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Perspective: Attack On Freedom
Vikings Chris Kluwe shares his thoughts on Maryland lawmaker “walking back” his anti-gay marriage comments
Superhero and all-around good guy, Minnesota Vikings Chris Kluwe responds to Maryland lawmaker Emmett Burns, who now admits Baltimore Ravens Brendon Ayanbadejo does indeed have “first Amendment Freedom of Speech” rights when he stood up for gay marriage in Maryland.
Kluwe is not of a mind to let the Maryland Delegate off the hook quite so easily, though. He says it’s not enough, and this becomes a “false, hollow victory” if we allow the matter to end here. Says Kluwe:
In my previous post, I talked about treating the disease, and not the symptoms. If we allow ourselves to proclaim victory now, we’ve merely driven the disease into a slight remission; we have not cured it because we still haven’t heard from Delegate Burns the ‘WHY’.
WHY did you initially write that letter Delegate Burns? WHY did you feel that it’s your job to stifle someone else’s freedom? WHY have you not explained your actions? WHY should we consider you competent to wield the reins of power if you believe in using it to stamp out opposition?
Kluwe goes on to say we all need to stop taking elected officials responses at face value and ask “Why?” more. He closes with “Look past words to the actions, and dare to question if they don’t align.”
Read the whole essay. Chris Kluwe is a smart guy. And he’s getting people to start thinking.
That’s a good thing.
Gov. Brownback apologizes to teenager for overreacting
Last week, 18 year old Kansas high schooler Emma Sullivan met Governor Sam Brownback on a field trip. After her visit, Emma tweeted of her time with the anti-gay, anti-Palestinian, anti-evolution, anti-stem-cell-research governor:
“just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot”
Apparently, Emma Sullivan didn’t actually tell Gov. Brownback that he “sucked, in person.” Still, she thinks he sucks. So — how did Gov. Brownback respond to this teenager’s assault on his non-sucktitude? His staff contacted her school’s principal. Emma was told to write a letter to the governor apologizing for voicing her opinions.
Now, Brownback has apologized for overreacting, LJ World reports:
Said Brownback: “My staff overreacted to this tweet, and for that I apologize. Freedom of speech is among our most treasured freedoms. I enjoyed speaking to the more than 100 students who participated in the Youth in Government Program at the Kansas Capitol. They are our future. I also want to thank the thousands of Kansas educators who remind us daily of our liberties, as well as the values of civility and decorum. Again, I apologize for our over-reaction.”
The paper adds:
Sullivan said she landed in the principal’s office for nearly an hour and was told she had embarrassed her school and district. Principal Krawitz told her to write a letter of apology. At first Sullivan said that she would but that she wasn’t sorry. Then she refused to apologize, and the Shawnee Mission school district earlier Monday issued a statement saying she didn’t have to.
“The district acknowledges a student’s right to freedom of speech and expression is constitutionally protected,” the district’s statement said, adding, “The issue has resulted in many teachable moments concerning the use of social media.”
(via Towleroad)