SILENT RUNNING:

They Know From Your Silence (Rick Heller, September 18, 2002, Smart Genes)

A brilliant blog entry from David Horowitz, quoting a letter from an anonymous academic:

"To never gain tenure-track employment, it suffices to remain silent before leftist ideology in universities today. You don't have to say a word. 'They know you from your silence.' "

I've gone to many literary events in Cambridge...where my centrist political views make me feel alienated from the leftist consensus. On this particular occasion, I spoke up, and as I was among people I've known for some time, they tolerate me. At other venues, I'll often keep silent.

Here are my observations about politics within the writers groups I've been involved in:

Though entirely understandable, there's something depressing about Mr. Heller's admission and the observations that follow. It's disgraceful to make people choose between their professional future and speaking their minds, yet it happens all too frequently now in settings dominated by the Left.
Posted by Orrin Judd at September 18, 2002 10:00 PM