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

[Flayn]

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.

@GenderApostatemk2

I wouldn’t ‘take the knee’ for any reason, under any circumstances, the thought of it stirs a visceral anger in me. It’s a gesture of submission that doesn’t sit well with me at all. No one could ever convince me that it’s a good thing to do. It’s a platitude for the woke.

It's not a gesture of submission

i cannot see the point of it - surely pleasant and gracious behaviour to all is what we should be aiming at.

I'm a white person.

I can't answer what the problem is as I don't understand myself why some object to it.

I can't see how taking the knee offends anyone, and truly have no idea why it prompts complaint

I have zero problem with it but agree that to me it looks subserviant to the crown and i have to temind myself thats not whats going on

I have no problem with it - I see it as a mark of respect.

Another middle-aged white person: I have no problem with anyone taking the knee and it made me quite emotional (in a positive way) when the footballers did it last night. It always reminds me of famous image of Martin Luther King Jr doing it: a passive, peaceful but entirely unambiguous protest.

No issue with it here, from this average white female.

I have no problem with it at all.

No problem with anyone doing it

But I won’t kneel for anyone, not even the queen

The only problem i have is umm getting back up ive fucked my hip up somehow today and I might need a hand up

But in general I have zero issues it does seem contrived and American personally I would prefer to bow my head

@Nuffaluff

Answer from white person:

1. There is no problem with taking the knee.

Please do not assume that all white people think the same.

This.

No problem at all.

I don’t know anyone who does have a problem with it.

I'm also white, and I don't have any problem with it, I've done it myself at BLM rallies and I fully support the team for making a stand

Nothing at all

No problem

@percheron67

i cannot see the point of it - surely pleasant and gracious behaviour to all is what we should be aiming at.

The black players are suffering racial abuse that the white players never will. That is the point of it.

Ooo, someone asking what white people think.

As a white person it doesn't bother me if footballers want to go on one knee. Much better than Colin Kaepernick just staying seated. It takes more effort to kneel to the national anthem, and therefore the Queen, than standing. So good for them. No one should feel they have to do it. I suspect Marcus Rashford's stand on school meals made a lot more people listen to what he said and therefore be able to influence public opinion than kneeling does.

I would never kneel. Maybe it's a historical thing but it's like kneeling to your lord and master. I would never kneel to the Queen, although I might if she gave me a title. Lol.

Perhaps I should have said that I see it as a gesture of submission.

I don’t respect anyone who would do it. It horrified me to see (british) police take the knee in front of thuggish protesters.

I’m white and I fully support anyone taking the knee.

As someone who is part Italian, I was so pleased and relieved that Italy did the same on Sunday.

I'm white and I think it's great, although I wish it wasn't necessary. I liked how the whole team took the knee yesterday. I don't understand the objective either.

Equality for all makes society a better place for all of us.

It totally is a symbol of submission: kneeling for god, kneeling for royalty, prisoners of war are made to kneel

The man kneeling before his finance is also (fake, and temporary) submission

• objection

I do understand the objective

Firstly I am white and would take the knee (arthritis permitting!)

Second, I think it has something to do with game of thrones, that's where people reaction to it has come from, qt least that's what one of your politicians over there said!

Lastly, I cannot imagine the oppression a lot of POC feel and I am making this statement separate to that - not all white people are the same we aren't some homogeneous mass any more than any other colour. The majority do stand with those who are marginalised, to reduce white people to your enemy is not constructive or fair.

@percheron67

i cannot see the point of it - surely pleasant and gracious behaviour to all is what we should be aiming at.

Well that's the ideal obviously but we will not get anywhere by saying 'Excuse me young man, would you please refrain from comparing Marcus Rashford to a chimpanzee'.

Society needs to keep repeating the message that racism will not be tolerated. I've no issue with the knee at all. I'd like to see tougher sentencing for the 'isms' though.

too american and smacks of being submissive, so the gesture can jog along. There are other ways of anknowlwedging and tackling racism.