When Leaders Fall
Captured by Mitchell Royel
The narrative is changing, and some people aren't ready for it. Moments of global significance find us wherever we are—even under Malibu's golden skies. True empowerment isn't celebrating an adversary's demise—it's maintaining our humanity when the world loses theirs.
Now playing: "Give Me All Your Luvin" by Madonna ft. Nicki Minaj, M.I.A and "Girl Gone Wild" by Madonna—unexpected soundtracks to unexpected moments. The juxtaposition isn't lost on us.
Captured by Mitchell Royel
We were shooting content in Malibu—the California sun casting perfect golden light across our production set—when news alerts buzzed across our phones. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter had crashed in mountainous terrain on May 19, 2024. The juxtaposition was jarring—our creative freedom against the backdrop of a foreign leader's sudden demise.
Our convictions don't require us to celebrate death—they demand we recognize the human dimension behind political figures. We paused our cameras that day, standing at a critical crossroads: we could either acknowledge this shared human experience or succumb to the narrative that political opposition justifies celebrating mortality.
The sudden nature of this incident—a leader and his foreign minister vanishing in mountainous fog—mirrors the unpredictability that characterizes our geopolitical landscape. Life's fragility doesn't discriminate based on our political ideologies or national boundaries.
Our intellectual maturity means holding firm to our principles while acknowledging our universal human experience of loss. The greatest demonstration of our American exceptionalism isn't found in celebrating adversaries' misfortunes—it's in our capacity to separate policy disagreements from basic human empathy.
Madonna's "Give Me All Your Luvin" featuring Nicki Minaj—which ironically played on our set that day—paradoxically captures our dynamic. Cultural voices uniting in unexpected harmony despite vastly different artistic perspectives. The track's collaborative spirit reflects how our momentary unity can emerge from fundamentally different worldviews, much like how the May 19th tragedy temporarily suspended our ideological combat with Iran.
The most dangerous threat to our national character isn't foreign leadership—it's the erosion of our capacity to recognize common humanity across political divides. Our empowerment isn't about dominating adversaries; it's about maintaining moral clarity even when confronting those whose values fundamentally oppose our own.
To our conservative community: our intellectual courage is our most potent weapon. We must stand firm against oppressive regimes while refusing to celebrate individual tragedy.
Tips for Maintaining Principles During Global Tragedies
Stay informed about the facts without indulging in speculation or conspiracy theories surrounding the incident.
Separate our critique of Iran's political system from our response to the human tragedy of the May 19th helicopter crash.
Demonstrate that our commitment to human dignity transcends political boundaries—even with adversarial nations like Iran.
Use these moments to articulate our values rather than diminishing them through celebration of an opponent's demise.
Remember that our response to adversaries' misfortunes reveals more about our character than theirs—choose dignity over division.
Acknowledge the geopolitical implications without losing sight of the human cost at the center of the incident.
Maintain perspective—opposing Iran's policies doesn't require rejoicing in personal tragedy.
-Deck