The internet was dumbstruck to learn that two teenagers from completely different backgrounds and diametrically opposed causes had one thing in common–their birthday.
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg was born on January 3, 2003 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The acquitted shooter of three people at an anti-racism protest, Kyle Rittenhouse, was born on the same exact date in Antioch, Illinois.
The two 18-year-olds have become news headlines for the vastly different life paths they have chosen.
People have just discovered Kyle Rittenhouse and Greta Thunberg were born on exactly the same day | indy100https://www.indy100.com/news/kyle-rittenhouse-greta-thunberg-birthday-b1978264\u00a0\u2026— Greta Thunberg News (@Greta Thunberg News) 1639973945
Greta Thunberg and Kyle Rittenhouse were born on the same day. It\u2019s like the premise for a Stephen King novel.pic.twitter.com/QHSMEFYGkg— Jack The Bodiless (@Jack The Bodiless) 1639753648
In 2020, a 17-year-old Rittenhouse–armed with an assault rifle–crossed state lines and fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and gravely injured Gaige Grosskreutz at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparked by the police shooting of unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake.
Rittenhouse–who was viewed as a "hero" among Republicans and far-right conservatives–was acquitted by a 12-person jury after 25 hours of deliberation.
He had been charged with five felonies—first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Oh cool! I share a birthday with Greta Thunberg! \n\nOh cool... I share a birthday with Kyle Rittenhouse— Brian Pqn (@Brian Pqn) 1639584591
Thunberg, on the other hand, launched a global climate activism campaign–starting with the School Strike for Climate in 2018 when she was 15-years-old–and famously called out world leaders for not doing better and demanded immediate action for climate change mitigation.
She was recognized as the youngest TIME "Person of the Year" and for her inspirational activism with Nobel Peace Prize nominations in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
People took to Twitter and weighed in on the study of stark contrasts.
Kyle Rittenhouse: born Jan 3, 2003\u2013the murdering psychopathic hero of right-wing and white supremacists. Meanwhile Greta Thunberg, also born January 3, 2003, devotes her life to saving the world from climate disaster. https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1470925874858020866\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/4AhGF3ae4l— AlyceMiller (@AlyceMiller) 1639580691
The left admires Greta Thunberg for her conviction, compassion, and concern for the future of her generation.\n\nThe right admires Kyle Rittenhouse for his gun.— So Fain (@So Fain) 1639669290
So Greta Thunberg and Kyle Rittenhouse being born on the same day is why the world is ending just saying *cue Philip Glass \u2018Prophecies\u2019*— Anna said \u270c\ud83c\udffcFree Palestine (@Anna said \u270c\ud83c\udffcFree Palestine) 1639681714
Kyle Rittenhouse and Greta Thunberg being born on the exact same day really destroys the whole zodiac system.— Yehudi "CHUNKY" Mercado (@Yehudi "CHUNKY" Mercado) 1639644095
Greta Thunberg and Kyle Rittenhouse being sent into this timelinepic.twitter.com/Vw8O5walRk— Horned Sphere (@Horned Sphere) 1639691397
Thus is the balance between Chaos and Order maintained.\n\nWho am I kidding? On his best (worst?) day, Kyle Rittenhouse, Soldier of Chaos 5th Class (or No Class), is an insignificant little gnat compared to the Mighty Soldier of Order that is Greta Thunberg!https://twitter.com/ymercado/status/1471400097086787584\u00a0\u2026— Guy McLimore (@Guy McLimore) 1639704784
So one is trying her best to save the world, and the other is snuffing it out one life at a time....https://www.indy100.com/news/kyle-rittenhouse-greta-thunberg-birthday-b1978264\u00a0\u2026— Captain Happy (@Captain Happy) 1639792997
It appears the zodiac has some explaining to do.