Pack93z
  • Pack93z
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12 years ago
Regardless of how one feels about the topic in the cross hairs here.. whether it is a religious or personal belief, I think this delegate is way out of line. But really it is just more of the same push to limit the right to free speech.

Ayanbadejo is entitled to his opinion, his belief regardless of his employment or public standing. For Burns to expect the NFL or a franchise within it to control their employee on topics outside of the NFL scope is ridiculousness. At least the Ravens, to date, are handling it the correct way.

Look no further than the amendments of this nation, oh that is right, we the people of the United States shouldn't pay attention to the amendments. Our government certainly doesn't.


Del. Emmett Burns blasts Ravens for linebacker’s support of gay marriage 

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo supports gay marriage. He has written about the issue for the Huffington Post and late last year he made a video for the organization Marylanders for Marriage Equality laying out his support. “Join me,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

Maryland Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. (D-Baltimore County) does not agree.

After Ayanbadejo recently offered two tickets to the home opener for a Marylanders for Marriage Equality fundraiser, Burns sent a letter to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti saying he found it “inconceivable” that a player would support gay marriage.

“Many of my constituents and your football supporters are appalled and aghast that a member of the Ravens Football Team would step into this controversial divide and try to sway public opinion one way or the other,” Burns wrote, according to the letter, which was obtained and reported by WBALTV. “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.”

Burns, founder and pastor of Rising Sun First Baptist Church, has been a frequent and high-profile critic of gay marriage, which was legalized in Maryland earlier this year, but faces a referendum vote in November. He was infuriated that President Obama expressed support for gay marriage, saying he would drop his support for Obama’s candidacy.





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"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Pack93z
  • Pack93z
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12 years ago
The actual letter sent..  Emmett-Burns-letter-over-Brendon-Ayanbadejo.pdf You have insufficient rights to see the content.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Porforis
12 years ago

Ayanbadejo is entitled to his opinion, his belief regardless of his employment or public standing. For Burns to expect the NFL or a franchise within it to control their employee on topics outside of the NFL scope is ridiculousness.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 



Free speech does not give you the right to say whatever you want, and receive no negative feedback or repercussions. Obviously a very, very stupid situation but Burns has just as much of a right to express his opinion as Ayanbadejo does.
Since69
12 years ago
Yeah, I just read that article at PFT. What a cretin. The Ravens should (they won't, but they should) publicly tell Burns to get bent.
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Since69
12 years ago

Free speech does not give you the right to say whatever you want, and receive no negative feedback or repercussions. Obviously a very, very stupid situation but Burns has just as much of a right to express his opinion as Ayanbadejo does.

Originally Posted by: Porforis 



Burns is doing more than simply expressing his opinion here, IMO... sounds to me like he's trying using his position to lean on the Ravens. And regardless, suggesting (demanding) that someone else's opinions be suppressed because they don't mesh with yours is about as far from the spirit of free speech as you can get.
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Pack93z
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12 years ago

Burns is doing more than simply expressing his opinion here, IMO... sounds to me like he's trying using his position to lean on the Ravens. And regardless, suggesting (demanding) that someone else's opinions be suppressed because they don't mesh with yours is about as far from the spirit of free speech as you can get.

Originally Posted by: Since69 



Exactly... a cease and desist declaration in more than giving an option.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Formo
12 years ago
Wait.. This will send the lefties off the deep end.. One of their own has the GALL to be a pastor at a -=gasps=- BAPTIST church?! Hahaha!

Funny, I didn't even think he was a Democrat until I saw this thread. I only knew of this from Kluwe's Deadspin 'article' response.  When I read that Mr. Burns was going to drop his support for Obama after the President announced he was supporting the act, I had to go back and look at what winger the delegate was.

Anyhow, I find it beyond silly that he was so offended by one's support for gay marriage.


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porky88
12 years ago
Free speech works both ways. He has a right to express his opinions and so does the linebacker. Just because you say something doesn't mean there isn't consequences. We have free speech in this country, but in a free society, we have many opinions. People will not like everything you say and they'll let you know about it. Personally, I don't agree with the pastor. I think it's a little ridiculous that he sent a letter to the owner. I'm sure more than one player on the team supports gay marriage. Based on the demographics, it could even be a majority. That's besides the point, though. He has the right to take his message to the owner of the team, and like a good owner, that owner has a right to delete his message from his inbox. No harm. No foul.
Pack93z
  • Pack93z
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12 years ago
If Burns would have come out in the press or just stated his opinion that an NFL player should not voice his opinion on the matter.. then fine.

But that is not the case here. The first paragraph, fine, I would / may not take exception.. but...

On official letterhead of his governmental position with the following wording is more than an opinion.

"I am requesting that you take the necessary action, as a National Football League Owner, to inhibit such expressions from your employees and that he be ordered to cease and desist such injurious actions. I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing."



That is misusing his position, an elected position, to try and quash a citizen's right to free speech.

I guess I see it differently.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
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