On September 10, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. The accused, Tyler Robinson, reportedly targeted Kirk for his political beliefs. The tragedy sent shockwaves across the U.S. and U.K., sparking grief, outrage, and a flood of polarized reactions.
Spirituality provides a lens to understand what’s happening here: ego at work. Beyond the personal loss and grief, the collective ego feeds on such events, intensifying division and suffering. Let’s look at how.
How Ego Shows Up in This Event
1. Identity + Belief Attachment
Many are defining themselves — or their entire side — by how they respond to Kirk’s death. Conservatives frame him as a martyr; critics frame him as a provocateur. Beliefs and identity fuse, so a challenge to one feels like a challenge to the other.
➡ Consequence: Polarization deepens. Nuance disappears. Listening becomes rare.
2. Need to Be Right / Scapegoating
Leaders and commentators quickly cast blame: “the radical left” is accused of fueling hate; others insist conservatives created the conditions. Each side strengthens itself by declaring the other side guilty.
➡ Consequence: “Us vs. them” grows sharper. Truth is obscured by competing narratives.
3. Reactivity & Outrage
Responses are charged with emotion: sorrow, fury, vengeance, defensiveness. Media amplifies the outrage, and social platforms magnify every emotional spike.
➡ Consequence: Emotions run the show. Rational reflection becomes nearly impossible.
4. Labels & Role Fixation
Kirk is labeled a “martyr” by some, “hate figure” by others. His widow is turned into a symbolic role. Identity collapses into labels.
➡ Consequence: The story becomes black-and-white. Complexity vanishes. Healing is blocked.
5. Feeding the Pain-Body
Historical wounds — racism, class wars, cultural clashes — are re-activated. This single event becomes fuel for old grievances.
➡ Consequence: The collective pain-body is re-energized, keeping cycles of hurt and hostility alive.
What Presence-Based Politics Could Look Like
Spirituality reminds us: the moment we see the ego, we’ve already stepped beyond it. Here’s how presence might shift political responses:
- From accusation → to inquiry: Instead of “who’s to blame,” we ask, “what forces are shaping this violence?”
- Acknowledging complexity: Recognizing multiple factors — rhetoric, radicalization, mental health — without collapsing into one-sided stories.
- Centering compassion and justice: Supporting victims and communities without inflaming revenge.
- Listening across divides: Allowing criticism without defensiveness, seeking common ground beneath the labels.
- Speaking with awareness: Choosing words that calm rather than ignite outrage, avoiding opportunistic point-scoring.
Closing Reflection
Charlie Kirk’s death is a tragedy. But beyond the grief lies a choice: do we let ego hijack the narrative, or can we bring awareness into the way we process and respond? If even a few voices in politics step out of ego, they create space for healing and for conscious problem-solving.
In that space, politics becomes less about identity battles — and more about human beings working together to reduce suffering and build a future.