~by Sen Jesse Green, Iowa Senate District 24
November 20, 2025
How dire is the current situation facing Americans? Is this the most divisive era in generations? Are we experiencing something unprecedented that other cultures and societies have never encountered? Can we rebuild a sense of unity once again? These are questions many are pondering. I do not believe what we are facing is entirely new or insurmountable. Some constituents have asked me to address the Charlie Kirk assassination and the rise of political violence.
While Charlie has been a prominent figure in the political sphere for some time, I only started paying attention to him a few years ago. Amidst the multitude of voices vying for our attention, Charlie’s daily hour-long podcast stood out to me for its rich content. His podcast served as a fusion of the perspectives of influential figures like Ben Shapiro, Steve Deace, Mark Driscoll, and other prominent Christian, conservative voices. Just as the gym is where I go to discipline myself physically, Charlie’s podcast served as a daily source of spiritual, mental, and political discipline. He was known for his lively debates at college campuses, but his podcast is where a listener could dive deeper into the foundations for why he believed what he did. As a result of consistently listening to him on a daily basis, he became a sort of accountability partner or a brother figure to me personally and obviously many others in our society.
Charlie played a pivotal role in our society by understanding the mindset of Generation Z. This generation has witnessed a significant shift in voting patterns compared to preceding generations. The positive impact Charlie had on this generation cannot be overstated. For instance, many young men have reevaluated the institution of marriage due to his emphasis on personal responsibility and commitment to loved ones. Countless lives have been spared from abortion as young men, influenced by Charlie’s convictions, have chosen to embrace responsibility rather than fleeing from it in pursuit of fleeting pleasures. Many individuals across the nation have been inspired to engage in community service and even run for local offices, spurred by Charlie’s encouragement. One example is found right here in Boone where Dave Casotti, a well-known businessman and community servant, was inspired to run against an incumbent mayor and won the race. Many in Boone were concerned that the previous mayor wasn’t reflecting the values of our community. After Charlie’s assassination, Dave was convinced that now is the right time to step up and make a difference.
Debate and dialogue are essential components of a healthy society. Debating can be challenging, but my hope is that the effort Charlie took upon himself to meet the rising generation where they are – on college campuses – will continue. More communication, not less, is what is needed to help create a more civil society. Think of how many times your family has disagreed on what to eat for dinner, or what movie to watch. If it’s hard for a family to make simple decisions like that, imagine how difficult it is for politicians and society to come to conclusions on more sensitive topics as well. A political party is a “family” structure. A family is held together by macro level common values, but there are micro level differences where it can be hard to build consensus. At the Capitol, 90 percent of bills are unanimously passed by both political parties. The other 10 percent, we will just have to agree to disagree. Winston Churchill once said that the heart of Britain is found in two places: the citizen in a voting booth saying how things are going to be, and the chamber of the House of Commons where those desires are put into policy. Ballots, not bullets, is how we resolve the tensions we feel in a civilized society.
Everyone that votes must become better at having a rational conversation about the following basic questions: What is a citizen? What is a nation and culture? Why do we have a constitutional republic? Why do we have borders? What is globalism versus nationalism? Why is the Constitution the supreme law of the land versus state and local laws and how can the Constitution change? Why is the Declaration of Independence important and how do the ideals expressed in it differ than other nations? Have we always lived up to the ideals expressed in that document? What does the separation of church and state mean and what did it mean to the European continent? These are just a few questions, but I believe they are the most important ones for every citizen to grapple with if we are to enjoy a more perfect union. When I think about the state of our nation, I can’t help but think of Washington, Lincoln, and Martin Luther King. They so eloquently articulated for us the visions they saw for our citizens. They were imperfect men that believed in our common values so much that they gave their lives for them. How are we as individuals living up to these values? My prayer is that the horrors we are starting to see once again will humble us. We have work to do both in our hearts and in our communities.
In conclusion, I just mentioned the Declaration of Independence. Within that amazing document we find the mention of a Creator or higher power four times. We live in a country where you aren’t forced to believe in a creator, but most people still believe in something. Regardless of the name of the creator you may or may not believe in, if we can agree that every human being is a creation that is special and we are accountable to something or someone else besides ourselves, this posture lays the possibility of achieving the humility we need to allow margin for disagreements while also achieving real equality before the law. We must agree on that much to have a chance at some semblance of a unified American citizenry.
