By John Kainer, The American Spectator - Kirk, therefore, offered a service to universities that they were loathe to offer themselves — a religiously informed defense of America’s founding ideals and principles. Kirk was fearless in saying what he believed to be true given his considerable time spent reading, thinking, and writing about political, cultural, and religious issues. He could have chosen death for his opponents, but he chose dialogue instead. After Auschwitz, that is the responsibility of all people who would live in a free society.