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Original poster

Questions for white people: what is the problem with "taking the knee"

999 replies

Flayn · 12/07/2021 17:39

  1. What is the problem with taking the knee
  2. How would you prefer athletes protest racism

I am a regular poster, under a changed name and speak 2nd language English - I know the passive aggressiveness some posters adopt for this topic.

OP posts:
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6
Rockitrosie · 12/07/2021 19:40

Several reasons I do not take the knee and why it gets up my nose:

I have a problem with taking the knee as I do not know enough about the BLM movement to perform this particular gesture which has been advocated by them as a sign of “taking the knee against racism”. I am of an individual mindset and don’t just blindly go along with most things if I am not well informed about it. I like to make my own choices about things and I think there is a lot of murky waters surrounding the BLM movement. I associate taking the knee with the BLM movement, not as something which proves you are Against Racism.

I was brought up as a Christian and bow/kneel to pray to God and that’s it. I wouldn’t bow or curtesy to the Queen or aristocracy either as I’m not a royalist.
I agree it is seen as a subservient gesture. I will not be dictated to to kneel for anyone, apart from my God.

I can be against racism - if I witnessed another person being racist or making a racist comment I would pull them up on it and be disgusted by that person - without performing what I personally see as a “virtue signalling” gesture to “prove I’m against racism”. I don’t feel the need to do it but if others want to do it that’s up to them.

Lweji · 12/07/2021 19:40

I simply don't have the time to support their issue/campaign. I am too busy dealing with other issues.

If you were asked to take the knee with them, how much time would that take?
Would you support it in a women's game?

Torvean · 12/07/2021 19:41

I won't take the knee due to my religious beliefs.

However I've no issue with ppl doing it.

I do other things like sharing racist news on social media. And signing various petitions. We can all help.

iluvnettletea · 12/07/2021 19:41

I don’t have any problem with athletes taking the knee. I think it’s a moving statement of support and respect.

EarthSight · 12/07/2021 19:42

Also, if any Americans are claiming that taking the knee doesn't at least in part symbolise subservience to them - I didn't see any online chatter puzzling as to why on earth Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones was asking people to 'bend the knee'. A blockbuster show with a huge following, but there as no 'Oh whatever could that mean????' at the gesture in the show.

They all knew that this gesture means to submit, at least in part.

Ghosttile · 12/07/2021 19:42

Total side note but why did so many of the women tennis players at Wimbledon have all male coaching staff? Where are the women coaches? Why aren’t there some women coaching male players? When the higher up players have a team of coaches, can they not manage to find one woman.

Back to this thread, I have no limit to the shits I give about things. I can care about this and about women’s representation in sport.

redcarbluecar · 12/07/2021 19:42

It's an anti-racism gesture. Racism is prevalent in football. So @isadoradancing123, it does mean something. It's also possible to ignore if that's more comfortable for you.

LuluJakey1 · 12/07/2021 19:43

I have no problem with anyone who wants to do it, but as we have seen at the Euros, it has no impact on racist England football fans.

Lweji · 12/07/2021 19:43

I can be against racism - if I witnessed another person being racist or making a racist comment I would pull them up on it and be disgusted by that person - without performing what I personally see as a “virtue signalling” gesture to “prove I’m against racism”.

It's a stand to those shouting and chanting racist insults from the stands. That's how sportspeople are pulling them up on it and saying they are disgusted.

godmum56 · 12/07/2021 19:43

godmum56
white but old with two duff knees here. I won't take the knee because like the dowager in Downton, I would need SERIOUS assistance to get up again and it would not be a pretty sight. I have zero problem with anybody marking their distain for racism in any peaceful way they think fit provided they also take practical action as well.
I won't take the knee because like the dowager in Downton, I would need SERIOUS assistance to get up again and it would not be a pretty sight.

Where/when have you been asked to?

Never have. I can't remember the last time I went to any kind of mass event.

Allycott · 12/07/2021 19:44

What a loaded question. Why only direct it to white people?

CoolCatTaco · 12/07/2021 19:44

I'm surprised at the number of posters willingly outing themselves as being on the racism spectrum.

LakieLady · 12/07/2021 19:45

@fluffiphlox

The only problem I have with it is: if I get down on one knee I might well need help to get back up again.
Same here. Can't wait to get my new knee.
Piggywaspushed · 12/07/2021 19:45

For goodness sake, you all sound like bloody Dom shit for brains. Bending the knee is different. Taking the knee is deliberately not standing up for the national anthem (I'd love to see them do that here!The frothing!) and so is a direct 'fuck you' gesture in its meaning to Americans. It is so not subservient.

TooBored1 · 12/07/2021 19:47

It's not the gesture I would have chosen but then it wasn't my choice to make.

If the people who are affected by the continued, endemic and frequently stirred up by our government and media, racism, choose this gesture, then the only decent thing to do is support them.

So no problem here.

EarthSight · 12/07/2021 19:48

@Lweji

I simply don't have the time to support their issue/campaign. I am too busy dealing with other issues.

If you were asked to take the knee with them, how much time would that take?
Would you support it in a women's game?

No.

Also, I do find it interesting that despite the fact that 50% of the entire world's population is female, and that men commit the vast majority of sexual crimes which have been used as a weapon of war and which can lead to life long illnesses and PTSD, despite the fact that quite a few sportmen have been involved in some dodgy incidents involving women.......there is no similar gesture for women.

On that topic the football players are perfectly silent.

Funny isn't it?

saraclara · 12/07/2021 19:48

It's a stand to those shouting and chanting racist insults from the stands. That's how sportspeople are pulling them up on it and saying they are disgusted.

Yep. It's interesting that so many posters simply aren't understanding this. They seem to be interpreting taking the knee as existing in some kind of vacuum.

Piggywaspushed · 12/07/2021 19:48

MLK and followers so not being subservient.

Questions for white people: what is the problem with "taking the knee"
Neondisco · 12/07/2021 19:48

I'm not sure all white people will know the answer to this. I could speculate. But surely the racist ones who have a problem with it need to answer.

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 12/07/2021 19:49

The only way to take a stand against racism in sport is for both teams to agree to walk off the pitch when the abuse starts. They should refuse to perform.

Saucery · 12/07/2021 19:49

@Secondbellini

‘Didn't soldiers with shields kneel to form a ‘tortoise’ to protect the ones behind? That would be a Battle Ready kneel.’

No, because the tortoise moves! Everyone is stood up.

Ah right. Must have seen it on GoT then, like a thick twat Grin
Secondbellini · 12/07/2021 19:51

There might be kinds of shield walls where people kneel?

TECMH · 12/07/2021 19:52

It's a stand to those shouting and chanting racist insults from the stands. That's how sportspeople are pulling them up on it and saying they are disgusted

It’s not working

greendiva · 12/07/2021 19:52

Racist white people I have know (not friends) think racism isn't a problem, live in their own little white bubble.

LadyCatStark · 12/07/2021 19:53

I certainly don’t have any problem with it but I think it’s become something that just goes on in the background before every match and I’d prefer that players actually do something about racism. Mind you I don’t know exactly what that would be… to be honest you won’t stop racist people being racist by taking the knee, all it does is fuel them on so it kind of has the opposite affect. Maybe real features on TV about real players’ experiences of racism and how it made them feel light help, I dunno. It’s a big ask to ask them to lay it all bare on TV though.