. I never scrolled past Charlie’s videos. They were compelling and humorous, yet thought provoking. Truth telling was his goal no matter how difficult it might be to hear. Most students flocked to him and his words.
So I was surprised to read Kate Sonnick’s “Elegy for Empathy” commentary and see Charlie’s words taken out of context. He did say, “I can’t stand the word empathy,” but he went on to say he preferred the words “compassion” and “sympathy.” He argued that it’s almost impossible to feel empathy … to put oneself in another’s shoes … to feel what someone else feels.
In other words, who can empathize with Erika Kirk having to tell her 3-year-old daughter that Daddy’s never coming home? Or to know what it’s like when she looks at their son who will only know his father from old videos? I can’t feel empathy for her, but I can express compassion and profound sympathy.
I think Ms. Sonnick missed a chance to write a meaningful article about empathy, compassion and sympathy. To actually quote him truthfully. If you search out his videos and interviews, you’ll find a man of faith who thought we are all deserving of compassion no matter skin color or sexual preference. He wanted us all to be the best version of ourselves.
Charlotte Green
Park City and Florida