Greta Thunberg (pictured above) is a 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist who has been ridiculed by adults who disagree with her views on climate change. Many comments made against Thunberg are irrelevant to the cause she is fighting for (photo courtesy of Leonhard Lenz/wikimedia commons).
On Monday Sept. 23, political commentator Michael Knowles verbally attacked 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg in an interview with Fox News. On the topic of the climate change movement, Knowles said, “If it were about science, it would be led by scientists rather than by politicians and a mentally ill Swedish child who is being exploited by her parents and by the international left,” according to USA Today.
Knowles continued by saying, “She is mentally ill. She has autism. She has obsessive-compulsive disorder. She has selective mutism. She had depression.”
Regardless of the truth of this statement, the discussion of Thunberg’s mental health is insignificant to the topic at hand. Knowles used irrelevant and inappropriate information as an attempt to distract society from the validity of her assertions. Instead, he—and the rest of the world—should be taking activists seriously regardless of their age or any other attributes.
Knowles is not the first person to ridicule Thunberg. Many right-wing adults in the media have inappropriately targeted this teen activist. Far-right internet figure Milo Yiannopoulos posted a picture which suggested that Thunberg has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Subreddit user The_Donald referred to her as “kinda tarded,” according to Media Matters. These are only two examples of the improper and disgusting claims made against this teen’s mental and physical health, which have absolutely nothing to do with her efforts to save the environment.
A few adults also made comments on Thunberg’s political views. Conservative author Dinesh D’Souza compared Thunberg to 1930s “Nazi proganda” and Chief Creative Officer at conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA’s Benny Johnson tweeted “annoying, foreign, communist [propagandist].” Rather than making outlandish connections to controversial politics, these individuals should be acknowledging the universal threat of climate change, which Thunberg is speaking out against.
Some have even made violent statements on Twitter. Conservative blogger Stephen Miller tweeted, “Tase and arrest her,” in response to her decorous White House climate strike. Breitbart.com editor John Nolte went so far as to say that Thunberg might “[need] a spanking.” The fact that adults think about using violence against anyone, especially a 16-year-old girl, just because they disagree with them is extremely unsettling.
Opponents of Thunberg argue that she is being exploited by her parents and other adults of the left-wing. They argue that the left is utilizing children as “political props … [pawns] being used by adults for their own interests,” according to Media Matters.
These people do not acknowledge the difference between exploitation and giving someone a voice. Adults aren’t using children for their own selfish agenda, but rather an agenda that affects us all. Children and teens are speaking up for their rights now more than ever. They are our future generation and have every right to stand up for themselves.
It is important that young people get involved in political conversations. After all, climate change is not only affecting adults, but our youth as well. We must not forget that they too are facing a devastating future if changes aren’t made. Despite any attributes one may have, everyone’s opinion matters.
Aliyha Gill is a psychology and English double major junior who is addicted to Wegman’s sparkling water.