America is a nation born from debate.
The Founding Fathers were not of one mind, nor did they expect citizens in future generations to march in lockstep.
They created a system built on vigorous discussion, dissent, and disagreement. But what they also understood was that freedom only works when disagreement is settled with words, not weapons.
That is why the First Amendment and Second Amendment were written as complements — one to ensure liberty of expression, the other to guard against tyranny.
Yet today, we face a disturbing inversion of that relationship.
Instead of the Second protecting the First, we see instances where firearms are used to silence speech.
This is not what the Constitution intended.
No American should ever lose their life, or fear for their safety, simply because of their words or their beliefs.
The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, and the appalling spectacle of some individuals celebrating his death, stands as a grim reminder of how toxic our politics have become.
And yet, the violence continues, in the form of shootings, knifings, and now burnings, in places inclusive of law enforcement buildings, trains — even places of worship!
We must say this plainly: no one should be killed for their opinion or beliefs.
What troubles me most is not only the violence itself, but the cultural rot revealed in the reactions to it.
When citizens rejoice at the murder of someone they disagree with: a political influencer, or company CEO, it says less about the victim than it does about the society producing such responses.
It tells us that politics has become not just a contest of ideas, but a theater of enemies, where one side’s loss must be total and permanent.
This is not America.
For decades, scholars and observers have warned about polarization in our politics.
But what we are living through now is something which goes deeper.
This is not mere polarization of policy — it’s a polarization of culture.
The debates no longer stop at taxes, spending, foreign policy, or social programs.
They extend into the most personal aspects of life: religion, identity, family, and morality.
Politics has become inseparable from culture, and culture, in turn, has been poisoned by an appetite for outrage and destruction.
Andrew Breitbart once said, “Politics is downstream from culture.”
That truth is being proven daily.
Our current political climate — with all its toxicity, vitriol, and extremism — flows directly from a culture that has lost its bearings.
When our culture rewards mockery instead of civility, shouting instead of dialogue, and cancellation instead of debate, it’s no surprise that our politics reflect the same impulses.
The danger, of course, is that this vicious cycle feeds itself.
Toxic culture produces toxic politics, and toxic politics reinforces toxic culture.
Before long, neighbors stop speaking to one another, families split apart, and Americans begin to see fellow citizens not as rivals in debate who can otherwise coexist peacefully, but as existential threats.
That mindset is corrosive.
It sets the stage for violence and legitimizes the idea that silencing the other side is justified.
So how do we change course?
The answer is not found in another law or another government program. It starts where the problem began — within our culture.
It starts with families teaching respect for differing views, schools encouraging critical thinking rather than conformity, and media outlets prioritizing truth over tribalism.
It starts with leaders, me included, choosing to lower the temperature rather than inflame it for personal gain.
We must return to the basics: respect the humanity of those we disagree with. Recognize that freedom of speech is not conditional on popularity.
Defend the right of every American to voice an opinion without fear of violence.
And yes, reaffirm the responsible role of the Second Amendment, which was never meant to be twisted into a weapon against the very freedoms it was designed to protect.
If we want our politics to be healthier, we must heal the culture that feeds them.
That means resisting the urge to cheer when our opponents falter and rejecting the voices that profit from endless division.
It means modeling civility for our children and demanding accountability from those who weaponize hate.
The question before us is not whether America can survive disagreement.
We have always disagreed. The question is whether America can survive a culture that confuses disagreement with enmity, and dissent with danger.
A result of the latter is that safe spaces cease to exist. If they ever existed in the first place.
We should all want a nation where politics flows downstream from a culture of respect, resilience, and hope.
If we do the work of fixing our culture now, what comes downstream will be something we can all take pride in — a democracy that thrives not on fear and fury, but on freedom and dignity.
Jim Renacci is a former U.S. Congressman, businessman, and conservative leader dedicated to putting America first. Read More of his Reports — Here.
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