Just One of Many

Not long ago, Leila emailed me in response to a comment I made on a post, asking me to write a post on the topic of my comment.  What I had written in the comment box was something about my experience with the University I work and went to school at being liberal. At the time I told her I doubted I could come up with many specific examples, there is just little things and not so little things constantly.  However, as I mulled it over, I thought of one experience in the past, probably the most extreme.  I won't be able to describe it in crazy detail, but I will try.

I work in education.  As a result, I am surrounded by liberal Democrats.  That is what everyone is, everyone assumes that is how you are. Especially at my level, the doctorate level, people are more candid with you and even more comfortable making assumptions.  One day I got an email from my professor.  Not just any professor, but one that I work very closely with.  In fact, he is on my committtee.  The email was back when I was in his class.  He sent it to all his students.  Despite it being against university policy, he felt it was safe to do so as we were all sharing similar value with regards to education (and specifically the education of students with disabilities).  I just recall that the email crossed the line.  It wasn't just about education, but more along the lines of how we should vote on a topic or who we should vote for an office.  It was a forward, not written by him, but he had passed it on.  I actually had to say to him that I didn't really feel the email was appropriate from a professor.  He understood and we left it at that.  I don't believe I was treated any differently afterwards, and this professor and I still have a good relationship, thankfully.

Just about a week or so agao, however, I was the victim of more assuming.  This time it was on the other end of the spectrum.  My advisor, who knows me very well, assumed I was a tea party member.  To give a little history, though I am not a controversial person by nature, I don't like to let people think something about me that isn't so.  I am not a tea party member.  I have nothing against them.  I don't know enough about it.  However, I don't like to be put in any box, regardless.  I am not ashamed of what I believe.  I do not try to make others' uncomfortable.  I do not try to convert anyone at work.  But, as you can imagine, my advisor (and probably every professor I regularly interact with) knows I am Catholic and prolife.  However, I do not wear a big political sign on my back. 

As those of you read Leila's post know, I was a registered Democrat for a very long time.  I thought it was the party for the little man.  My whole life is about the little man.  The child with disabilities.  The unborn baby.  I always root for the underdog and made poor choices dating for a long time as a result.  I always give people the benefit of the doubt etc.  Though Democrat, I would say I was a pro life Democrat.  As I learned the content of the voter's guide for Catholics, I struggled with becoming a "one issue" voter.  One day it was explained to me about how the same number of babies were aborted daily, as the number of lives lost on 9/11.  I realized then that if I was to truly take abortion for the horrendous act that it was, that it should impact my behavior daily and certainly how I vote.  My car carries a similar quote on a bumper sticker and I hope it impacts others the way it did me. 

So back to voting, I was Independent for awhile and then changed to Republican to vote in the primaries.  Please know that this made a little ill inside.  I am not a text book Republican or Democrat.  I am not "happy" to be a registered Republican.  But for now there isn't another option for me. 

So, now that you have the background, I am sitting in a coffee shop with two much older men that I work with.  One of them is my boss for a consulting job I do; he is also my advisor.  He leans over and tells me I am his only tea party doc student.  Excuse me?  Now to be honest, I know of the tea party.  I watch O'Reilly and I am not a complete idiot.  But I also do not really know the tea party.  I do not particularly know what they stand for.  Then he tells me I am a conservative Republican and I don't know what else he goes on about because I am annoyed.  He isn't saying it mean or rude, but for pete's sake, he is telling me what I am.  And he is wrong.  So I set him straight.

I very nicely told him that a) I was not a tea party member, b) I am a Republican today, but I was a Democrat not long ago and that I am not really in line with either party, and c) the only thing that he can say with certainty about me is that I am a Catholic and I am pro life.  Those are the only two things I would proudly and blanketly put my name behind!  I think later I mentioned something about caring about the little man and not being pro big businesss, but rather in support of small business.  I should have added that, as important as some programs are in helping people get on their feet, I value those families that stay within their means and that the country isn't doing a good job setting that example.  He mentioned something about the tea party members all being really wealthy and angry and that those with money are never happy.  I told him I thought the poorer folks were the happiest people I knew, as well, and left it at that.  I also mentioned I was looking forward to learning more about distributism as an alternative to socialism or our current version of capitalism.  I think, I hope, he left with a better idea of who I am, and won't soon put me in a box again. The funny thing is, I don't even know exactly what the tea party is all about to the extent I should.  More and more I am learning that "I haven't had time to study that thoroughly" is not going to cut it."  We are called to be educated and be active on so many levels, regardless of al the other things fighting for our time!  I am just not sure where the time is going to come from...