The physical and symbolic act of kneeling from an athlete, sports mom, and member of the clergy.

[Pacifist Patriot]

The act of kneeling is about as far away from disrespectful as one can get. Two things struck me as I have watched more and more athletes and others involved in sports, not just football, take a knee.

Although I am a religious humanist (non-theist), I was raised in a protestant household and grew up in majority Christian communities. I cannot help but be struck by the visual similarity to prayer groups. Kneeling is an act of submission, contrition, and humility. It is done to recognize there is something greater than you. It could be a concept of God or acknowledgment that we are but specks in an awesome and awe-inspiring cosmos.

Yes, it can be seen as an act of defiance when one is expected to stand. But seeing people kneeling together evokes a sense of community and purpose in me, especially when it's defiance. To adopt a humble position to resist injustice is a courageous act. To do so in community is powerful.

I was also reminded of my years as a player and soccer mom. It is traditional in many youth sports for players to "take a knee" when another player is down with an injury and needs attention. The players remain on one knee until the injured athlete is assisted off the field. So to me, this is also a posture of recognizing someone else is in pain and needs help. Perhaps that's why I feel it is so important for more white athletes, coaches, physios, etc. to take a knee as well.

This beautiful act of resistance is indicative of great wounds in our society. We need to stay on those knees until the injured get the attention they need and deserve.

[demmiblue]

1. Beautifully stated. K&R!

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Thanks

I'm trying to understand those who do see it as disrespectful or worse, pointless. I've been engaging with someone who is baffled because he doesn't see the need for it. He thinks this is a generic blanket "left wing opposition to authority" stunt somehow. I'm trying to gently point out that of course he doesn't see the need for it. He's white. I think I may be getting somewhere with him, but only time will tell.

[femmocrat]

3. I have been thinking about the act of kneeling since yesterday.

You worded it all so much better than I could. Thank you. What you wrote is really beautiful. Maybe you could get it published in a LTTE.

Do you think there is any difference between kneeling on one knee as opposed to two, as we do in church?

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. Some denominations do use a one knee posture for prayer...

especially in prayer groups. So no, I don't really see a difference. Just a matter of what you are used to seeing and doing I suppose.

You actually reminded me of a discussion (and ongoing joke) in an inter-faith council I was involved with a few years ago. My Catholic and Episcopal colleagues viewed one knee prayer as a bit odd and intense, especially when adopted in a group circle environment. While my Southern Baptist colleagues considered the two knee prayer posture on kneelers to be...amusing for lack of a better word. But don't take these as generalizations. They were the opinions of specific individuals within these denominations.

On a side note, they asked for my preferred prayer posture. I replied, "gripping the steering wheel."

[femmocrat]

6. :)

I have been looking up the photo of Dr. King kneeling in Selma in 1965. He knelt on one knee while others in the march knelt on two.

Interesting how this has evolved into a lesson on the history of the civil rights movement. Now I have to go research whether Kaepernick was honoring Dr. King when he took that position the first time.

To be honest, I didn't pay a whole lot of attention until yesterday. Thanks, trump. So much to think about today!

[obamanut2012]

5. The injury taking a kne is what I think of, too

As well as taking a knee when your coach wants to talk to you. Or taking a knee for a rest.

All things I did -- and they still do -- in team sports.

[karynnj]

7. That was my reaction as well, but I never could have put it as eloquently as you did

Not to mention as a non athlete with 3 non athletic daughters, I never noticed or saw that players take the knee to recognize that someone has been injured.

This is a beautiful act of passive resistance -- and I am grateful that people like you are giving us the tools to reframe it. As someone in my 60s, I am struck by the idea that one thing that made the civil rights movement so powerful and successful was the incredible dignity and strength shown to practice non violent protests in the face of extreme anger and violence.

[femmocrat]

8. I found this interesting thread about how Kaepernick began to kneel in protest:

Link to tweet

Worth reading!

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. Thank you!

I had no idea. That was worth reading. Should be a thread in its own right if you haven't done so already.