Today, I’m sad that Charlie Kirk, a young man who was a father and a husband, was shot and killed solely because someone didn’t like what he said. I edited out the second half of that sentence because as of this writing, none of us yet know who is responsible. Yet, I’ll bet most of us have jumped to our own conclusions.

From what I see on social media, A LOT of people have been energized by our respective conclusions, again, before we even know for sure. Perhaps it’s because there has already been so much death brought by disagreement.

Over the last 24 hours, as I’ve read comments from both “sides” on social media, as I’ve thought about where such comments have led us and will continue to lead us, I’ve decided each comment I see that spews hate or uses such ugly terms as “they want to destroy this country, vermin, fascist, piece of shit, civil war, revenge” (you get the picture) is a tiny assassin. Because although we know from experience that using social media to try to influence another to “our side,” or using it simply to let off steam, or perhaps worst of all, to get clicks or likes, is a tiny assassination attempt upon the very country we accuse the other side of wanting to destroy, a country founded on freedom of speech and diversity of opinion.

Why do we do it? Does it feel so good to be right? (IMO, “right” is in the eye of the beholder. Just because you think you’re right, doesn’t mean you’re right.) Does it make someone feel better to post that it’s time for civil war? Even if someone doesn’t come out and say it, as divided as we are now, isn’t that where we could be headed?

Many people have friends and family on both “sides,” including me. Do people who say it’s time for civil war really want to see people they love caught up in such a war? Close your eyes and think about that reality. Is “winning” worth it? Is that loved one of yours who thinks differently deserving of such thought?

It’s up to each of us to stop these little “assassination attempts” – attempts to shoot down another’s opinion. Attempts to metaphorically murder “the other side” through vilification, name-calling, humiliation, gotcha moments, what-about-isms, etc.

Disagreement is inevitable and, I believe necessary. How dull and stagnant this world would be if everyone agreed. But we can disagree respectfully. There will be times when no matter what we say, another’s opinion will not be swayed. We may get angry about it, we may not understand it, but firing away on social media about it does no good except to fortify each “side” against the other, in which case, unity has once again been fired upon. A tiny assassin.

Every 9/11, I remember something that caused me much sorrow, but also awe about who we are as human beings. Many who were dying, or thought they were dying, left final messages for loved ones. In those final moments, nothing else mattered except to express love for their spouses, their children, their friends. All that mattered was that their loved ones knew that they were loved.

I believe that in the end, love is all that matters. Some may think this is cliché. But all one has to do is remember 9/11 and the messages of those who perished. Remember farewell letters written during a time of war. Remember the words spoken at one’s death bed.

Love is all that matters. Disagreements won’t matter. Who won won’t matter. Politics for sure won’t matter. Love is all that matters.