Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe's social commentary truly knows no bounds.
The player known for his frequent outbursts on Twitter has taken aim at a Maryland politician who has criticized Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo for supporting gay marriage.
In an open letter to Maryland state delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. published on Deadspin on Friday (warning for inappropriate language), Kluwe offered a strong comeback, including a heavy dose of vulgarity, in support of free speech, gay marriage rights and Ayanbadejo, who had previously spoken out in favor of Maryland initiative that would legalize gay marriage.
Burns' criticism of Ayanbadejo started in a letter to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti that was published on Yahoo! In that letter, Burns said Bisciotti should "inhibit such expressions from your employee."
We can't publish the entire letter as it ran on Deadspin, but we can share some high points:
--"I find it inconceivable that you are an elected official of Maryland's state government. Your vitriolic hatred and bigotry make me ashamed and disgusted to think that you are in any way responsible for shaping policy at any level."
--"As I suspect you have not read the Constitution, I would like to remind you that the very first, the VERY FIRST Amendment in this founding document deals with the freedom of speech, particularly the abridgment of said freedom. By using your position as an elected official (when referring to your constituents so as to implicitly threaten the Ravens organization) to state that the Ravens should "inhibit such expressions from your employees," more specifically Brendon Ayanbadejo, not only are you clearly violating the First Amendment, you also come across as a narcissistic fromunda stain."
-- "Many of your fans are opposed to such a view and feel it has no place in a sport that is strictly for pride, entertainment, and excitement. … Did you seriously just say that, as someone who's "deeply involved in government task forces on the legacy of slavery in Maryland"? Have you not heard of Kenny Washington? Jackie Robinson? As recently as 1962 the NFL still had segregation, which was only done away with by brave athletes and coaches daring to speak their mind and do the right thing, and you're going to say that political views have "no place in a sport"?"
--"This is more a personal quibble of mine, but why do you hate freedom? Why do you hate the fact that other people want a chance to live their lives and be happy, even though they may believe in something different than you, or act different than you? How does gay marriage, in any way shape or form, affect your life?"
--"I hope this letter, in some small way, causes you to reflect upon the magnitude of the colossal foot in mouth … you so brazenly unleashed on a man whose only crime was speaking out for something he believed in. Best of luck in the next election; I'm fairly certain you might need it."
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