Janice R. Andrews
CHICAGO – People all over the internet were moved by the sweet moment between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son Gus at the Democratic National Convention this week. Gus has a silent learning problem, as well as nervousness and ADHD. During his award speech at the United Center in Chicago, Gus was caught on camera crying as he talked about how much he loves his father, who is the Democratic candidate for Vice President. What started out as a lot of praise for the young man quickly turned into a mean wave of online bullying.
“The Show-Stealing Moment”
Tim Walz stopped talking about how much he loved his family as he talked about the emotional journey he and his wife, Gwen, went through to have their daughter, Hope. “Gwen, Hope, and Gus, you are my whole world. Walz said from the stage, “And I love you.” He looked touched.
Gus, who was sitting in the front row, couldn’t hold back his tears. He looked at his dad with tears in his eyes and said, “I love you, Dad.” Then he added, “That’s my dad!” which made me cry even more. When the event was shown live, it quickly went viral.
“A Mix of Admiration and Cruelty from the Public”
At first, the internet was full of good responses. Fox News and other news outlets showed clips of the intense conversation and said that Gus ” stole the show.” People on social media and famous people both said nice things about her.
Pete Buttigieg’s husband, Chasten Buttigieg, wrote on X (which used to be called Twitter) that he hoped to inspire his own children the way Gus had been inspired by his father. It’s clear that @Tim_Walz has spent his whole life serving others and has been a great, loving, and caring dad all along, he wrote.
She also spoke out, and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar praised the bond between Walz and his children. Her tweet said, “You know you’ve done a good job as a parent when your kids are as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz.”
The actress Mia Farrow tweeted, “Gosh! I love her so much!” When Gus Walz, the cute son of Gwen and Tim Walz, yelled, “That’s my dad!” with tears running down his face, he won my heart.
However, the nice welcome was quickly overwhelmed by a flood of mean comments. Many of the sharpest criticism came from people who supported former President Donald Trump. They quickly used the touching moment to make fun of people.
Online bullying is a bad thing that can happen on social media.
Ann Coulter, a conservative writer known for saying controversial things, called the teen’s outburst “weird,” but she later took down the post. An angry podcaster named Mike Crispi, who supports Trump, took a more hostile stance, calling Gus a “puffy beta male” in a tweet.
Alec Lace, a Trump backer who also runs a show about fatherhood, said something even worse: “Get that kid a tampon already.” This mean comment was about a law in Minnesota that Walz passed that requires schools to provide free menstrual products. This law has caused a lot of disagreement among conservatives.
A radio DJ in Wisconsin called Jay Weber joined the fight and posted an insulting message about the Walz family on X. Weber quickly took down his post and said sorry, but the damage had already been done.
Avocates Call Attention to Harassment
A lot of bad things were said about Gus Walz, which made people who work to help disabled children speak out strongly. They were quick to point out that the bullying Gus faced online was similar to the abuse many disabled kids face every day in real life.
Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, a nonprofit that fights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, spoke out against the bullying. She said, “What we’re seeing with Gus Walz’s online bullying isn’t just cruel; it’s a painful reminder of what kids with disabilities face every single day.” Neas brought up the fact that disabled kids are two to three times more likely to be bullied than their friends.
Kristen Eccleston, who used to teach special education and now works to help kids with social and emotional needs, agreed with Neas. She stressed that bullying can have a big effect on the mental and academic growth of disabled kids, and that the effects can last for a long time.
Eccleston said, “Bullying has very bad effects on kids with learning disabilities.” “It can lower their self-esteem, make it harder for them to do well in school, and make them feel alone.”
A mother of an autistic child named Anne Strober spoke out against how Gus was treated. She said, “For me, it just shows how many people have lost their humanity.” Strober stressed that the fact that bullies can be anonymous on social media sites often gives them the courage to say things they wouldn’t say in person.
The following is a call for compassion and understanding:
Bullying of Gus Walz has led to a larger discussion about how to treat disabled children and how adults should behave. As celebrities and activists come together to support the Walz family, there is hope that this will make people more aware of and understanding of people with disabilities.
Strober said, “Children should not be bullied, especially by adults, no matter what political party their parents are in.” “Gus won’t see all of their mean comments, but other kids will.” It will hurt them and their families very much.
The lesson after this event is clear: kindness and understanding must win out over hate and separation. The tearful way Gus Walz showed his love for his family should be a lesson of how strong family ties are, not a reason to make fun of him. As the whole country sees, it’s a chance to think about how we treat the weakest people in our society and work toward making it more open and caring.
