Summary of the Mac and Mike Show Transcript:
In this episode of the Mac and Mike Show, hosts Mac and Mike discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk as a flashpoint for broader societal and cultural issues. They argue that the act reflects a deeper spiritual and moral decline in society, emphasizing a shift away from Christian values and critical thinking. They trace this decline to historical events like the removal of prayer from schools, the Roe v. Wade decision, and the rise of moral relativism, which they believe has led to a more hedonistic, self-centered culture.
The hosts explore how the lack of moral absolutes, diminished spirituality, and failure to teach consequences contribute to violent acts, such as the assassination. They cite examples of societal coarseness, like the lack of intervention in public assaults and the normalization of behaviors once considered immoral. They also discuss the role of media in vilifying individuals, potentially justifying extreme actions in the minds of some, like the 22-year-old who killed Kirk.
Additional topics include the devaluation of life through practices like abortion, the erosion of traditional gender roles and chivalry, and the consequences of moral relativism, exemplified by a senator’s claim that rights come from government, not a higher authority. They warn that without a return to moral standards, society risks further degradation, where even minor disagreements could lead to violence. The episode concludes with a call to listeners to reflect on how to address this moral decay.
Partial Transcript
I think one thing we’re not discussing enough is that this is a spiritual war. We see it played out in physical actions, but behind every action is some kind of force. We’ve talked about the will of man versus the will of God. In the 1970s, when I took psychology, we tried to trace the origin of a thought, like bubbles in a cartoon over someone’s head. Even in our teens and early twenties, we couldn’t do it. The older you get, the harder it is because your brain develops in a way that makes it difficult to pinpoint where thoughts or actions originate. I believe what’s happening here, as Charlie Kirk discussed, is that these ideas are developed in college. Your brain isn’t fully formed until around age 25, so you absorb influences like a sponge. We’re not teaching our children to think critically or question their professors. Many professors, parents, siblings, and friends resist having their ideas challenged, which hinders the development of critical thinking skills. Emotions also play a role due to chemicals in our bodies that we don’t control. For example, I have a tumor on my adrenal gland above my kidney, which causes high norepinephrine levels and related issues. Over time, I’ve learned to control my actions. We also discussed the lack of spirituality, which ties into this spiritual war. We’ve often talked about the decline of true Christian faith. We call ourselves a Christian nation, but the depth and sincerity of faith our parents’ generation had is different from today. It’s more superficial now.
When I was in the military, I became a Christian at 29, after four years of full-time service and seven years part-time. My boss would say everything I did or said revolved around the Bible. I responded, “Please tell me if there’s something wrong with that.” People, even those who claimed to be Christians, didn’t want to hear it. I was never ashamed or afraid, though. I made a name for myself by being outspoken, never shrinking back. Sometimes I was too rough on people because I’m a rough-around-the-edges kind of guy. I was an angry person, but the joy and faith I found helped me overcome that anger, and I wanted to share that with others who might have similar issues.
On the Supreme Court decision about prayer in schools, many don’t realize you can still pray in school; it just can’t be mandated. Schools offer students the chance to leave the classroom during prayer, but some claim this makes them feel excluded, ostracized, or uncomfortable. Schools stopped having organized prayer because they lack the budget to fight the ACLU. Additionally, when groups like devil worshippers demand equal time, Christians naturally resist allowing that in classrooms with their young children.
You can’t discipline children without fear of child services intervening. My former boss in the military had an unruly son. Being old-fashioned, he disciplined him directly. The son threatened to call the police, and my boss said, “Go ahead.” When the police arrived, they warned they might take the son away. My boss replied, “Fine, I’ve had it with him.” Suddenly, the son changed his tune. Sometimes parents, elders, or people with absolute moral standards must take a stand. We love our children and grandchildren, but there comes a time when boundaries are necessary. We need to teach delayed gratification. Children and grandchildren expect instant results, and when they don’t get them, their systems go haywire, sometimes leading to violence. You see this with small children: when told to put the coloring book down and go to bed, they get whiny. If you keep giving in instead of firmly setting boundaries, they may become violent or fight you. You have to address this behavior early. If you raise a child correctly from a young age, you’ll rarely face these issues.
I recall what Greg Gutfeld said: “The Democratic Party keeps promoting the idea that Republicans are evil, while the Republican Party just promotes the idea that Democrats are wrong.” There’s a difference between labeling someone as evil—Hitler, racist, or otherwise—and simply saying their ideas are wrong. I’ve always told people who focus on political personalities that, for me, it’s about policy, not personality. Everyone has quirks. The young man who killed Charlie Kirk was never taught logical consequences: if you do X, Y will likely result. He now faces likely execution or life imprisonment. Imagine being 22 and facing those consequences. To young people, I say: consider the future results of your actions. Committing a crime could land you in jail. Mac and I took risks in the military, but there’s a difference between risks taken for fun and those taken for other reasons. For example, Charles Krauthammer dove headfirst into a pool and ended up paralyzed from the neck down. We can’t stop young people from taking risks, nor should we, but they should be aware of consequences. If you injure someone in a fight, paralyze them, or cause them to hit their head and die, you could face manslaughter charges. Speeding and causing an accident that injures or kills someone could lead to prison or lawsuits that ruin your life. It’s about understanding the consequences of actions. Nobody’s perfect, but parents should teach their kids the right way, and children should listen to their elders. A man once told me, “Mike, if you don’t listen to your elders, you won’t live long enough to make all your own mistakes.” That hit me hard when I was 16 or 17. He was right, and I started listening.
Yes, it definitely shifts the responsibility. There’s also individual responsibility. If you voted to codify abortion in your state, you likely bear some responsibility for the lives lost. If you have a relationship with God, that’s something you and He need to discuss. I can’t see anyone with faith in Jesus Christ, at least the Christian God, supporting the codification of abortion. That doesn’t mean I lack sympathy for a woman who is pregnant and lacks the financial or psychological means to care for a child—it’s a horrible situation. But devaluing life in the womb makes it easier to devalue adult life on the street. I’ve heard some crassly remark that murder is just a “post-natal abortion,” which is abhorrent to people like us. While I sympathize with pregnant women, and society needs to do better, there’s no excuse for killing a child. There must be a moral absolute, and life is one. Regarding capital punishment, I see a distinction between innocent life and guilty life, so I’m okay with it in clear-cut cases.
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