The news that Charlie Kirk, a young conservative activist, was shot and killed while speaking at an event in Utah was shocking. This tragedy is the latest in a rising tide of political violence that has swept the United States.
In just the past year, in addition to Kirk’s murder, a man shot and killed a Minnesota legislator and her husband and wounded another legislator and his wife; someone broke into the Pennsylvania’s governor’s mansion and set in on fire, forcing Governor Josh Shapiro and his family to flee; and then former president and presidential candidate Donald Trump survived not one but two assassination attempts. Violent political protests have also become a regular feature of American politics, often involving destruction of property, hospitalizations, and clashes between opposing sides.
Far too many Americans now feel that opinions and ideas contrary to their own are a form of metaphorical violence that warrants the use of actual violence in self-defense. And far too many also think that violence—whether vandalism, intimidation, or physical attacks—is an acceptable mode of political persuasion. I have a very different view, one that I feel compelled to share: speech isn’t violence and violence isn’t speech.
I have long been a champion of free speech. As someone who has made his living trafficking in ideas, giving speeches and writing books, I have a heightened sensitivity to any attempt to stifle debate. (Perhaps more disturbing is the chilling effect of violence on speech as individuals begin to reconsider sharing ideas and start self-censoring). And as someone who has thrown his hat in the ring and run for office, I am even more sensitive to using political violence to censor views or to control a narrative; there were times during my campaign when my staff was concerned for my safety.
Over the course of my travels across more than 80 countries, I have seen political violence derail countries and legitimacy in governments. I never imagined I’d watch it happen in America. I was on the ground in Pakistan in 2007 and watched political violence escalate until opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated; the country was immediately and rapidly torn apart by riots. When I was in Beirut, across the street from my hotel was a crater left by the truck bomb that killed former prime minister Rafik Hariri, triggering the Cedar Revolution. And Colombia, a country I have visited many times, has seen more than its fair share of assassinations and political violence; in fact, just three months ago, Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a presidential candidate, was ambushed at a campaign event and shot in the head.
The problem with political violence is that it almost always escalates as each side goes after the other, outrage spirals ever higher, and normal life deteriorates. Younger members of society begin to lose faith in the future, leading to brain drain and less innovation and new ideas. Debate (other than among the political warriors fighting the battles) dies off and dissension is squashed. Controversial or contrarian thinkers self-censor and polarization intensifies. The vicious cycle accelerates.
Our country is on the brink, and the escalating political violence in America is a symptom of a culture in crisis. Free speech will inevitably lead to disagreements. Violence, however, is not a natural or necessary reaction to disagreements. We need to return to civil discourse, respectful disagreement, and a willingness to compromise. Being civil and working with those who have different beliefs is not a sign of weakness; it’s the basis of a functioning democracy.
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VIKRAM MANSHARAMANI is an entrepreneur, consultant, scholar, neighbor, husband, father, volunteer, and professional generalist who thinks in multiple-dimensions and looks beyond the short-term. Self-taught to think around corners and connect original dots, he spends his time speaking with global leaders in business, government, academia, and journalism. He’s currently the Chairman and CEO of Goodwell Foods, a manufacturer of private label frozen pizza. LinkedIn has twice listed him as its #1 Top Voice in Money & Finance, and Worth profiled him as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Finance. Vikram earned a PhD From MIT, has taught at Yale and Harvard, and is the author of three books, The Making of a Generalist: An Independent Thinker Finds Unconventional Success in an Uncertain World, Think for Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence and Boombustology: Spotting Financial Bubbles Before They Burst. Vikram lives in Lincoln, New Hampshire with his wife and two children, where they can usually be found hiking or skiing.]
