Kneeling shows subservience

In his letter (“Hoping and praying,” Oct. 5), Dallett Norris states, “Nowhere in history has kneeling ever been construed as an act of disrespect. Quite the opposite. To kneel is to honor.” While he is entitled to his interpretation, history would say otherwise.

Most major Western religions feature kneeling at some point(s) in prayer. Whether to honor one’s deity or to be subservient, few would argue that there is any sort of equality between humans and the deity. In contrast, kneeling before another human — whether king, queen, noble, military leader, etc. cannot be seen as anything other than submission.

Of course, there is still the quaint custom (probably from the age of chivalry) of men who kneel — totally appropriately for most — in pursuance of a positive response to a marital proposal. And for most, this does presage lifetime subservience, although few would admit it.

America was founded on the principle that “all men [18th-century usage] are created equal.” To whom do Americans kneel? Not to presidents, legislators, judges, generals, admirals, poets, bosses or any other secular human. For all Americans, men and women, standing, whether to greet another person, to receive an honor, or for any other business or social reason, is the mark of equality.

For those who wish to protest, print a sign and walk the line outside of the appropriate venue, to wit: outside a government building or outside a place of business. Or kneel, if you prefer. The First Amendment prohibits government from impinging on speech; it does not prohibit businesses from doing so. Nor does it protect protesters from any enmity among the people.