Take a Knee

[SHRED]

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[ProudLib72]

1. Yep, Frederick Douglass is doing good work

I'm surprised someone else knows about Frederick Douglass.

[tblue37]

13. Yep. I see you also have noticed that Frederick Douglass is an example of

somebody who's done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more.

[L. Coyote]

16. I just had a great Skype call with Frederick Douglass.

He told me that someday there will be a thing called the internet.

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[pangaia]

2. Where did the term 'take a knee' come from?

Why isn't it just kneel?
I never thought of it before.

And what is really weird, is that the term, just the phrase, 'take a knee,' bothers me?
Not the act, of course, just that particular phrase....
Why is that? I have no idea.

It's a pretty small issue in the great scheme of things...

[chaking53]

4. it comes from sports practice

when the coach wants your attention you are told to take a knee (its good because you get a little rest)

[pangaia]

7. Thanks for the explanation.

I'll no longer get the creeps when I hear that phrase. LOL.

BTW--
Ever hear the term 'mail it in,' used by classical musicians?

[OldHippieChick]

9. My son is a professional classical musician and other

than the usual definition, we are unaware of a specific use by classical musicians. Please enlighten.

[pangaia]

10. It means when a musician or group makes the mininnal effort,

Either at a performance or rehearsal.

Too much trouble to play their best for whatever reason.. so they just slap a stamp on it and "mail it in."

Don't know why i thought of that.

[tblue37]

14. That phrase is used to describe any half-hearted performance--especially

these days of well-known actors who just walk through their roles to collect a paycheck.

[pangaia]

18. You're right, and probably athletes as well and, many others...

[Louis1895]

6. Origin

Actually, "take a knee" is a football term.

take a knee
An American football term for when the quarterback drops to one knee immediately after receiving the snap, thus automatically ending the play.

The use of taking a knee comes only near the end of a game when your team is in possession of the ball and holds a narrow lead (by a touchdown or less). If you execute a run or pass play, you risk turning the ball over and allowing the opposing team to gain possession and a chance to score. By taking a knee, you are able to run down the clock without putting the ball at risk.

My favorite use of the motion:

Battle Lessons
What the generals don’t know.
By Dan Baum

During the early weeks of the Iraq war, the television set in my office was tuned all day to CNN, with the sound muted. On the morning of April 3rd, as the Army and the Marines were closing in on Baghdad, I happened to look up at what appeared to be a disaster in the making. A small unit of American soldiers was walking along a street in Najaf when hundreds of Iraqis poured out of the buildings on either side. Fists waving, throats taut, they pressed in on the Americans, who glanced at one another in terror. I reached for the remote and turned up the sound. The Iraqis were shrieking, frantic with rage. From the way the lens was lurching, the cameraman seemed as frightened as the soldiers. This is it, I thought. A shot will come from somewhere, the Americans will open fire, and the world will witness the My Lai massacre of the Iraq war. At that moment, an American officer stepped through the crowd holding his rifle high over his head with the barrel pointed to the ground. Against the backdrop of the seething crowd, it was a striking gesture—almost Biblical. “Take a knee,” the officer said, impassive behind surfer sunglasses. The soldiers looked at him as if he were crazy. Then, one after another, swaying in their bulky body armor and gear, they knelt before the boiling crowd and pointed their guns at the ground. The Iraqis fell silent, and their anger subsided. The officer ordered his men to withdraw.

Read the rest: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/01/17/battle-lessons

[pangaia]

11. Thanks. I know about the quarter back taking a knee.

But that Battle Lessons story is really impressive.

Thanks for sharing it

[GusBob]

12. Also, in youth football

In Pop Warner football it was common practice when a player was I injured on the field for the kids to take a knee while he was being attended to

Kind of a sign of respect

[L. Coyote]

17. It means to stay on the sideline instead of participating on the field.

Sort of apt given it means to not join in the next play.

[chaking53]

3. everyone every where should take a knee

everyone every where should take a knee until all mad dog policemen are brought to bay!!!

[SunSeeker]

5. K & R

[lostnfound]

8. I think of it as a kind of prayer that our nation will be better

In catholic school we were taught to kneel at service to pray for forgivenesss, for the grace to do better, for the sake of silent reflection on values and our purpose as human beings.

[L. Coyote]

15. For a guy who got down on both knees for Putin ...

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