I walked into the “God Country” vigil for Charlie Kirk with hesitation. Events like this are not usually my style. I am more reserved, and there has always been a certain unease for me in large public gatherings where faith and politics intertwine.
Inspired by Faith and Country: But being there changed me. The participation itself was motivating. To stand shoulder to shoulder with people unafraid to declare their belief in Christ, and to feel the good that flows from that foundation, was powerful. Wrapped in American pride in the greatest sense of the word, I left feeling inspired.
Charlie Kirk himself is known not for tearing people down but for speaking plainly, proudly, and in the name of Christ. He speaks with conviction but not hostility, and that tone of unity defined the evening.
Leaders and the Next Generation: Two voices captured that spirit. Aiden Shingler, a youth who spoke with no notes, no script, only conviction. Whether memorized or straight from the heart, his words carried nearly presidential weight. To hear such clarity from Idaho’s next generation gave me real hope.
Theo Wold, the keynote, spoke with the mastery of a seasoned leader. He reminded us what it means to be American, conservative, and faithful to God. When he finished, he lifted a flag high and led us into the streets. American flags waved as we marched down 8th Street, looping through downtown Boise.
The Line of Uncomfortability: But once the march began, something shifted. I started to feel awkward, even embarrassed. I saw people on the sidewalks pointing and laughing. As we chanted “Charlie Kirk!” and “Jesus is Lord!” both truths I fully believe in, I felt conflicted. The method reminded me of the vulgar and antagonistic protests we have seen so often in recent years. For a moment, it felt like I was stepping into their tactics.
That is the conservative dilemma. For years, protest has been defined by destruction and hostility. We have all seen the blocking of roads, the smashing of property, the burning of cities. So when conservatives step into protest-like action, it can feel uncomfortable, like we are borrowing from the wrong playbook.
Protest the Conservative Way: But here is the truth. Protest simply means to take action. If our beliefs matter, we must take action. The difference is how we do it. Conservatives can protest without vulgarity, without violence, and without losing respect for others. We can march in strength while remaining neighborly. We can raise our voices in unity while refusing to tear others down.
By the end of the march, the discomfort gave way to resolve. I felt invigorated. I am here. I am ready. I am ready to get involved physically.
A Call for Idaho Through Boise: And that is the call to action. Idaho, and especially Boise, must return to leadership that reflects our values: responsibility, respect, and faith and most importantly civic duty and governance. Too often, I have heard influential voices quietly say the same thing: “Boise is lost. It would take too much money to win it back.”
That mindset is perhaps the greatest risk to Idaho. If Boise is abandoned, if conservatives surrender the capital city, then Idaho will be slowly reshaped by the same divisive leadership and unchecked growth we see elsewhere. Boise matters because it sets the tone. It is not lost unless we decide to leave it behind.
To save Idaho, we must first fight for Boise. That means showing up, speaking up, and getting involved, not with vulgarity or destruction, but with the same faith, neighborliness, and conviction that define who we are.
