Liberal orthodoxy is not just a political outlook; it's a professional one. Rarely is its content discussed. The ordinary evolution of opinion -- expounding your beliefs in conversation, testing them in debate, reading books that confirm or refute them -- is lacking, and what should remain arguable settles into surety. With so many in harmony, and with those who agree joined also in a guild membership, liberal beliefs become academic manners. It's social life in a professional world, and its patterns are worth describing.
I'm experiencing this (albeit on a smaller scale and in a less career-jeopardizing manner) with my recent re-entry into the public education scene. Last Thursday I was standing in my mentor teacher's classroom, having an informal discussion with her and another teacher. The other teacher quipped that it was a gloomy day after so many people voted so stupidly, and my mentor teacher sighed and moaned something about what a pity, but what could you do, etc. I kept silent, hoping the topic would pass quickly without them noticing my non-participation in their depression. Thankfully I'm already known as a rather cheerful person in general, so hopefully they didn't catch it. The thing is, I have a TON of respect for both these ladies as educators. I just got the incredibly distinct impression that if they (or anyone else) knew I was a conservative who voted for GWB, everyone's opinion of me would suddenly plummet and I'd be put into that marginalized category with the one or two other oddball, narrowminded teachers. At this stage in the game, being at the mercy of subjective evaluations, I can't afford to appear political AT ALL. I'm just trying to remain outside that sphere altogether. But it's a shame that it's so assumed, you know? One of my fellow teachers proudly sported her Kerry-Edwards dog-tag necklace for the entire month prior to the election. I can't help but think that if I did the same thing with a Bush-Cheney one, I'd be treated like I had a communicable disease.
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