The NFL has been consistently portrayed as one of the last bastions of resolutely anti-gay sentiment. Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe breaks that stereotype in a joyously profane barrage aimed squarely at some (as Kluwe correctly puts it) hypocritical old black Maryland pol, who implicitly threatened (or at least attempted to cow) the Baltimore Ravens organization after LB Brendon Ayanbadejo spoke out in favor of gay marriage. Got all that?
(As noted in Deadspin comments, Kluwe's tone and invective may render his message less effective, or even counterproductive, if his aim is to convince and persuade. That's entirely possible; however, as we know, it is a waste of time to deal with irrational people in a rational manner, by definition. So your next best tactic is to whip up enthusiasm on your own side, encourage the numbers to beat down Teh Stoopid. Sorry if that doesn't square with the personal beliefs of some, but that's really the way it is. The Bull Connors of the world are never swayed by quiet suasion and intellectual probity. Either you swing a bigger bat than they do, or you get smacked.)
If, as the saying goes, the only necessary for evil (or at least rank stupidity) to triumph is for good people to do nothing, then Ayanbadejo and Kluwe deserve a lot of credit for stepping up and using their public profiles for something good, as players are routinely expected and encouraged to do. Again, while people expect rednecks to spout these regressive attitudes, it is especially shameful for black politicians, and black churches, ministers, and congregations, to be so consistently and intensely against what is squarely a simple civil rights matter. More than the rest of us, they oughta know better.
Obama has certainly been more and more clear on his stance on this issue, culminating in his acceptance speech at the DNC the other night. Hopefully this forces some serious consideration among those folks who should have grown up on this a long, long time ago.
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