Dear Good Samaritans,

I have found myself growing sadder this week as I see reactions in this country to the murder of Charlie Kirk. Regardless of what you thought about him or his politics, a man is dead. His family is grieving. Yet the majority of what I have seen and read are attempts to point blame, vilify others, and use another pointless death as an opportunity to garner favor and power. It all comes across as pathetic attempts to capitalize on tragedy—an evil in and of itself. And, truth be told, both sides are guilty.

In a recent article in the BBC Katty Kay astutely points out: “Recent history is full of examples where America has chosen not to come together after a tragedy. [It didn’t happen in June when the Minnesota House Speaker and her husband were killed.] It didn’t happen 14 years ago after a Democratic congresswoman was shot in the head in Arizona. Nor eight years ago, when a Republican congressman was shot during baseball practice. Americans didn’t even come together in the face of a global pandemic. In fact, Covid made divisions worse.”

She is absolutely right. We see this truth playing out each and every day. And it is appalling.

As many of you know I have tremendous respect for the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He wrote in his book No Future Without Forgiveness: “We are different so that we can know our need of one another, for no one is ultimately self-sufficient. A completely self-sufficient person would be sub-human.”

Unfortunately, when I look around, I see so many who Tutu would describe as sub-human right now. There is an epidemic of people who insist they can go it alone, that they don’t need others, and that they trust first and foremost in their own superiority.

One of the nearly universal truths of religion is that community is crucial for flourishing. As part of the Anglican Communion, our history has taught us that while we will not always agree with each other, it is paramount that we stay in conversation, in community, and in relationship with one another. We need to recognize that everyone is important.

Instead of pointing fingers and calling names, I dream of a world where:

• we see each other as fellow humans and not just enemies.
• differences and our common humanity are celebrated.
• diverse views are welcomed and discussed instead of stifled.
• we put others’ needs ahead of, or at least on par, with our own.
• we can communally condemn violence in all of its forms.

We need each other—now, perhaps, more than ever. After Charlie Kirk was killed, Utah Governor Spencer Cox urged people “log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in the community.” It’s good advice. Martin Luther King, Jr. put it more bluntly: “We must learn to live together as brothers [or siblings] or perish together as fools.

Right now, it looks like we are perishing slowly. It is time to work together, to stay connected, and to foster love and relationship. Our lives, and all of humanity, depend on it.