"Useful Idiots"

I recently shared the above picture on my Facebook page and asked my friends why the phrase "Useful Idiots" after the message informing people about the No Kings rally that took place on March 28. 

The original message was written in clear teacher handwriting, even included a crossed out crown logo, using a couple of different colors. It was tight, neat, and informative. Below it in larger lighter letters was the phrase USEFUL IDIOTS. At first I saw USEFUL and thought "yay, someone is being encouraging. We need more of that." Then I saw "IDIOTS" and realized a MAGA supporter (yes, we have a few left in the center of New Jersey) and wondered, "Did the person just happen to have a piece of white chalk with them (oh, the symbolism of the original multi-colored factual message vs. the pure white insulting message is not lost on me)? Did they find it? Did they go home to get it after they saw the original message?"

The insult appears on about half of the eight original messages. The message about the rally appears at most park entrances so it is the first thing you see stepping into the park.

I asked my greater community about the meaning of the message, and they did not disappoint.

Pam said it is meant sarcastically as in "Useful (NOT!) Idiots"

Neil wrote: "It is a term from the cold war. It was used to refer to intellectuals (and others) in the west who supported Russia and believed, and repeated, their propaganda. It was attributed at the time to Lenin, but he never said it (and it's been traced back in the UK as far as 1864). TLDR, it means someone who is politically naïve who is easily manipulated while not having any idea of what is really going on."

Chuck retorted: "The irony of the MAGA crowd calling any group Useful Idiots is thick."

Diane added: "I've heard the phrase from a lot of Jewish friends. When there were a lot of the Palestinian protests going on in college campuses, especially some of the Queers for Palestine, etc., apparently Hamas and other organizations called them 'Useful Idiots.' The people protesting didn't even know the situation, but they were protesting not even understanding the phrases they were saying, but were on the Palestinian side--thus useful idiots."

Hln replied to Diane: "Yes, that is commonly used, in large part because current iterations of anti-Semitism / anti-Israel activity (particularly in academia which trickles down to young people) have their roots in Soviet-era strategy (although as Jacquelyn's friend points out the term might actually be an older one). I personally don't use it because it is a bit of a lazy way to describe a serious problem."

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I've known this for a while, but I have smart friends who can discuss tough topics with intelligence and kindness. The ones who can't behave that way on my page have been booted.