Taking The Knee

[andy-hughes]

Now that the George Floyd tial is concluded, would this be an appropriate time to draw the line under the farcical 'Taking The Knee' piffle that has infected UK sport|?

At least then the players won't have to endure the hostility of the fans when they return, and witness such attention-seeking nonsense first hand - and give their opinion, aslo first hand.

[Mozz71]

Or perhaps they still see bias and injustice based on race and wish to continue their stance, in the name of their own "Kick It Out" campaign, as opposed to BLM.

[Everhelpful]

Couldn't agree more,A.H.

[andy-hughes]

Mozz - // Or perhaps they still see bias and injustice based on race and wish to continue their stance, in the name of their own "Kick It Out" campaign, as opposed to BLM. //

If the action is based as a signal of support to Kick It Out, then I would suggest that they find something more approproate than an American import which makes them look like attention-seeking ninnies.

[Mozz71]

However they, or anyone else supports the movement, people will find reason to criticize them. If they, as you think they should, stop now, then that shows that this whole thing wasn't about systematic racism, but solely about George Floyd.

[Mozz71]

Above sentence seems to be missing an "if" for the second letter.

[andy-hughes]

Mozz - // However they, or anyone else supports the movement, people will find reason to criticize them. If they, as you think they should, stop now, then that shows that this whole thing wasn't about systematic racism, but solely about George Floyd. //

As a matter of fact, I do understand the concept of protesting abd systematic racism, but the fact that it was done in the wake of the George Floyd murder made sure that it was forever associated with that dreadful crime - and not the wider issue of racism itself.

It became a weak and rather self-concious copy of a symbolic gesture, with fans not seeing it as a statement about an evil in the world, but as a protest about an incident that happened several thousand miles away, so the essential connection that makes the gesture meaningful was lost before it even began.

[tonyav]

Fan power will put a stop to this 'Taking the knee'.

[andy-hughes]

tonyav - // Fan power will put a stop to this 'Taking the knee'. //

I entirely agree.

My issue with it is -as I have explained - is that there is only any point in making any public gesture if the reason behind it is absolutely crystal clear to anyone who sees it, otherwise it is wasted.

I beleive the 'taking the knee' message is lost, mainly because of how contrived and 'look at me' it is, but also because the confusion over the George Floyd protests has made the protest against racism as an issue become lost, and therefore ineffective.

[tonyav]

I agree with that ^^^^^

[david small]

If it ain’t one thing, they’ll find another. Count the people of colour in the ads on tv. Vastly disproportionate.

[andy-hughes]

david small - // If it ain’t one thing, they’ll find another. Count the people of colour in the ads on tv. Vastly disproportionate. //

I haven't watched live TV for about five years, so I have forgotten what an ad is, so I am unable to comment with any evidence I have seen personally.

That said - 'vastly disproportionate' to what?

[Bazile]

//..Count the people of colour in the ads on tv. Vastly disproportionate//

Huh ?

[Theland]

Vastly disproportionate compared to the % of bames in the general population. Maybe?

[Bazile]

I'd like to see the stats to show that

[davebro]

Taking the knee? How the heck would I get up!

[Bobbisox1]

Pleased I don’t have to , I’d never get up ;(

[Sunk]

Taking the knee is not about George Floyd, it is about all black people. There have unfortunately been many instances of racism in football this year, so the cause is far from resolved and won.
This is a personal decision by individual players, so I don’t see why the OP is so upset by a harmless gesture for a few seconds.

[tamborine]

a relation married into black african family & he has been flying the BLM banner but as I object to superiority of any race/color/creed am now the leper of his family. I miss his dter's contact as she is/was a budding athlete till BLM became the focus on her training circuit. Its all been too divisive imo.

[andy-hughes]

Sunk - // This is a personal decision by individual players, so I don’t see why the OP is so upset by a harmless gesture for a few seconds. //

I am not 'upset' by it, I am not a football fan so it doesn;t matter to me at all.

What does concern me, is that an issue as important as racism has been derailed by mixed messages, and that is what 'taking the knee' is.

I find it fatuous and attention-seeking - but I am not upset by it in the slightest.

[Sunk]

// I find it fatuous and attention-seeking - but I am not upset by it in the slightest. //

LOL :-D