Taking the knee

Quoted from scrumble

I don't doubt that there was a Jesus, but he wasn't the messiah, he was just a very naughty boy.

Noones perfect .Not even Jesus.

In all seriousness though I still believe something divine caused this universe to begin.

Quoted from scrumble

I don't doubt that there was a Jesus, but he wasn't the messiah, he was just a very naughty boy.

I think we're getting off topic here - but FWIW no serious historian disputes Jesus existed...
https://www.theguardian.com/wo.....hrist-lived-and-died

As you say, whether he was who he claimed to be is an entirely different question.

But, one thing we do know, he wasn't white, didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, as anyone who went to / had to go to Sunday school might recall from picture books of 'Swedish Jesus'.  Our biases can play out in subtle ways.

Back to taking the knee though, it's a symbolic gesture, that I suspect most people wouldn't connect with some of the political associations mentioned (why should they?), it's a way of expressing, 'This is bad, it should stop.'  

And it should.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Some black people get decent jobs now so there can't be any racism....


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-54281111

This is why this gesture  is needed, that this should happen in our country is a disgrace, a blatant example of institutional racism, how do those on here who say it doesn’t exist in this country defend this?

Quoted from Rick12

Noones perfect .Not even Jesus.

In all seriousness though I still believe something divine caused this universe to begin.

I don’t. And without wishing to offend, I think it’s important to note that Christianity as an organised religion has spent hundreds of years suppressing and oppressing minorities who don’t fit their own notion of what is/isn’t an acceptable way to live.

By all means support the drive for equality this world needs but don’t pretend that Christ and Christianity are in some way integral to it.

Christian, Muslim, atheist (et al): none of these labels mean anything in and of themselves.

Quoted from cardiffmariner

I don’t. And without wishing to offend, I think it’s important to note that Christianity as an organised religion has spent hundreds of years suppressing and oppressing minorities who don’t fit their own notion of what is/isn’t an acceptable way to live.

By all means support the drive for equality this world needs but don’t pretend that Christ and Christianity are in some way integral to it.

Christian, Muslim, atheist (et al): none of these labels mean anything in and of themselves.

You will probably find that most religions have surpressed some minorities not just in the past but currently especially in the Middle East.

Personally I think religion and worshiping a mythical Diety is a load of balderdash.

Religion = money!  Lots and lots of it.

Quoted from codcheeky

This is why this gesture  is needed, that this should happen in our country is a disgrace, a blatant example of institutional racism, how do those on here who say it doesn’t exist in this country defend this?

It's not the gesture that is important but the action that counts. Like all symbolism it is meaningless without the deeds to correct the wrong. You only have to look back to Germany in the 30's to see symbolism and gestures being hijacked and used to enforce a political doctrine.

Quoted from rancido

It's not the gesture that is important but the action that counts. Like all symbolism it is meaningless without the deeds to correct the wrong. You only have to look back to Germany in the 30's to see symbolism and gestures being hijacked and used to enforce a political doctrine.

Quite. The swastika was a symbol of good fortune and approbation in both western and eastern cultures until the Nazis adopted it in the 1920s.

Gestures and symbols are a means of solidarity and more importantly of ensuring solidarity, hence an army salutes and a crowd cries Seig Heil or wears a particular scarf or headgear or has a particular form of greeting. Stalinist art contains wonderful examples of such exhortations, highly prized and valued today. BLM kneeling is no different, to most people just a gesture they can do or not do, mean or not mean. Subtle because unlike an arm gesture it implies no obvious threat. But BLM itself ......?

The 25 point manifesto of the National Socialist Party makes perfect economic, social, judicial and non-violent sense to a German in the 1920s. The fact that it was ignored by the leadership almost immediately is neither here nor there ... is it?

“BLM are the Nazis” is a particularly dim take, even for the low standards of this forum.

Quoted from ska face

“BLM are the Nazis” is a particularly dim take, even for the low standards of this forum.

Failing to read properly is even dimmer.