On Thursday night, before their game against the Washington Commanders, the Green Bay Packers held a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk. The political commentator and activist was assassinated in Utah earlier this week.

But if you’re familiar with the kindness of the Green Bay community, the moment of silence wasn’t a political statement. It was a moment of mourning for a family that lost their husband and father.

The moment of silence shouldn’t be interpreted as taking sides politically. It shouldn’t be taken as a statement that shoves you away.

Quite the contrary. It should be an embrace as a member of the community. If you’re happy, they’ll celebrate with you. If you’re hurting, they’ll try to help you.

If you’re reading this and rolling your eyes, I get it. I’ve been around the world with the military. I have a background in politics stretching back 16 years, in some of the biggest political battlegrounds in the country.

You’ve never seen anything like Northeast Wisconsin. A region so kind that they’ll embrace a grouchy old cynic like myself. There are organizations in every county dedicated to helping people.

Its a community of industry, where if you show up ready to do honest work and return the kindness given to you, not only can you survive, but you can grow.

This post was written because in the digital age, its easy to see a couple of comments online and misinterpret something. The Kirk tragedy in particular has become a topic for toxic online engagement farmers to make people angry behind burner accounts.

When you read other articles about the Charlie Kirk moment of silence in Green Bay, please remember this.

They try to love everyone up here. That’s what makes it such a great place to be.