Sharp divide between liberals and conservatives

Forthright conservative warrior Charlie Kirk was shot dead while answering questions at a university meeting with students. Jimmy Kimmel, the late night host on ABC television channel, was suspended by his supposedly offensive remarks about Kirk's killing.

- 

The memorial of Kirk evoked a big response with Kirk's wife assuming the leadership role of her late husband, and so did the lifting of suspension of Kimmel. About 16 million people watched the show marking the return of Kimmel.

Americans have expressed their emotions quite loudly when it came to things or people they loved. When they hero-worshipped somebody they did so without restraint. America is the home of celebrity culture, and icons are made and unmade. There is something deeply democratic about American public life. The people applaud their heroes without restraint.

For many liberals, Kirk was an infuriating figure with his arguments against everything the liberals stood for, including the rights of LGBTQ communities, his defence of gun rights, family values. But there were a large number of people who felt reassured by Kirk's open and robust defence of the conservative credo. It is still not clear as to why the man who shot dead Kirk did what he did.