A Brief Word About “Kneeling”
Mirriam-Webster’s dictionary defines "kneel" as the following:
Kneel-Verb
“To move your body so that one or both of your knees are on the floor: to be in a position in
which both of your knees are on the floor.”
When I think of people in being in a position of kneeling, I think of someone being in a state of
humbleness, surrender, submission or pleading. Very commonly, humans kneel to pray before
their gods or entities of faith (submission). I kneel beside my children as a gesture of sameness,
not authoritarian, when playing with them or helping with homework (humbleness). Sometimes
lovers kneel, usually when asking the other’s hand in marriage or if they have wronged the other
and beg for forgiveness (pleading). And sometimes, we must get on our knees when we can no
longer take the wrongness being done to us, to beg for someone to do the right thing or to bring justice
(surrender).
which both of your knees are on the floor.”
When I think of people in being in a position of kneeling, I think of someone being in a state of
humbleness, surrender, submission or pleading. Very commonly, humans kneel to pray before
their gods or entities of faith (submission). I kneel beside my children as a gesture of sameness,
not authoritarian, when playing with them or helping with homework (humbleness). Sometimes
lovers kneel, usually when asking the other’s hand in marriage or if they have wronged the other
and beg for forgiveness (pleading). And sometimes, we must get on our knees when we can no
longer take the wrongness being done to us, to beg for someone to do the right thing or to bring justice
(surrender).
Kneeling embodies the most non-threatening stance a human being can take. If someone
approached you and knelt in front of you, you might think it strange, especially if you did not know
the person, but I would not feel threatened by this person. If my husband were to kneel in front of me,
my first question would be “What does he want?” and the next would be “What did he do?” I think
if someone was on their knees begging for food, I would think they were really hungry. If I held a gun
to someone’s head and they were on their knees, it would be safe to assume that they are begging for
their life. In all these scenarios, no one would think kneeling is a sign of disrespect.
approached you and knelt in front of you, you might think it strange, especially if you did not know
the person, but I would not feel threatened by this person. If my husband were to kneel in front of me,
my first question would be “What does he want?” and the next would be “What did he do?” I think
if someone was on their knees begging for food, I would think they were really hungry. If I held a gun
to someone’s head and they were on their knees, it would be safe to assume that they are begging for
their life. In all these scenarios, no one would think kneeling is a sign of disrespect.
When someone kneels, there is not one way that that person is being disrespectful. So why is it considered
so when NFL players do it during the National Anthem? The act of kneeling has never been
associated with a sign of disrespect, until recently. I am still confused how some Americans have
bought the idea that this act committed by men who entertain Americans for a living, risking physical
and mental health, to play a game owned by the wealthy, consider kneeling during a National Anthem
or Pledge of Allegiance as “disrespectful”. The reason they kneel sort of matches the reason
other humans tend to kneel, though maybe not necessary as an act of surrender, but it is not an act of
defiance. I would equate it as passive resistance, as Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights
leader have done in the past. Their kneeling should bring attention to the reasons why they are
kneeling. Many of the men kneeling are African-American men, who have wakened up to the fact that
their less fortunate brothers and sisters are being gunned down by the people that should be
protecting them. How did the act of kneeling become disrespectful? And one should ask themselves
why are they agreeing with the hateful rhetoric coming from the White House?
so when NFL players do it during the National Anthem? The act of kneeling has never been
associated with a sign of disrespect, until recently. I am still confused how some Americans have
bought the idea that this act committed by men who entertain Americans for a living, risking physical
and mental health, to play a game owned by the wealthy, consider kneeling during a National Anthem
or Pledge of Allegiance as “disrespectful”. The reason they kneel sort of matches the reason
other humans tend to kneel, though maybe not necessary as an act of surrender, but it is not an act of
defiance. I would equate it as passive resistance, as Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights
leader have done in the past. Their kneeling should bring attention to the reasons why they are
kneeling. Many of the men kneeling are African-American men, who have wakened up to the fact that
their less fortunate brothers and sisters are being gunned down by the people that should be
protecting them. How did the act of kneeling become disrespectful? And one should ask themselves
why are they agreeing with the hateful rhetoric coming from the White House?
Every symbol that we hold dear should stand for liberty and justice for all, what our pledge of
allegiance states. For many of us, we have continuously felt over our history that the for all part in
that pledge is forgotten. Throughout our history, the working class, the poor, non-white/non-Christian,
women, LGBT, and so on, have not seen this liberty and justice for all. Many of us have sacrificed a
great deal, only to face injustices against the ones we love.
One final word, the kneeling by the professional NFL players have nothing to do with
respecting /disrespecting veterans but about injustice. It's interesting that any American can be
convinced that it's about disrespecting any one. All veterans from all walks of life have sacrificed
so much for the ideal of justice, including freedom of expression. As yet another Sunday rolls around,
please keep these questions in mind: What do veterans and our troops think about seeing our
commander-in-chief tearing down other Americans for practicing their first amendment rights?
What about unarmed Americans being shot down without justification by the people who are
supposed to protect us? Regardless of race or other demographic characteristics, one has to
admit that this is a violation of our human rights. What about justice? Isn’t this a part of our
national belief system? Isn’t this one of the common cores of our nation? If you really keep all
these questions in mind, you would understand the reason for these football players kneeling,
and it has nothing to do with a statement against our troops or veterans. It’s all about the “and justice
for all”. Isn’t that one of the American ideals that we all fight for?
respecting /disrespecting veterans but about injustice. It's interesting that any American can be
convinced that it's about disrespecting any one. All veterans from all walks of life have sacrificed
so much for the ideal of justice, including freedom of expression. As yet another Sunday rolls around,
please keep these questions in mind: What do veterans and our troops think about seeing our
commander-in-chief tearing down other Americans for practicing their first amendment rights?
What about unarmed Americans being shot down without justification by the people who are
supposed to protect us? Regardless of race or other demographic characteristics, one has to
admit that this is a violation of our human rights. What about justice? Isn’t this a part of our
national belief system? Isn’t this one of the common cores of our nation? If you really keep all
these questions in mind, you would understand the reason for these football players kneeling,
and it has nothing to do with a statement against our troops or veterans. It’s all about the “and justice
for all”. Isn’t that one of the American ideals that we all fight for?
