Open Letter: A Turning Point for American Discourse

Honoring Charlie Kirk’s legacy will restore civility to our nation.

Dear Spectator readers,

Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk, a steadfast champion of conservatism and a guiding voice for college students everywhere. It is hard to gauge the full impression he left on Washington and Lee University, where he spoke in both 2019 and 2024.

Not everyone on campus agreed with him. Despite this, Kirk openly sought opposition to his views and reinforced an often-neglected principle of American discourse:  personal opinion is subject to critique, and no ideology is free from debate.