When our republic stops talking

America lost a faith-filled husband, father, and patriot. For many, there will be a permanent hole in their hearts and a void in their lives that will never be filled. To say this was a senseless tragedy is an understatement and brushes aside the true nature of what really happened: Charlie Kirk was murdered for loving God, his family, and America by those who don’t. Our political climate has reached a fever-pitch, and our beloved America, our grand experiment, our fragile republic, is broken. Many today are wondering if it is broken beyond repair.

The timing of Charlie’s assassination coincided with the anniversary of the September 11th attacks — another heartbreaking day for America — and compounded the sorrow of a day already etched in the nation’s collective grief.

But, as we did on September 12, 2001, today we will be steeled in our resolve to honor Charlie by carrying on the work and mission for which he devoted and gave his life. Charlie was filled with faith and love for the United States and its exceptionalism. He taught our children to love our country, that it is worth fighting for, and that if we don’t fight to preserve our freedom, it will be taken from us and our beloved republic will disappear.

Sadly, I could see the writing on the wall during my time as the Pennsylvania Senate Parliamentarian. For more than a decade, I served as the gatekeeper of the Senate’s rules, which governed how the chamber conducted the legislative process. These rules were adopted to provide order and decorum, allowing members to deliberate the issues before them meaningfully. Those rules were relatively straightforward: for example, the senators must debate policies, not personalities. Unfortunately, the once respectful, albeit spirited, debate started to devolve into inflammatory soundbites, eroding the spirit of collaboration for the common good.

Things had profoundly changed, and this was reflective of what was happening across the country and around the world with everyday citizens. What was once thoughtful public debate in the town square has been replaced by combative, ugly, divisive exchanges.

This reckless rhetoric has consequences. It has inspired countless acts of political violence — some of which hit far too close to home. From the attempt on President Donald Trump’s life in Butler to the firebombing of the Governor’s Mansion where Josh Shapiro and his family slept, Pennsylvanians are all too familiar with political violence. These aren’t isolated incidents; they reveal a troubling climate where disagreement is no longer tolerated and force is the only arbiter for disputes.

All of this is unhinged, unacceptable, and un-American.

When I think of what is genuinely American, I think of the relationship between Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. During their tenure, Ginsburg represented the progressive wing of the bench, and Antonin stood firmly to her right. Yet, despite their ideological differences, they shared a profound friendship that transcended politics. Their bond — marked by mutual respect, intellectual admiration, and even shared vacations — serves as a powerful metaphor for the kind of civil and respectful dialogue so desperately needed in today’s polarized world.

Ginsburg and Scalia proved that it is not only possible but also enriching to disagree civilly. Common ground may be elusive in the world of politics, but only when it strays from a mutual respect for shared humanity. Genuine dialogue requires listening and humility.

Most importantly, it requires courage. In an era of polarizing partisanship, standing up for what’s right often loses out to what is politically expedient.

And that’s what Charlie taught us. Agree or disagree with his politics, you cannot deny his courage to stand up for his beliefs — which is precisely what he did with his last breaths in this tragically broken world. 

I’m proud to work in what’s known as the Freedom Movement, where we strive every day to improve the lives of the good people of our great commonwealth by advancing American freedom — right here in Pennsylvania.

I’m not “extreme” in my beliefs: My values are faith, family, freedom, hard work, and reverence for our Constitution. I try to live out those values every day. When I campaigned two years ago for an appellate judgeship, I told countless people across Pennsylvania that’s who I am and what I stand for. I won’t apologize for this. I am proud to stand and work with my peers in Pennsylvania and across the nation who share those values and who are fighting for freedom and to preserve our republic — an America where we can live in freedom, peace, and prosperity.

September 10, 2025, was a dark day and a brutal reminder that freedom is not free. For those who are behind this murder and celebrating it, there is a special place for you in the next life.

But for me, and millions of Americans just like me, we are more committed now than ever to dig in and remain resolute and steadfast in our resolve to save our broken yet beloved country.

But most importantly, we must keep talking to one another — no matter what our differences may be. Again, Charlie offered words of wisdom:

When people stop talking, really bad stuff starts. When marriages stop talking, divorce happens. When civilization stops talking, civil war ensues. When you stop having a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to want to commit violence against that group.

We must continue — as Charlie would want us to do — to fight to preserve our great republic. We will do this, as he did, with words, civil discourse, and engaging conversations — not with violence.

Megan Martin, a former state Senate parliamentarian, is the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank.