I grieve for the family of Charlie Kirk and for the loss of his life in our world. I do not grieve for the loss of his hurtful words in our world which represent only his own and other’s selective misreading of the Christian Bible. 

Recently, as reported in the Portland Press Herald, Mr. Kirk came to Maine and gave us Mainers a message that, unfortunately, came from his distorted not-Christian views. He may well have been a Christian follower as he says, no judgment on that, but even so, then a misguided Christian. 

Those familiar with Christ’s words to all in the Bible’s New Testament know that Jesus did not discriminate among others by race, social or financial standing, place of origin or family, ability or appearance. 

Just the opposite, Jesus clearly affirms the intrinsic worth of every human being. He speaks of the “hungry, sick and imprisoned” and commands his followers to attend to them. This is, by Christians, seen as our responsibility — to show God’s own love and compassion for others, for all others. 

This is the opposite of exclusion and demeaning others with whom we do not identify.

Priscilla Galbraith
Rockland