Today people not only mourned those who died on 9/11/01 - but the memory of political activist and close Trump ally, Charlie Kirk, shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. As I don't follow politics much these days, I'm really not familiar with Charlie Kirk's life and work - except what's on the news. You're going to hear and read a lot about him in the days ahead. The suspect arrested and accused of killing Charlie Kirk was identified by officials as 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson

Hopefully the shooting of political leaders does not continue. There are too many 'loose cannons' in our polarized society - many with mental illness and a manifesto. This is their programming.

Trump is sending troops into the streets which he believes is going to help curb criminal activity - but in so doing the US could become a police state. This is his programming.

Rest assured people will rise up and violence will occur based on Trump's current dictatorial policies that take away so many rights and freedoms Americans have fought for. This is their programming.

September 22, 2025

I don't follow politics which I consider conspiracies, lies and, quid pro quo. Therefore I was unfamiliar with the life and work of Charlie Kirk until he was assassinated - but the energies of his passing permeate throughout the American Experiment in democracy. I didn't watch the eulogies - but there was a huge sense of loss and sadness throughout the land - especially for those who were in attendance at his memorial service. Group energies - as many of you know - are always more powerful than one person - yet on this day that didn't apply.

Kirk's memorial service in Arizona on Sunday was a remarkable hours-long eulogy for a life cruelly ended much too young, a glimpse at the future of the MAGA movement, and an unabashed religious revival.

In a split-screen moment we see a grieving widow ready to forgive the assassin vs an astonishing speech by Trump who bluntly and deliberately signaled that forgiveness and unity were for others, and that he'd use Kirk's assassination to intensify his efforts to impose personal power even more ruthlessly. He therefore confirmed that the immediate political consequence of Kirk's shocking assassination will be more political discord. He has already stated that he doesn't plan to unify the country.

In a moment of brazen self-awareness that epitomized his presidency, Trump the narcissist broke from the script. "That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents and I don't want the best for them. Trump seemed to almost apologize to Erika Kirk - but it was a moment when he couldn't stop himself - or didn't want to so he could remain true to himself.

No one familiar with Trump's conduct over the last decade will have been surprised that his speech that was awash in gratitude for Kirk was also laced with his own political preoccupations. Trump issued fresh warnings that he'd respond to Kirk's assassination with a crackdown on radical left-wing groups he accuses of fomenting violence against conservatives.

He lashed out at the media and progressives, promising to double down on crime crackdowns, and even returned to his false obsession that the 2020 election was stolen.

The country might have hoped for more from Trump. Many lawmakers are scared to campaign in public after Kirk's death and other political violence, which has targeted the president and several Democrats in the past few years. Millions of people who didn't support Trump feel threatened by his presidency.

But by ostentatiously stating how he differs from Kirk - who sought to engage his opponents respectfully and who prized free speech under the First Amendment - Trump made it clear he wanted Americans to perceive something about himself. He has never made a pretense of being a leader for all Americans, as most of his predecessors have - even if they didn't follow through.

Trump's frankness might have disappointed some of his fellow Republicans and many outside the party - but no one could say it was a surprise. Many conservatives likely dwelled most on his generous words about Kirk and have long made their peace with his personality.

Until Trump spoke, Kirk's memorial provided a fascinating MRI of the Make America Great Again movement and potential new directions for modern conservatism. It showed exactly why Trump won the election last year. And it showed how much the loss of Kirk - and his skill in broadening the MAGA coalition and uniting disparate political strains into a winning movement - will be missed in the years ahead.

While the pain of Kirk's loss was evident among tens of thousands of mourners, there was also a sense that his followers are gathering, as Turning Point USA steels itself to become a mightier force forged from the martyrdom of its founding hero. Read more ...

When I was young my family went to services on the High Holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. My mother taught me many things. One was about a window that opened during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as many souls cross over - honored in a memorial service called Yizkor. Many souls cross over in this 'window' including victims of war, violence, poverty, climate change, other.

Yizkor is an Ashkenazi Jewish memorial prayer honoring the dead and recited at the time of Yom Kippur.

Emotions define how we remember those who have crossed over.

A candle is a symbol of eternal light or flame for many people.

When I was young - this was the time of year Jews would visit cemeteries where their loved ones were laid to rest. They would leave flowers and other symbolic items.

They also prayed for those who died in the holocaust as this was the late 1940's and 1950's when WWII was not that far in the rearview window.

Never did anyone believe humanity would get close to another world war nor leaders would rise up to create conflicts such as those experienced during World War II.

Reflections take you to Jews being rounded up and their fate.

Could people be rounded up again in the 21st-century? We certainly didn't believe this would ever come to pass nor did we foresee the decline of democracy in the US.

I leave this here ... as you know where it's going ... on many levels.

Charlie Kirk's wife has said she's going to continue his work. Can any of that make a difference in a pre-programmed simulation that is reaching its end?