"Why I'm Taking a Knee"

“Why I’m Taking a Knee”

I’ve been reading the Book of Daniel.  It’s not the first time I’ve read this book – won’t be the last.  This time is different.  This time I’m finding it easier to relate to a man who has somehow found himself in a culture he is not sure he recognizes anymore.

I went to bed last night with my mind reeling about all the hype surrounding NFL players “taking a knee” during the playing of the National Anthem.  Responses have been passionate on both sides…and played out in social media in every conceivable form.  This story has grown from a “small tropical depression,” (when Colin Kaepernick first took a knee) into a “category 3 hurricane” of opinion, counter opinion…  And then the President of the United States takes time in a political rally (which was supposed to be about a candidate for a senate seat) to say (and I quote), “Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b**ch off the field right now.’”  So, as I said, I went to bed last night with all this swirling around in my head.  Then I got up this morning and read Daniel chapter 6.

Here’s the situation:  Daniel and some of his friends were part of the first wave of exiles taken to Babylon (about 605 BC).  Through a series of events (which are really cool to read) Daniel found himself in a position of authority in the kingdom.  By chapter 6, though, the Medes and Persians had joined forces to overthrow Babylon.  Now Darius was king, and he appointed 120 provincial governors called “satraps” to rule the kingdom.  Supervising these 120 satraps were 3 commissioners…one of which was Daniel.  But Daniel was always the go-to guy.  There was something about him. Daniel 6:3 says that Daniel “possessed an extraordinary spirit.”  Darius was thinking about putting Daniel in charge of the entire kingdom.

Well…this had all the satraps fit to be tied.  They started scheming and plotting about how they could get at Daniel.  They looked for skeletons in his closet.  They probably hired private investigators…called in favors… (think House of Cards). Nothing. Somebody said, “His only Achilles heel might be his devotion to his God. He takes a knee and prays to his God 3 times a day like clockwork.” (Dan. 6: 5) Aha!  An idea was hatched.  They would start by playing off the king’s ego.  They approached him and said, “King Darius, we and all the commissioners (cough cough…lie) agree that you should establish a decree that for the next 30 days, no one can pray to any god but you. Anyone who does, will be thrown into the lion’s den.  And this decree should be irrevocable!” (Dan. 6: 7-8)

So an ego-maniacal leader, issues an executive order, which makes that leader the sole focus of attention and devotion…and anyone who resists will be torn to shreds…

Daniel hears about this through his Twitter feed, and what does he do?  When it comes time to pray, he goes to the same place, at the same time…takes a knee and prays to God, “giving thanks before his God as he had been doing previously.” (Dan. 6: 10 emphasis mine)  Daniel is caught, thrown into the lion’s den, and if you have read the story, you know how it ends.  If you haven’t read the rest of chapter 6, then I won’t spoil it for you.

So I’ve been thinking this morning about courage of conviction, and about resistance, and about non-negotiable principles to live by.  That’s what is going on in the Book of Daniel, chapter 6.  Is that what is going on in the USA and the NFL?  Maybe. I say “maybe” because this is not quite as much of a black-and-white issue (pun intended) as we may think.

I’d like to give the benefit of a doubt to the NFL players who take a knee during the National Anthem.  Maybe they are like Daniel, and they are showing resistance to an Empire that is not taking the cries of Black men seriously…an Empire that says, “Bow to me unquestioningly!” and they say, “No.” 

I say, “I’d like to give the benefit of a doubt,” because I’m having a difficult time doing that.  Standing in my way are a long list of family and friends who fought under the flag I stand for.  The reason “I’d like to,” is that I believe one of the freedoms that my friends and family fought and died for was the freedom to express opinions…freedom to protest non-violently over what are seen as injustices. I find it a tremendous irony that the freedom I cherish when I stand and place my hand over my heart at the playing of the National Anthem…that very freedom, includes the freedom for a millionaire NFL player to take a knee.

Here’s where I come down on the taking a knee thing:  I disagree with this tactic for airing grievances.  It is disrespectful to too many people who have fought for our freedom. In my opinion, there would be better ways.  If you are trying to make White men like me sympathetic to your plight, this is not going to do it.  I am open to what you have to say.  I know there are problems in this country surrounding race.  I’d like to be part of the dialogue.  But don’t start the conversation by disrespecting something like the flag, and by extension those who fought and died for it.  I say this in all humility, knowing that I don’t know what it is like to be a Black man in America.  It’s just where I am on this.

That being said… I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.  Nobody should be “fired” for expressing their opinion in a peaceful way.  Freedom of speech and a right to peaceful protest must extend not just to the people who agree with me…but to those with whom I strongly disagree.  When those who disagree with the “ruling” party are berated or threatened or silenced or worse…then we start to look more like North Korea than America.

This is a mess!  I can’t remember seeing my country more divided…can’t remember seeing people so fearful and angry…never witnessed a political scene like the one I see today…  And this is why I take a knee today… 

If you have been to a high school sporting event recently, you might have notices that when one of the players gets hurt, then everything stops, and everyone gets quiet…and everyone takes a knee.  If you are inclined to do so, you bow your head and say a prayer.  If that’s not your bag, you at least give a respectful silence until the player is helped off the field.  I don’t know if that is done everywhere…but that is the way we do it where I’m from.

Today I take a knee today for my country.  It’s like I’m looking on and seeing her bleeding on the field…engaged in a seemingly never-ending war…on the brink of nuclear war…political parties at war…fighting over race, and immigration, climate change, religion – you name it.  I take a knee and pray, that God will heal our land…send us leaders that can bring us together instead of constantly fanning the flames of division.  I stand out of respect, and I take a knee to pray…I do both.  I love my country, but I follow no political leader blindly or uncritically.  Only God has my undivided allegiance.