Glenn: Who will stand for man's freedom, if not us?

May 08, 2013

Writer

For the past few years, Glenn has been taking the audience of the radio and TV shows on a journey that has, hopefully, empowered them to restore themselves and restore the country. From the 40 Day/40 Night Challenge to the Restoring events and beyond, Glenn reflected on that journey and looked at how everything over the past few years has tied together.

You know, I've talked about the 40 Day and 40 Night challenge and all of these things, I don't know if ‑‑ I don't know if I'm alone in what I'm experiencing right now, but I'm seeing things now tied together that I didn't know exactly how they all tied together. I'm seeing them all come together now, what we've gone through together as a group for Restoring Honor and Restoring Courage. You know, what was Restoring Honor? Restoring Honor was get back to God, 40 Day and 40 Night Challenge. If you haven't done it, please, today, start today.

There's one thing I have learned here recently is when you have a prompting, it's no longer good to ‑‑ good enough to say, "I'm going to do that. I should do that. I'm going to do that." No. Do it now. When some ‑‑ when you feel inside of you, "I have to do this," do it now. Do not delay. Do it now. And exercise that muscle because you're going to need it and you're going to need it in a big way. 40 Day, 40 Night challenge. Be honorable. Pick up your staff. Know why you were born at this time. That was the first step.

The next one was courage: Do you have the courage to call out the bad guys to their face. Do you have the courage to stand at the foot of the Al‑Aqsa mosque at the Temple Mount in Israel where all of the world's powers will array against you, do you have the courage to stand up and say "Hear me now. You come through me because they're not alone. I'm with them." Do you have the courage to do that?

Last summer, last summer was about can you, do you have the will to serve. Do you have the will to be responsible for your brother. Will you help not ‑‑ even though they're chastising you, even though they're making fun of you, even though they're calling you names, no matter what they say, will you serve. Those three things were really important and they're now coming together and it's about time to use all three of those things. And I haven't known how they come together. I still don't really know exactly, but I want to read something from Hugh Stafford now. Hugh is a guy who I'm hoping that I can meet his family, and I want to bring them in on the TV show because after Restoring Honor in Washington, his family came and they delivered in my New York studios a shoebox. And the shoebox sat there for, like, three weeks on my desk and I didn't ‑‑ I didn't even know where it came from. Somebody came in, said, "Hey, we got this from somebody. You should look at this." Because we get all kinds of stuff.

So it sat there before I could do it, and I was going I think on a vacation and I thought, okay, let me just clear off all my desk. And I looked at the shoebox, and in the shoebox were all of these writings on the back of cigarette packages, Vietnamese cigarette packages. And I started to read a few of them, and I didn't even know what it was because the letter was, you know, at the bottom of the box or something. And I'm reading these and I'm like, these are profound. And I realize they were written by Commander Hugh Stafford who was in the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam. He was a prisoner of war. Now, tell me that this, this doesn't relate to the girls in Ohio. "Don't dread suffering. It only makes it worse. Anticipate it. Predict it. Even exaggerate it in your anticipation of it. Don't fight a neurosis or a symptom of one. It may be a friend in disguise, a mere symptom of a deeper disturbance rendered less severe by it. A neurosis may well be a vital protective shield. Detach yourself from it. Predict it. Exaggerate. Laugh at it. It can safely and effectively be ridiculed away but not torn away. Try to find ‑‑ try to find meaning in this every circumstance. Meaning varies with the individual and with every circumstance. With him ‑‑ or with me it may vary by the hour. The meaning for a particular moment may simply be to endure that moment in a manner in which you can be proud of. But beware of false pride. Don't expect too much. Perhaps in retrospect it will show that it was meaningful enough just to have endured, to have survived, to try. Perhaps at the end of it, it is just as meaningful to look back and say "I tried" as it would be to say "I succeeded."

That is just one of these brilliant pieces written on the back of Vietnamese cigarette packages, as he was given a pack of cigarettes and cut them open carefully and wrote the meaning of life on the inside.

At the top of the hour I will share what he wrote for the return trip home, what it felt like to be rescued, what he was afraid of and what he felt he had to anticipate. Because that's what those girls are going through right now.

I said at the NRA convention that what people have mocked us with, the president mocked us and said when people get scared, they grab on and cling to their God and their guns. I can't tell you that I'm not afraid. I can tell you that I'm not ruled by fear because I know the source of fear. But I can't tell you that I'm ‑‑ I look forward to dark things happening in America or me even having to report on dark things happening in America. I'm tired of it. I want it to end. But I will speak, I will stand, and I will not comply. And I will do so with love and peace and as much gentleness as I can muster. A test of a man is how he performs while under stress, and I am sorry to say that I have been failing that in the last few weeks. I have been grumpy and not my best self, but I am working on it. And I sure would like ‑‑ I sure would like to know that there are others that are feeling the same way and working on it as well.

I have no problem if you want to say I cling to my God and my guns. My God is my rock, and guns are the at the very core of our foundation. So yes, I cling to them because in the end, I was going to say the only thing real, but there's only one thing that's real, and I will cling to Him every possible step. I hope that in the end that's all I can see.

Man's freedom is being snuffed out all around the globe. It's amazing to me that the Chinese and the Russians are actually encouraging their population to buy gold. We are discouraging. I find it fascinating that all of our founders and every single president up until this one has warned about special interests getting involved with the government and it becoming tyranny. And this president is saying pay no attention to those voices who warn of tyranny. The West has gone to sleep. Let me say a special message to the preacher and to those who are God‑fearing individuals: The English came over here and the first ones to die, the first ones to be killed, the first ones to be burned alive were the preachers. Were the diehard religionists. Why? Because they were teaching that you answered to God and God alone. They were teaching the truths that were so clear that they were declared self‑evident.

Do you think in our society the preachers are going to be the first to be rounded up? Do you think the preachers are going to be the first? Are they the ones getting the heat? They're not. It's the TEA Party that's getting the heat. It's the 9/12 project that's getting the heat. That's who's getting the heat. Where are the preachers? Where are they? Was it, was it Rosa Parks that did this, or was it Martin Luther King, standing with other preachers and other rabbis? We all have eternal consequences. We will all, at the end of the day, be asked. But preachers, I don't know what your excuse is. Is it your, "Well, if I start to speak out, I'll ‑‑ I can reach a bigger audience. I know that. I know that excuse. I almost took it myself. If I don't say certain things, I can reach a bigger audience." That's a hard ‑‑ that's a pretty seductive one. I know. Wrong choice. It's not really about even your voice. In the end it's about you. We all have a role to play, and there are going to be those who will pick up a gun. There will be those who want to overthrow the government on both the left and the right. There will be those that want to kill people and cause death and destruction and chaos. Who will stand against it? Who will stand against that if not us. Who will stand for man's freedom, if not us?

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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