Double Standards

Part I: Charlie Kirk

When Charlie fell, the president wept.
Called violence “the tragic consequence.”
When Charlie fell, the president wept,
of demonizing those we hold as peers.

Of demonizing those we hold as peers,
said hate breeds murder, urged us to nonviolence.
Of demonizing, he condemned his peers
who spoke of loss, of hearts that must not break.

Who spoke of loss, of hearts that must not break,
posthumous medals, honors for the dead.
Who spoke of loss knew hearts that must not break.
“We must not celebrate for hatred’s sake.”

“We must not celebrate for hatred’s sake,”
and prosecute the cruel things people said.
We must not celebrate for hatred’s sake.
The answer isn’t hate, he told the crowd.

Part II: Rob Reiner

The answer isn’t hate, he told the crowd.
But “Trump Derangement Syndrome” killed this man.
The answer isn’t hate, he told the crowd,
then blamed the victim’s politics out loud.

Then blamed the victim’s politics out loud,
“his massive, unyielding, incurable” disease.
Then blamed the victim’s politics out loud.
“He caused his own death with his Trump obsession.”

“He caused his own death with his Trump obsession,”
the president posted hours after the crime.
He caused his own death with obsession,
no talk of unity or grieving distress.

No talk of unity or distress,
suggesting opposition earned him death.
No talk of unity or family’s distress.
When enemies die, he seems so calm.

When enemies die, he seems so calm.
The answer isn’t hate, he told the crowd.

Part III Truth

The answer isn’t hate. This much is true.
No mockery of death should be allowed.
The answer can’t be hate, not me, not you,
when murder tears a family, leaves a shroud.

When murder tears a family, leaves a shroud,
the politics of victims don’t define.
When murder tears apart and leaves a shroud,
who determines which lives we mourn, which deaths we call divine?

Who determines which lives we mourn, which deaths we call divine?
There are things that shouldn’t shift with party, creed, or views.
Which lives deserve our tears, which we malign,
reveals what standards guide the words we choose.

What standards guide the words we choose today?
Both men were murdered. Grief goes one way.

Unsolicited
Current Events
Double Standards
Laura Gerling
© December 2025

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