By Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon
I still can’t believe Charlie Kirk is gone. Even after that incredible memorial service and tribute to his life and work last Sunday, I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and find everything back to normal.
But no. This is our world now, and we have to live in it.
I don’t want to dwell on the awful things we’ve heard from some on the left these past two weeks. It’s encouraging that the public is rising up and demanding accountability. Instead, I want to focus on why Charlie Kirk was so influential, and how we can carry his legacy forward.
Charlie lived a life free of fear. He walked onto college campuses across the country knowing he would face not only disagreement but also angry protests. Rather than hiding, he handed the microphone to his biggest detractors, choosing debate over shouting matches.
But Charlie was more than a campus debater. He was a master organizer, building Turning Point USA from scratch at just 18 years old and spearheading a massive get-out-the-vote effort that helped return Donald Trump to the White House nearly a year ago.
Make no mistake: Charlie’s assassination is a devastating loss for America and for the conservative movement. Yet even from this great evil, some good may come.
I’m encouraged by what I see on college and high school campuses today. Through both his life and his death, Charlie Kirk has inspired millions of young people to take up the torch of liberty. As Ronald Reagan reminded us, freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction—it must be fought for again and again. I believe the next generation is ready for that fight, and we have Charlie to thank for it.
Charlie accomplished more in his short life than most of us will in three times as long. Vice President J.D. Vance said it best: “Charlie Kirk suffered a terrible fate… but it’s not the worst fate. It is better to face a gunman than to live your life afraid to speak the truth.”
Charlie lived out his faith and his beliefs. In his absence, we are challenged to do the same. What does it look like to truly walk the walk? That answer is different for each of us. Maybe it means running for office to represent your community. Maybe it means volunteering for a campaign or your local Republican Party. Maybe you don’t have time but you can give financially.
One thing Charlie Kirk taught us is that life is too short to waste on the sidelines. We must live in the arena, fighting to build a better tomorrow for generations to come.
Do it for Charlie. Do it for America.
About Dorothy Moon
Dorothy Moon was elected to serve as the chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party in July of 2022, and reelected in 2024. Moon served three terms in the Idaho Legislature as State Representative for District 8. Moon’s career in public service has focused on the advancement of individual liberties and reducing the size and scope of government.
