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Straight Up | Jan Herman

Arts, Media & Culture News with 'tude

Upon the Death of Charlie Kirk
The Most Truthful Statement I’ve Read About Him

September 11, 2025 by Jan Herman 6 Comments

“Because the truth matters more than the eulogies.”

I came across Samuel Thompson’s statement on Facebutt, where I normally don’t go. This time I’m glad I did. He must be the same Samuel I wrote about 20 years ago in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: The Untold Story of ‘Hurricane Music’ and Keeping Up With Sam. If he is, it doesn’t surprise me.

Filed Under: main, News, political culture

Comments

  1. Suzi Barlow says

    September 11, 2025 at 2:52 pm

    Another’s view well stated. But I cannot help feeling he died too young to ever know (what he would know later) – that he was so very wrong about it all.

    Reply
  2. Steve says

    September 11, 2025 at 5:53 pm

    Sad how the young always seem to die good.

    Reply
  3. Mrowl says

    September 11, 2025 at 7:42 pm

    Kirk said some stupid and insensitive things, as was his right. This “he had it coming” take is far more stupid and offensive, which I imagine is why it’s delivered in written form instead of in the public square. Hate mongering? Casual acceptance of violence? Here’s an uncomfortable truth: this writer exemplifies those descriptions himself by suggesting Kirk deserved what he got for saying mean things. Depressing, really. And so childishly ironic.

    Reply
    • Bob says

      September 11, 2025 at 10:37 pm

      Your reply is no better. Charlie made a living out of arguing. He didn’t make things better. Not in the slightest. He wanted to argue with college students and make it look like he owned them, He didn’t advance science, He didn’t advance philosophy. He did build building or treat the sick. He didn’t deserve to die. But he certainly wasn’t living,

      Reply
  4. Crabapple says

    September 11, 2025 at 8:01 pm

    He was still a liar. Specifically he lied about the elections and was glad they attacked our government. He twisted peoples words against them even if he knew they were right in spirit. He hmused regurgitated rhetoric to make himself seem confident. He was a asshole you could see it in the way hed laugh at people. Doesnr deserve to be shot but doesnt make him a better person just because he was.

    Reply
  5. Harry Ballz says

    September 11, 2025 at 11:48 pm

    Sounds a trite cliche, but “live by the sword, die by the sword”. His passionate endorsement of gun rights and cavalier attitude towards gun violence in his quest for the nazification of the USA in the name of Jesus automatically disqualifies him from any compassion from me. My compassion extends to the hundreds of school kids who’ve been sacrificed by nuts who shrug them off as collateral damage of the 2nd amendment. I won’t miss him.

    Reply

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Jan Herman

When not listening to Bach or Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdes, or dancing to salsa, I like to play jazz piano -- but only in the privacy of my own mind.
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