On Oct. 29, at 5 p.m., the Stanford America Club will host Faith & Freedom Night at Meyer Green. I have helped to organize the event, which began as an idea for a memorial honoring Charlie Kirk but has grown into something more: to bring people together to think about conviction, courage and the values that make genuine community possible.
At Stanford, I’ve noticed that conversations about spirituality and patriotism rarely happen in public. Many students who hold strong convictions seem to stay quiet, unsure of how their views will be received. That silence has a cost. When people stop sharing what matters to them, the campus becomes perhaps more polite, but hollow. Open discussion, even when uncomfortable, helps us understand who we are and what we stand for.
Faith & Freedom Night was created with that in mind. It will be an evening of reflection and worship centered on the message that true strength comes from living with integrity. The goal is not to make a political point but to create a space where people can think honestly about what gives life meaning.
I did not always feel this way. For a long time, I thought religion belonged in private and that patriotism had faded into history. However, over time, I began to see how directionless life becomes when nothing higher than personal success shapes it. That was around the time I discovered Charlie Kirk.
What struck me most about him was his calmness. I thought he spoke clearly, listened carefully and never seemed threatened by disagreement. Even when I did not share his views, I respected how steady he was. When I met him in person, that impression only deepened. He seemed genuinely interested in hearing from others.
When I learned of his death, it affected me. Worse, some people reacted online, mocking and celebrating it. Watching this unfold made me realize how easily public life can lose its sense of decency. Disagreement, no matter how deep, should never erase compassion.
Faith & Freedom Night came from that realization. It is not about glorifying anyone. It is a moment to pause and remember what Kirk represented: courage, sincerity and a willingness to speak openly, which is why during the event, there will be a moment of silence in his honor — to remember what conviction looks like when it is lived out.
The founders of this country understood that liberty only survives when people hold to something greater than themselves. Stanford should be a place where ideas about morality and conscience can still be discussed freely. Faith & Freedom Night is an invitation to do exactly that. Patriotism, at its best, is not pride. It is gratitude expressed through service and humility, and freedom to express one’s views and listen openly to others
This night is for anyone who believes that truth should not be silenced, regardless of where you lie on the political spectrum. It is for students who want to think deeply, speak honestly and live with purpose.
Kirk believed that truth was worth defending and that conviction meant standing firm even when it was unpopular. That belief inspired this event and continues to inspire me.
My hope is that Faith & Freedom Night reminds Stanford that spiritual life and love of country still belong here. They are not outdated ideas. They are ways of living that connect people and give them direction. If we can speak with humility, listen with patience and act with courage, we can begin to rebuild something that feels lost.
Kirk once said, “When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence.” This night is about talking again, listening again, and remembering why both matter.
Elisha Bareh ‘28 is a member of the Stanford America Club and studying economics.