Disappointed by reactions

Dear Editor,

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at approximately 12:23 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, Charlie Kirk was shot by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson at the courtyard on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.  Charlie's wife Erika and their two small children were in attendance along with approximately 3000 people, the majority of them college students.  Mr. Kirk died about an hour later.

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by 27-year-old John Wilkes Booth at The Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C.  President Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln was seated next to the President when he was shot.  President Lincoln died the next day at 7:22 a.m.

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot by 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald during a parade in Dallas, Texas.  President Kennedy's wife Jacqueline was seated next to the President when the fatal shots were fired.  President Kennedy was pronounced dead at 1:00 pm, 30 minutes after the shooting.

Five years later on June 5, 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy was shot by 24-year-old Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California shortly after Kennedy's victory speech for winning the California primary.  Robert Kennedy died the following day.  His wife Ethel who was six months pregnant was with her husband when he was shot as they entered the kitchen area.

I can't imagine the emotional turmoil that these devoted women experienced witnessing the murder of their husbands.  The shock and sadness to see their loved ones snuffed out by young men who decided to murder those who they disagree with.

I am disappointed at the reactions by certain members of our government, media, and citizens to the murder of Charlie Kirk. Whether you didn't like some of Charlie Kirk's positions is no justification for the viral hatred being slung on the airways and through other forms of media.

One of the worst letters I have come across is from Paula Dail in her letter to the editor published on September 18 in the Dodgeville Chronicle.  The hypocrisy of this woman never surprises me.

For example, in her letter Paula writes about restoring "basic compassion, good manners, and social and political tolerance."  Yet she never extended that to Charlie Kirk.  This is some of her comments - "in life, Mr. Kirk was a masterful proponent of sick, hate-filled rhetoric...Meanwhile, every one of us who has, somehow managed to survive his loud, despicable rhetoric has inherited the burden of responsibility for picking up the pieces of the shattered world Mr. Kirk, and those like him, continue to create."  Wow!!

Remember Paula stated in her first paragraph she had "thankfully never heard of Charlie Kirk" prior to the shooting on September 10, but yet she does a few Google searches, and she suddenly becomes an expert on Charlie Kirk.

 My suggestion to our readers, pray for the family of Charlie Kirk.  No one should experience what this family and those in attendance witnessed on September 10.  Maybe offer a little prayer for Paula too.

Patrick Hardyman

Blanchardville, WI