Letters to the editor | Sept. 25 edition

Published 5:03 pm Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Readers respond to this article about a vigil for Charlie Kirk held on Vashon last week.

All should feel safe

As a member of the “predominately liberal community” mentioned in the article ‘Islanders Hold Vigil for Charlie Kirk,” I was saddened that some mourners felt uncomfortable being named.

I had never heard of Charlie Kirk before his murder. Once I started learning about him, I was repulsed by his views. But I was more horrified by his murder.

It is a bedrock, founding American principal that we are entitled to hold and express our own opinions. That doesn’t just mean we are legally allowed to do so; it means we should feel safe doing so. We should feel comfortable expressing them to our neighbors in speech, mourning, and writing. Thoughtful discussion enriches us all.

I was heartened by the group photo, and hope our dialog remains civil.

John Weinshel

We must live with one another

Thank you Beachcomber and Elizabeth Shepherd for your informative and neutral article on the Charlie Kirk vigil on Vashon. Again, you have provided journalistic excellence.

I disagree with everything that Charlie Kirk stood for and find his views abhorrent. That said, I do feel empathy for people grieving the violent death of someone who they believed understood them. Frankly, I too was afraid to write a letter with any kind of support for other human beings who are grieving because “they” are not like “us.”

I listened to Ezra Klein’s podcast where he spoke about a piece he did on Charlie Kirk’s killing and the insidious backlash Ezra got from his listeners, and in this new podcast he said, “We are going to have to live here with one another. There will be no fever that breaks, no permanent victory that routs or quiets those who disagree with us.”

And so I repeat his words — we are going to have to live with one another here on Vashon.

Barb Thal

Welcoming conversation

As I read the article about some of my Vashon neighbors holding a vigil for Charlie Kirk, I wondered what I was missing? Did you folks only see the positive news feeds which showed his good deeds and being a Christian man with strong values? Did you not see his other speeches and podcasts that were filled with misogyny, bigotry towards people of color, and hatred for liberals or democrats?

I wonder if the algorithms on social media only show us all what we click on, which may indeed be the case, and help me understand the outpouring of love and praise for him. I would never condemn anyone for expressing their beliefs and opinions or feeling bereaved over the death of someone who they feel deep feelings for and no matter what, no one deserves to be shot and killed.

Yet I find myself scratching my head wondering how someone could weep such deep tears for a person who espoused such division, and I’ll say it, hatred? But I could be missing something? I would really like to know and would welcome a conversation about it.

Bill Jarcho