Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter
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A truth for polarizing times
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Long before there was Twitter, before Elon Musk and his X complex, our town square was the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building.
It’s where we would gather in groups both big and small to protest, to shake a fist, to make a point, to celebrate and to grieve.
That’s why I found it quaint our longstanding town square — the real one, not some virtual one in the increasingly dystopian digital space — was where disciples of Charlie Kirk gathered Tuesday evening to mourn for their martyr.
Kirk and his Turning Point USA wouldn’t have morphed into paragons of persuasion if not for the way social media rewarded his polarizing talking points. And yet, the longstanding town square below the Golden Boy’s gaze was where the candles were lit, the hymns sung, the MAGA hats worn and the US flags waved — all in honor of Kirk. It’s as if there was not only strength in numbers, they were, after all, 2,000 strong, but also solace in meeting face to face. The likes and retweets of Kirk are one thing in the online space, but in death his followers recognized the meaning that comes from meeting in real life.
I’m not naïve enough to suggest Winnipeg’s vigil for Kirk marks a turning point. But what if it did?
Imagine if we weren’t so tethered to our screens that we would be subjected to uninvited and unwarned high-resolution videos of the assassin’s bullet striking Kirk. (The virality of that violence helped propel Musk’s X last week to a new high in terms of the number of first-time downloads of its app.)
What if we followed the advice Utah Governor Spencer Cox gave as his state recoiled from what had taken place on one of its university campuses?
“Social media is a cancer on our society right now,” Cox said. “I would encourage people to log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in your community.”
What if in times of emergency or uncertainty, we turned to trusted news sources rather than inhaling the cancer-causing fumes from the conspiracy theories, rumours and hatred powering social media?
“These are all reasons not to spend the next couple of news cycles thumbing through feeds or staring at videos on your phone. It’s not just the fact that the websites will be full of angry people. That’s called Thursday on the internet,” Adam Clark Estes wrote in Vox following Kirk’s death. “But in the days and weeks that come, thanks to that pressure cooker effect, the political climate online will be especially vitriolic. The violent videos from Utah will resurface, and unfortunately, there’s always a chance that more violence will follow, especially when right wing extremists are calling for it.”
Finally, what if those who worshipped Kirk and those who disagreed with him recognized a truth he offered for our polarizing times? “When things are moving very fast and people are losing their minds, it’s important to stay grounded,” Kirk said. “Turn off your phone, read scripture, spend time with friends, and remember internet fury is not real life. It’s going to be ok.”
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Paul Samyn, Editor
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COMING UP
No one is likely to ever suggest fresh strawberries and chocolate don’t mix. So even though Marridel Cloma Tuazon is only four months into her enterprise, it’s a good bet she might be on her way to sweet success. Feature writer David Sanderson profiles Tuazon and her Forks-based business Melted, which features the aforementioned strawberries, melted chocolate and assorted toppings.
In a world of mounting macro-aggressions, it may be time to give micro-relationships a chance. A friendly greeting and a bit of small talk can only help bring us all a bit closer together, columnist Rebecca Chambers writes.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers roll into the national’s capital with the hopes of adding some breathing room over B.C. in the claustrophobic West Division standings. They clash Saturday against Winnipeg’s own Bob Dyce and his ultimate weapon — the “Crumback.” Jeff Hamilton brings all the hard-hitting action from the gridiron in Ottawa.
As training camp opens on the Winnipeg Jets 15th season, Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe share their views from the rink as the puck drops on the club’s preparation for the long road to the Stanley Cup.
Winnipeg Valour’s Kianz Froese has racked up two goals and three assists over his last two games with the club. With only five games remaining in the regular season, the team hits the road in a Saturday clash against Cavalry FC. Joshua Frey-Sam catches up with the Winnipeg product and tees up storylines to watch for on the pitch.
ONE GREAT PHOTO
Students at Riverbend Community School take part in the Terry Fox Foundation Walk Friday. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)
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