This past week has been a powerful reminder that while we often like to believe we live in an age of progress, some threats—especially to free speech, civil discourse, and even life—are recurring shadows in our history.

Assassination Attempts Through Time

Political violence is not new in America. Assassination and attempted assassination of public figures have haunted our nation for well over a century.

From President Abraham Lincoln’s death in 1865, to the killings of William McKinley, John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, as well as attempts on Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt—the list reveals how deeply belief, fear, and rhetoric can combine to tragic ends.

Each of these events, separated by decades, carried its own symbolic weight. And each revealed how dangerous divisive language and heightened fear can be when left unchecked.

Fast forward to now: on September 11, 2025, Charlie Kirk—a political speaker and activist—was shot and killed during a public event in Utah. The date, already etched in American memory because of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, added yet another layer of symbolic meaning to the tragedy.

This is not an isolated incident. Experts point to multiple assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump in 2024, as well as other acts of politically motivated violence. The trend is undeniable: our language, our divisions, and our inability to hold civil conversations are fueling hostility that too often turns deadly.

From the Fairness Doctrine to Today’s Polarized Speech

How did we arrive here?

One key piece of history is the Fairness Doctrine—a policy enforced by the FCC from 1949 until its repeal in 1987. It required broadcasters to present controversial issues of public importance in a balanced way, offering opposing viewpoints.

After its repeal, that obligation vanished. Over time, speech became more partisan, more polarized, and more inflammatory. The rise of social media only accelerated this, allowing rhetoric, blame, and demonizing language to spread faster and wider than ever before.

Labels like enemy, traitor, radical, or they are destroying us might feel like ordinary words, but they raise fear, deepen division, and activate fight-or-flight thinking in listeners. When people consume only speech that confirms their worst fears, empathy erodes. The “other side” begins to seem less than human—and violence becomes easier to justify.

Nourishment, Movement, and Inner Peace

While public discourse shapes society, our personal choices shape our inner world—and in turn, affect how we show up in the larger one.

Both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Functional Medicine teach us that food, movement, and emotions are deeply connected.

  • After consuming chemical-laden foods—like high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners—moods often crash, irritability rises, and energy feels scattered.

  • After eating whole, nourishing foods—colorful vegetables, clean proteins, balanced grains—most people feel calmer, lighter, and more alive.

In TCM, poor diet creates Dampness and Heat that cloud the Shen (mind/spirit). Nourishing foods, on the other hand, build Qi and Blood, stabilizing mood and resilience. Functional Medicine frames it similarly: inflammatory foods disrupt neurotransmitters and gut-brain signaling, while nutrient-dense diets support steady energy and emotional balance.

Movement plays a parallel role. Gentle, consistent activity—walking, tai chi, swimming, or strength training—moves stagnant Qi, lowers inflammation, and clears stress. What we eat and how we move literally teach our bodies how to process the world around us.

Listening When It’s Hard

If we want peace in society, we must practice peace in our conversations. Yet when someone says something offensive, confusing, or completely opposite to our beliefs, the nervous system naturally shifts into fight-flight-freeze.

Here are a few grounding tools that can help:

  • Pause and Breathe – Even one deep breath calms the nervous system.

  • Reflect Back – Try: “What I hear you saying is…” to slow down the exchange.

  • Ask Questions – Curiosity opens doors. “Can you tell me more about that?”

  • Anchor in the Body – Notice tension, plant your feet, and stay grounded.

  • Set Gentle Boundaries – If the conversation turns harmful: “I need to take a break from this.”

  • Shift Inner Self-Talk – Instead of “I can’t believe they said this,” try “This is their truth, not mine. I’m here to understand, not absorb.”

Listening does not mean agreement. It means choosing to understand before choosing how to respond. That choice creates the space where peace can grow.

Final Reflection

History shows us that when polarized speech becomes normalized, violence often follows. Charlie Kirk’s death is not just another data point—it is a warning. But resignation—the belief that nothing can change—is the most dangerous response of all.

I believe peace begins within. If we cultivate peace in our thoughts, language, food, movement, and actions, the ripple effects can extend outward. Each small act of kindness, every choice of careful words, and every effort to truly listen shapes a more compassionate world.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for choosing to walk this path of civility, courage, and peace.