Glenn Beck: "I will not comply"

March 15, 2012

Writer

It finally happened. The day has finally come. Glenn admitted on radio this morning that he doesn't recognize the country, and sees that progressives are starting to crush the idea of American exceptionalism. And while he certainly wasn't in a cheery mood over what was happening in the country, he did promise not to let the progressives crush him along the way. As regulations, indoctrinations and more come closer and closer to his front door, he made one promise - "I will not comply".

"Today is a day that I feel that I have finally reached the point where I cannot say I recognize my country anymore. I really cannot recognize it anymore," Glenn said as he opened the show.

"Can I tell you something? We are no longer exceptional," he said. "We are exceptional by default now because they are doing everything they can to make sure that we're not exceptional."

For decades, progressives have been trying to shift from American exceptionalism to globalism and a movement for an open society. "Look, we've been going on fumes for a while. It's not this, this president that has done this," he said.

"What's happened to me is I've always loved my country. But the progressive movement killed my country and now they've killed it for me just about three times. They killed it originally, but I didn't grow up knowing about that country. I didn't grow up knowing about our Founding Fathers and the the black Founding Fathers. I didn't, I didn't learn the things that I'm learning right now. So they killed it. It was all there. We were teaching it in schools in 1910, 1900 and then the progressives came and said 'Don't teach that stuff. Teach about the cherry tree and teach that they were all slave owners,' and that's the stuff that we learned," he explained.

"Now, luckily I was around parents and grandparents who had learned enough in the past, but all of the stuff that I learned about our country, all of the love that I have from the country came, a lot of it, from Woodrow Wilson and Uncle Sam and Liberty bonds and all of that bullcrap that is nothing but red, white and blue flag‑waving. But even that was strong enough to bring us a hundred years down the road because it was based in something true that the progressives tried to erase."

"So they killed the country. They killed my love for anything that was real. They buried it. They've done it for African‑Americans like nobody's business. African‑Americans, tell me about Booker T. Washington. Tell me about him. Tell me about Frederick Douglass. Really tell me about him. Tell me about the African‑American that was by George Washington's side the whole time. 'Oh, he was a slave.' Did you read his eulogy of George Washington? You should. It's pretty amazing. Tell me about that."

"Then George Bush starts doing stuff on the border, starts growing PATRIOT Act and all this stuff is starting to get out of control, the debt is going sky high, we're arguing with each other about Republicans and Democrats. I don't even understand my country anymore. And so I had to make the decision: What is my country? What is it? Who are we? Are we the baby‑killers? Are we the oppressors? And I had to go dig. And everything that I was raised to believe about the country died. And now I know who the real country is. Now I know what America really is. I know the bad and I know the good, and I have real ‑‑ a real rich, deep love for this country. It is exceptional. It was founded through divine providence and the protection of divine providence and good, decent men. And along the way, all the way along the way, there were really bad, evil men, as there are today. But they're trying to kill it a third time and this time put it out."

"I said to these guys last night sitting on my couch, I want to find the musicians that without using the red, white and blue and Lee Greenwood images can express the loss that we feel, the mourning that we feel, the fear. Not the fear for our own life but the fear that this idea can be vanquished and, on top of it, the true deep understanding that this idea that man is created and endowed by that creator with things that you cannot ever take away, and those things can't be taken away because they come from the creator and we find them self‑evident. No matter how long they would put us in jail, no matter how they would torture us, they will still be self‑evident, that you are born free and man should be free. He has a right to his life. He has a right to his liberty. He has a right to pursue the things that will make him happy. You will never vanquish that. Never. And that's what makes us unique. That's what makes us special. Because we are the ones who put that down on writing. We're the ones who've lived it. I should say we ‑‑ I think we may have lived it for about 50 years. Maybe. And then Andrew Jackson comes in and takes this idea of 'Be humble, be good to each other' and perverts it. 'Kill the Indian because we're here for God.' It's the same place that Columbus went wrong. Columbus was humble on the way over. He was arrogant on the way back. 'We're here for God. Kill them.'"

"It happens to man over and over and over and over again. That's all right. We are unique. We are special. We are exceptional. But only when we're humble. Only when we're not trying to teach the world a lesson: 'Be more like me. Be more like us.' No. Be who you are. Be who you are. But allow me to be who I am as well. I am a man, and anyone who tries to extinguish that, I will not comply."

"I want you to start saying those words to yourself. If you're driving in the car right now all by yourself, I want you to say those words out loud. You need to start hearing yourself say those things: 'I will not comply.' You want to take away my right to have my kids work on my ranch, my farm? You want to tell my kids they can't drive the tractor? I was driving a tractor when I was 10. "I will not comply." You want to tell me that my kid ‑‑ so what? So they can go play soccer and get a trophy for losing? 'I will not comply.' Learn to say those words, and say them with meaning."

I pray and have prayed for quite some time because the Lord has blessed me and cursed me with an ability to see over the horizon. If these things, these patterns, do not change, I pray that I have the strength to my dying breath to say 'I will not comply.'"

'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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