Regardless of how much Donald Trump and maga Republicans vilify ethnic groups the political violence is from white males- Why?

Echo editorial published in The Baltimore Sun newspaper:

The crisis of young men can no longer be ignored check the source at this site here. 

(Summary from Maine Writer:  Who knew about "Discord chatrooms"❓

The horrible assassination of Charlie Kirk was a national tragedy — a brutal act of violence that stunned the country and reignited urgent questions about political extremism. 

Beneath the tragedy, however, is a deep problem in the social fabric of our nation that threatens to make violence more pervasive, communities less cohesive and people less safe.

That problem is the crisis of young men in America. The alleged assassin, barely out of adolescence, joins a growing list of young males whose despair, rage and ideological confusion have erupted into violence. We are witnessing a generation of men who feel alienated, unmoored and increasingly drawn to destructive extremes.

As traditional social bonds erode, many young men retreat into digital spaces like video games and Discord chatrooms, seeking connection, validation and escape. 

These platforms offer community, but they also risk reinforcing alienation, especially when real-world purpose feels out of reach.

It should come as no surprise that the accused assassin of Charlie Kirk was active on Discord — the same platform frequented by the Buffalo supermarket shooter and countless others who’ve turned isolation into extremism. Discord, while designed for gaming and community, is also a breeding ground for ideological echo chambers, where young men can spiral unchecked.

“How did we get here?” For many young men who came of age in the 2000s, and 2010s, the answer lies in a lifetime of messaging that framed them as inherently privileged and implicitly guilty. 

From classrooms to social media feeds, from corporate H.R. seminars to pop culture narratives, the refrain has been consistent: Male privilege is a burden to be acknowledged, apologized for and corrected.

While these conversations aimed to address real inequities, they often lacked nuance, leaving many young men feeling indicted for circumstances beyond their control. Over time, this messaging calcified into resentment. Is it really so surprising that some of these men, steeped in guilt and stripped of purpose, have grown cynical and detached — convinced that the society around them not only misunderstands them but actively resents their existence❓

To those who may be bothered by this topic, remember — this is not the victimhood Olympics. 💥

Acknowledging the crisis facing young men does not mean dismissing the struggles of communities of color, nor does it erase the long history of systemic inequities that have shaped American life. We can walk and chew gum at the same time — and we must.

Now that we know the problem, we must focus on solving it. How do we restore purpose, connection and dignity to a generation that feels discarded? How do we ensure that the boys growing up behind them don’t inherit the same despair, the same alienation, the same temptation to retreat into digital shadows or ideological extremes? That must be the focus moving forward.

Before his life was tragically and unjustly taken, Charlie Kirk likely would have agreed that the crisis facing young men is one of the defining challenges of our time. His mission, however polarizing to some, was rooted in engagement — reaching young people, especially young men, and giving them a sense of purpose in a world that often left them feeling unseen.

Whether you agreed with Kirk ideologically or not, that much is undeniable. He understood the vacuum many young men were living in, and he tried to fill it with conservative convictions, right wing community and religious nationalism direction. (Maine Writer- although Mr. Kirk had a right to speak about his personal values, they caused tremendous ire among many, expecially caustic to those of us who are only now learning about how this extremism has evolved to infect white males.) 

If we’re serious about preventing future tragedies, we must carry forward that impulse — to listen, to guide and to rebuild the bridges that so many young men have lost.

Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.