Community Editorials Letters to the Editor
Guest Column | Where do we go from here?
Violence does not settle political debates, it only deepens them.
This past week, we have heard and been absorbing the news about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, while out exercising his rights to free speech. What happened is devastating and horrible and should never be acceptable in a free nation.
I grew up in going to church and continue to practice my own Christian faith. Many friends are grieving right now, and I grieve with those that grieve. I’m also aware that many other friends grieve a nation that seems to accept so much violence. A nation where the assassination of a Speaker of the House in one of the States of our Union was seemingly brushed off. The fact a school shooting occurred the same day as Mr. Kirk’s life was taken is absolutely tragic, and also something that we are too used to seeing.
Adison Richards
In these past weeks, I also can’t get out of my head a recent interview a kid gave following the shooting at a Catholic school in Minnesota. The kid spoke about his friend covering him and taking bullets for him. I do not know that we fully appreciate how rare such an interview is in the world.
Where do we go from here? In times like these, I find comfort in not only my friends and family, but in my faith, in history, and in you. History teaches me that many nations, including ours, have experienced periods of political turmoil and violence, yet seen them out.
In South Africa just 31 years ago, violent apartheid was overturned and Nelson Mandela, upon his release from prison, sought out reconciliation and built a democratic government. Mandela said, “No form of violence can ever be exercised in a society that calls itself decent.”
In our nation, we have seen the 1960’s where we lost Martin Luther King Jr., and Bobby Kennedy in the span of a few weeks. And as my Constitutional Law professor would remind us, we have seen even darker times than now, we were literally at Civil War.
I read a book involving Abraham Lincoln every year as I draw strength from a country lawyer who lost elections and his own children on his way to the Presidency, and did so during our darkest national moment. And he reminded us to look to the better angels of our character, to bind up our nation’s wounds, and to “have malice toward none (and) charity for all.”
This sentiment rhymes with the values of my faith that also give me hope. The values listed as marking a person of true faith include, “being patient in tribulation … to never repay evil for evil, but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all … and so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Finally, what gives me hope is you. My job continues to be to reach out, to listen to both sides, and to do what is right for our district. I’ve stood on your porches, I’ve read your emails, I see you at our bars and restaurants, and I have lived here my whole life. This past session I voted with my party and against my party, especially in voting against things like the gas, sales, and other taxes because I hear you and know our priorities. And in all of this, what I continue to learn each day is more about how we have so many amazing people in our district and State.
So where do we go from here?
It starts with each of us at this moment, deciding to recommit ourselves to living peaceably with all, to having charity for all, to having malice toward none, to not repaying evil for evil, but rather to seek out reconciliation with our neighbors with whom we disagree.
What I’m doing to act on this are things like hosting six town halls during session, multiple coffee hours post session, and have more coming up. Please join me on September 27th at Cups Espresso in Bremerton or October 4th at Revive in Port Orchard to talk about these issues and more, regardless of your politics I’m hear to listen and do my best. I have more on the schedule and you can visit my Rep. Adison Richards Facebook page or sign up for my newsletter for more information.
In the end, I believe we can make it through this era because whether it is wanting an affordable place to live, a safe place to live, good schools, good health care, good roads to drive on, or bridge tolls to end, we simply have far too much in common to keep us apart. Keep the faith.
Rep. Adison Richards serves as vice chair of the Housing Committee in the state House of Representatives.