The point here (and always) is the context in which the kneeling is done. Kneeling in this context by police and random people is clearly a submission to and acceptance of the ideology that "black lives matter". Why would anyone ever have to kneel down to accept that "black lives matter", or any other self-evident statement? Do you accept that the sky is blue on a cloudless day? If so, you must prove it by kneeling down in front of me. Does that make sense?
Right, and then if you take that a step further, what could have started as a simple gesture of submission will become something demanded at some point. So it will be like: "well... you kneeled that one time, which was nice... can you do it again?" and from there to "Why aren't you kneeling?!" isn't really that long of a road.
People tend to abuse what they get for free, even if grateful at first. It could get to the point where the protests can be about someone not kneeling. And why kneeling? I understand the context in which the gesture was born with Cappernick (or whatever his name is, the american football player), but even kneeling in that context was a sign of disrespect, a sing of "I do not stand for this" and now it becomes a sign of support?
I remember at one point a few firefighters in France showed their support of the Yellow Vest movement by removing their helmets, that one to me showed the intention was mutual respect and trust. " I don't need this helmet because I won't be doing anything to hurt you, so you won't have any reason to hurt me." And I could be wrong, but that shows a relationship of equals, of "I stand with you"... kneeling is a bit much.
I know it has been presented everywhere as a courageous act of standing up for what you believe (pun intended), but I don't think it is. And I also understand why it feels good. It's normal, I think, to seek the catharsis of witnessing a really tense and violent situation eventually resolving itself in such a heart warming manner, movies do this all the time. But it shows submission, disrespect and cowardice, terror even.
Imagine watching your parents argue about whatever, and instead of actually working through the issue, one of them kneels and submits. Did it deescalate the situation? Sure, but what precedent would it slowly establish? it would turn into tyranny. Even if it doesn't turn into tyranny, it could also simply say that one party doesn't respect or considers the other one capable of working through the issue successfully.
I remember I heard this phrase somewhere when someone was apologizing "Don't be sorry, be better". So I think I am with Joe on this one, a sincere apology that is followed through with behavioral change and awareness is far more desirable than an immediate submission only to avoid punishment, why? because how sincerely are they looking to change?
That is not to say that there isn't anything that needs to be changed within the criminal system in the US, but why not announce those changes and implement them instead of simply kneeling? if you truly mean your kneeling that is. And how much of this is simply posturing? How much of this is simply officers and soldiers simply seeking the attention and the "likes" by doing that one thing that everyone's doing. And how long before it looses its flare like all the other social network challenges?