by Tedd Herr
December 20, 2020
This is a longer version of a comment I posted on Facebook in response to a meme posted by Jack Duran, who is probably best known as a former Supervisor for Placer County (California). Jack frequently advocates on behalf of Native
(Link to the Jack’s post: https://www.facebook.com/jack.duran.75/posts/10219437650116836)
It mildly implies that Colin Kaepernick addressed people who are/were critical of himself, Rosa Parks, MLK and Muhammad Ali for their methods of protesting, and that he is calling out hypocrisy on the part of those who are silent about slavery and genocide against Native Americans.
In response, there were claims by various readers:
… and …
Notes that Mr. Otsuka’s comment goes so far as to imply that Kaepernick is comparing himself to MLK, and when challenged on this, he doubles down on accepting the meme as being accurate (while simultaneously acknowledging that it might not be).
This was followed by Robert Dugan writing as though Mr. Otsuka’s claim that Kaepernick was comparing himself to the other civil rights activists was accurate: “..He compares himself to Rosa Parks?..”
Dugan followed up with denigrating Kaepernick and Kaepernick’s football skills: “A millionaire – who had every privilege growing up. only took a knee after he was benched for failure to perform the job he was overpaid to do. Really simple contrast. – The epitome of arrogance using those who suffered and still do for his personal gain.”
Dugan didn’t respond when I challenged him on the accuracy of his comparison allegation. However, Jim Joiner responded as if the meme is an accurate and reliable representation of Kaepernick’s stance on the other activists: “are you unable to see the meme that Jack posted? If you can … you’ll find the origin of the MLK responses there.”
In summary, Mr. Otsuka, Mr. Dugan and Mr. Joiner all accepted the meme as being an accurate representation of something Mr. Kaepernick said – – without any other evidence.Otsuka and Joiner later defended the meme as being accurate when challenged.
The meme has a history: It is one that Facebook released as having been part of a political influence campaign emanating from Iran:
“Facebook said it had detected a coordinated influence campaign run out of Iran that created pages and groups followed by more than 1 million accounts on the social network.”
“The social network said in a blog post on Friday that it had taken down 30 pages, 33 accounts, and three groups on Facebook, as well as 16 accounts on Instagram, that were tied to the campaign, which it described as “inauthentic behavior.”
“The pages posted politically divisive content targeted at users in the US and the UK in apparent attempts to sow division, Facebook said.”
https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-detects-bans-iranian-influence-campaign-2018-10
According to an article published in the Washington Post, ..
“Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe called a news conference to warn Americans that foreign adversaries were actively interfering in the U.S. elections. Ratcliffe noted that two countries, Russia and Iran, have launched efforts to influence the course of the elections…”
“While Ratcliffe’s revelations raise many questions, the fact that Iran would seek to interfere with the U.S. elections shouldn’t come as a surprise. This falls in line with Iran’s long-standing goal to undermine democracy at home and abroad.”
and
“It’s clear that the regime doesn’t have an answer to the growing discontent within the country. Its system of government isn’t attractive and, as a result, it has resorted — as most authoritarian regimes do — to repression and discrediting democracy.”
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/10/22/iran-interference-election-dni-ratcliffe/)
With the historical perspective on this meme, let’s review…
1. The meme was created, then disseminated in a way that did not initially reveal its origins.
2. It was amplified by Americans,
3. Other Americans took a stance on the meme, including…
4. Taking it as being a reliable representation of Kaepernick’s attitude, then
5. Created a false narrative (disinformation) about Colin Kaepernick regarding his civil rights activism.
My presumption is that Jack posted this meme for the contrast is portrayed between the response of some Americans to civil rights protesting and the ongoing poverty, injustices and destruction of Native American communities as perpetuated by government policy as well as civilian attitudes and actions.
If the Iranian intent is to undermine democracy by creating and amplifying existing divisions in American society, the responses to this particular instance of the meme being posted demonstrate the accuracy of that analysis.
It’s not just the Russians and Iranians who are a problem to our democracy….It’s Americans, too.