I assume by now we’ve all seen the famous picture of the bandana-clad mullet-headed man bearing the misspelled sign. It’s come to represent the stereotype of the mindless Iraq war/occupation supporter. But does anyone know the source of this image? When and where was it taken? Was the man really demonstrating for the Iraq war, or was it for some other purpose? Has the man ever been identified or interviewed?
Not 100% sure that this is the true origin but is all I could find.
In case anyone else is still wondering about this meme, I’ve since found an entry on Know Your Meme with some more details about it:
Though the man’s identity is unknown, the photo was taken on March 23rd, 2003 outside of St. Louis, Missouri. On that day, approximately 350 pro-peace activists got together with civilian weapons inspectors at the Boeing missile factory, asking to investigate the weapons of mass destruction being produced there. When they were denied access, the protestors sat in front of the main gate in protest. Approximately 75 pro-war supporters came to the factory with signs discouraging the sit-in. One of these supporters held the “Get a Brain Morans” sign. The photo was initially shared on the St. Louis Indymedia Center in 2003.
So if this information is accurate, the man is indeed a pro-war (or at least pro-weapons) demonstrator, and the timeline does seem to very closely fit with the start of the Iraq War in 2003.
I always figured that the guy was pretending to be on one side, but was punking them with the obviously stupid sign.
Huh. I saw a different one recently that said “Get a Brian, Morans.”
Incompetent copycat?
Fan of Life of Brian?
Probably intentional parody (I say “probably” because it’s just too on the noes to be real).
The sign holder could have meant Jim and Brian: the brothers Moran. Two locally prominent Democratic politicians in Northern Virginia. Jim Moran was a congressman and Brian Moran was a Virginia delegate, contemporaneous with the infamous sign in 2005.
I say could have meant, but LOL we all know he didn’t. LOL
Apparently this last name stems from various Irish surnames, whose meaning is close to “descendant of the great one.”
Wait—the second sign actually said “Get a Brian Moran”? He’ll be pleased to know he’s wanted.
The “Morans” guy never quite achieved the same infamy as “College Liberal”, who’s starred in a thousand memes.
How do you know he has a mullet?
Maybe he hated Sherlock Holmes: Colonel Moran - Wikipedia
Upthread there is a ref to a published article that says the original pic was taken at an RW counter-protest in St. Louis, MO. I’m familiar with the site of that protest and what we can see in the less-cropped versions of the pic with more background showing it certainly could have been there. The fact our hero is wearing a St. Louis Cardinals baseball T-shirt is suggestive as well.
IOW, it’s real good bet he’s not talking about 2 minor politicians from a state halfway across the country.
Good point; he is wearing a bandana. But come on; you just know there’s a mullet lurking under there, don’t you?
Hmmph.
When you assume you make a Moran out of you and me.
Moran.
