This meme is based on Norman Rockwell’s 1943 oil painting titled 'Freedom of Speech,' which was part of his famous 'Four Freedoms' series. The image depicts a working-class man standing up at a local town meeting to express a dissenting or personal view while others listen respectfully. In modern internet culture, the image resurged as a popular reaction format where users pair it with text stating a niche, unpopular, or 'brave' opinion. It has become a staple on platforms like X and Reddit to humorously frame common-sense thoughts or controversial preferences as heroic acts of defiance.