LANHAM, Md. (CBSDC) — Chris Kluwe has never been one to bite his tongue. The outspoken punter grabbed national headlines when he claimed that his release from the Minnesota Vikings was due, in part, to his support of gay marriage.
Kluwe turned his attention to another cause Thursday — the Washington Redskins name.
He was among the chorus of thousands of Twitter users participating in a botched PR campaign by the team that encouraged fans to tweet Sen. Harry Reid and share what the name means to them. They tweeted, but it wasn’t exactly the message the franchise was hoping for.
Kluwe said he wouldn’t punt for the Redskins if they offered him a contract.
“Money is nice. Dignity is nicer,” he tweeted.
And since it seems quite a few people are asking this, no, I would not punt for Washington if they offered. Money is nice. Dignity is nicer.
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 30, 2014The retired 32-year-old began his crusade against the team’s name with a profanity-laced tweet to the Redskins organization.
“What the (expletive) is wrong with you? Creating a hashtag called #redskinpride is like asking people to support #holocaustpride,” he wrote.
Here are a few of Kluwe’s other tweets.
A couple names off the top of my head that are not racial slurs. The Washington Natives. The First Nation Warriors. It's not hard, Dan.
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 29, 2014It causes my body less stress to go through a Crossfit workout than read people's lame justifications for keeping a racial slur for a name.
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 30, 2014I mean, this is, quite literally, the dictionary definition of the name "redskin." oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/…
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 30, 2014Though, if you struggle reading, thinking critically, or just generally making it through life without licking screens, I see the confusion.
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 30, 2014And yes, I realize I'm in a position of privilege to make that choice. Others could make it too.
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 30, 2014I think the question that needs to be asked isn't why I (Chris Kluwe) am so concerned about changing the name. 1/2
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 30, 2014It's why you (insert name) are so concerned about keeping it. If it's just a word, why not pick a different one? 2/2
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 30, 2014What real, vested interest, do you possess in keeping the name "Redskin" for your team? What meaning does that have for your life?
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Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 30, 2014Critics of the name have repeatedly referred to it as a racial slur. However, team owner Daniel Snyder believes the name is a badge of honor for Native Americans and says he will never change it.
