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The love between a dad and his son is a beautiful thing. And no troll on the internet can ruin it. When an artistic photo of former Vice President Joe Biden holding and kissing his son Hunter on the cheek surfaced on the internet, right-wing commentator and TV host John Cardillo criticized the fatherly expression of love and called it ‘creepy.’

However, the internet was quick to respond in the most beautiful way. Liz Plank, journalist and author of ‘For the Love of Men: From Toxic to a More Mindful Representation,’ invited the men of Twitter to share photos of them being held by their dads. The photos are powerful, honest, and we hope you enjoy them, dear Pandas. Let us know which ones you liked the most in the comments and remember to upvote your fave ones.

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Natalie Bohrteller
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So much love in one picture... if that creeps you out, there's obviously something wrong with YOU.

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Tom Nichols, senior adviser to The Lincoln Project, writes on USA Today that the photo of 77-year-old Biden and his 50-year-old son might seem “awkward,” but it’s moving. 

“Even strangers to these men would know what it means. All of us, after all, were once children. In this case, to know the circumstances in which it was taken is to know that it is a picture full of pain, love, forgiveness, and acceptance, and to look at it for even more than a moment is to experience at least some of those emotions, especially in the memory of our own parents or children,” Nichols writes, alluding to the fact that Biden stood by his son during his struggles with drug abuse and other troubles.

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Liz
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lost someone who I didn't see for nearly a year because of COVID. By the time I finally got a test and planned a safe way to travel home without exposure, it was too late. He was already in the hospital where we couldn't see him. It breaks my heart. I could have gone months before if I had just planned. But we always think we'll have more time. My advice is to make a plan to safely see your loved ones. Get tested, find a safe way to travel without risking exposure, or plan to quarantine and test on arrival. You can make it happen and you will deeply regret it if you don't.

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According to Nichols, the way that right-winger Cardillo reacted to the photo shows how his sense of masculinity has become corroded and shows his inner insecurity.

“More accurately, it is a child’s view of masculinity. Come on, Dad, quit it, guys don’t kiss. This is the insecurity of the boys who did not learn that to accept a father’s embrace is part of becoming a man,” Nichols explains.

He adds that males (not men) like Cardillo are “to be pitied” because they might have had troublesome family relationships that led them to have a “terrified” and “embryonic male identity of a small child.”

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Dorothy Parker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were very fortunate to be able to have such a wonderful relationship.

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Kevin Donegan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Twins (with the exception of about a 25 year age span). You can tell they're father and son.

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Dorothy Parker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dean, if you see this, I'm so sorry for your loss. Such a sweet image..

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mysty
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i might get a lot of downvotes but people are only saying that is inappropriate because of his place in the dems and the fact that he is running against trump. if he was just an average man people would see this as an adorable father-son connection.

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Kevin Donegan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's nice to have your best friend with you during such an emotional experience.

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Dorothy Parker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The little hand holding dad. No question of how much live they xhare.

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Kevin Donegan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are blessed man to know that your father loved you unconditionally every day of your life.

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Kevin Donegan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It took me a second to see the "hand placements" in the first photo. I laughed out loud.

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Levi
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The neck of the suits r so close I thought he had 2 heads for a second

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MiniMaus
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oMG poor child and poor parents. What an ass of a surgeon

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Colleen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seeing this has me wanting to have my son return to this age for just a few minutes and I would hold him just as close.

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Kevin Donegan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least you recognize the internalized homophobia. Now, you can actively battle those demons when they appear.

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