Take a Knee

I’m a take-a-knee guy because of Jesus and because I am a veteran.

I am proud of those athletes who have taken a knee during the national anthem. The gesture is nonviolent, delivers a very strong message—and no one gets hurt. I believe that protesting is one of the foundation stones of a democracy and what being a Follower of the Way is all about.

In the 1770s, many British subjects took a knee to the British government and proclaimed, in very loud voices, “No taxation without representation.” Those who took a knee won, and protesting became a way of ensuring that our country kept adhering to the principle of liberty and justice for all.

I would never criticize any black person in our country who took a knee. Anyone with half a brain can see how cruelly this country and most of its leaders treat people of color. There is very little justice as we watch the courts and justice system fill prisons with people of color. African Americans are forced to live in ghettos, which simply breeds anger and hostility. Their educational opportunities are minimal. Police brutality is maximal. They still live in slavery but this time with invisible chains. I see how oppressed they are and am amazed that they don’t riot, loot, and murder white people more often.

I am a committed Follower of Jesus, who has transformed my life by his example. Jesus took a knee for the poor and oppressed of his time by attacking his own Jewish hierarchy, the rich, the Jewish priesthood, and the system. He paid a heavy price for taking a knee, but he made no bones about reminding his Followers that their mission was to take care of the “least of these” (Matthew 25:45).

Unfortunately, the institutional church seems to be too much concerned with its own survival to lead the protests against this form of oppression. Often, I see the institution of the church emulating the position of the Jewish religious authorities in Jesus’s time. Their silence about these issues is deafening except for a few voices such as Jim Wallis and Sojourners.

I am a Marine Corps veteran (I served from 1954 to 1960). After graduation, I joined to serve my country, of which I am extremely proud. In my own little way, I wanted to make certain that liberty and justice for all prevailed. I served so that people were free to protest, hold demonstrations, sit during the Pledge of Allegiance, and even burn the American flag as a form of protest.

I still stand for the pledge, but I absolutely refuse to say the word “God.” I want the word eliminated out of respect for atheists, agnostics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and other non-Christians. I will not say “with liberty and justice for all,” especially in light of how our country is presently governed, because that concept has been almost eliminated from our country.

I have this fantasy: Suppose every woman in American, every person of color, every member of a religion besides Christian fundamentalism, every atheist and agnostic, every member of the LGBTQUI community, every Dreamer, every poor person, everyone who is denied medical access, and every homeless person took a knee. The only people who would be left standing would be Christian fundamentalists and a bunch of filthy-rich, self-absorbed white men—who are presently running our country, elected or not.

That’s scary! I hope not only athletes but also others who believe in liberty and justice for all will continue to take a knee. And if the yellow-bellied team owners disallow taking a knee, my protest will be to never watch another professional sports game. Who cares if one little old man takes a knee? No one! But imagine if millions of people did this quiet form of protest. I suspect some of those team owners might care!

Are you a take-a-knee person?

 

Image courtesy of Keith Allison (CC BY-SA 2.0)

2 thoughts on “Take a Knee”

  1. Hmmm…I think I can say that I am a “take a knee” type of person. I wish there was something I could do at City Council Meetings and other government meetings that is the equivalent to “take a knee ” protests during the pledge of allegiance that would be noticable. What do we do if we are sitting in the bleachers and/or chairs that are set up so that there is no place “to take a knee”?

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  2. I am a “take a knee” type person. I do not say “Justice and liberty” when I say the pledge. I say “some” in the place of ”all” because I am quite sure we do not have liberty and justice for “all”. I follow the “Innocence Project” and admire what those lawyers are doing to bring to the light of day the injustices of our system through DNA testing and other forensic tests. Too bad they can’t hold prosecuter’s responsible for all the times they withhold evidence that is supposed to be available to the defendant’s lawyer.

    I also write “letters to the editor” to three local newspapers about the injustices I see in our community, our world and today’s culture. I once met a young man who worked in Al Gore’s office. He told me that writing to the members of congress was a waste of my time and money. He said the interns in those offices read and write answering letters to the writer and use a stamp of the legislature members signature on those answers. He said the way to reach them is to write “letters to the editors” of all our local newspapers since all the congressmen and women employ a clipping service, they will put those letters on the legislature’s desk. You are reaching their constituency that way.
    Yes, I am definitely a “take a knee” person

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