OPINION:
America is at a breaking point. The anger, division and lawlessness we see in our streets, in the media and in our politics are tearing at the fabric of our nation. The differences and divisions among us feel deeper and deeper. Rates of mental illness are climbing, social-media-driven outrage amplifies the fringes, and political extremism has taken root in too many hearts, turning neighbors into enemies, friends into foes. It is a dangerous path that makes violence not only more thinkable but also possible.
Last week, Utah was confronted with that reality in a very painful way. The assassination of Charlie Kirk, no matter where one stood on his politics, was a tragedy that should have shaken you as an American and as a human being. It crossed a line that should never be crossed.
For more than two centuries, this nation has been defined by its ability to fight fiercely with words. We rally, protest and vehemently argue. Yet the moment bullets replace ballots, the foundation of our republic begins to crack.
Still, Utah showed the nation something important in the aftermath last week. We did not riot, torch businesses or meet violence with violence. We turned to our conservative values, our faith, our families and our communities. Neighbors held vigils, families drew closer, and people prayed, mourned and served together.
Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith put it best: “We needed those prayers. That’s what we needed to get through this.” In just 33 hours, thanks to a record number of tips and the tireless work of law enforcement, real progress was made.
This is how Utah responds: not by tearing communities apart but rather by drawing them closer. Not by mob rule, but through faith, law and order.
Utah’s response matters because it shows another way forward that’s not rooted in anger or retaliation. That path begins with a firm commitment that political violence is never acceptable. Not when it happens to people we agree with and not when it happens to those we oppose. To excuse it once is to invite it in next time. Just because someone doesn’t share your politics doesn’t make them an evil, hateful person.
If we let this moment deepen divides, then we will have lost twice, but if we follow Utah’s example, we can remind the nation that even in grief, American resolve endures. The next generation is watching how we handle this moment. Do we teach them to insult and intimidate, or do we show them what real leadership looks like? Adversity will continue to test us, but if we meet it with strength, patience and faith, it can make us stronger than before.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, let us remember that our strength has always come from a free people — imperfect, passionate and often divided — who still chose to speak, argue and disagree while finding just enough unity to keep moving forward. As Ronald Reagan said in 1964, “If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth.”
We don’t need to think alike to stand together, but we do need to stand together if we want a nation built on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to endure. We must stay firm in our faith, secure in our freedoms, committed to law and order, and anchored in the values that built this country. This is the true battle of our time, and it is one we cannot afford to lose.
• Mike Schultz is the speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, representing House District 12 in Weber County.
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