My "Visigoth in Tweed" Experience

My sophomore year in college I was enrolled in a Critical Reading and Writing class.  The class was structured to analyze one particular topic throughout the term by reading and writing about the various viewpoints on the subject.  Our topic for the term happened to be affirmative action.  I can't remember all of the books and articles we read, but one author stood out: Dinesh D'Souza.  We read his book Illiberal Education and an excerpt of a speech (I think) titled "Visigoths in Tweed".  It was the latter that left an impression on me, and more importantly, an eventful moment in my academic life some years later.

Fast forward six or seven years (I won't bore you with my life details) and I was finishing up my teaching credential program at a California State University.  It was my last term before becoming a fully employed teacher.  One of the classes I was enrolled was a content specific course designed to help prepare social science teachers.  As a part of the class we read Lies My Teacher Told Me  by James Loewen and History on Trial by Gary Nash.  One of the assignments was to respond to a quote from one of the books.  Which one of the books I cannot remember.  But the quote, actually more of a short excerpt, was "teaching blind patriotism." Respond.  Two pages.  Seemed easy enough.  

Now I had been adept at managing the perils that higher education can bring young, white conservative Christians.  That is pretty much a euphemism for being a coward.  I admit it.  I was trying to get through college without any hassle, with very little debt, and with a pretty good GPA.  I just didn't think it worth the time or effort to push back against progressive and liberal professors.  Believe me, there were more than a few.  In fact, one of my professors that same term was literally a communist or a communist sympathizer, of which I say the distinction is nil.  But battling these professors felt like a losing proposition.

I don't have the paper anymore but I do remember most of the contents, at least the spirit of my response.  Essentially, my point was that we should have a well balanced view of history that takes into consideration the context of the times, the long term impact, and understand that people inherently have many faults.  I pointed out that while Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, his contributions to America shouldn't be lessened regardless of  his hypocrisy.  Nor should the fact that the Rev. Martin Luther King had numerous extramarital affairs, should lessen his importance to American history.  I think I included a number of other people and events to make similar points.

However, it was my last paragraph that I did something I rarely ever did.  I revealed my conservative ideology in a very explicit way.  I made the statement that while I don't think we should teach "blind patriotism" I do think we should promote and be proud of the American experiment because when the students get to college they "will be indoctrinated by Left-wing Visigoths in tweed".

I turned in the paper and did not give much thought about it until the night the professor began handing back the papers.  As she passed them out, I sat there quietly waiting with very little anxiety or stress.  Until she finished handing out the papers and I did not get mine returned.  I raised my hand.  

"Yes?"  

"I didn't get my paper."

"What is your name?"

"Brad"

"Oh, you're Brad?"

"Come see me after class."

Somewhat of a panic came over me.  I immediately began to wonder what did I do?  Was my grammar so poor that she was going to say I should not be teaching the youth of America?  Did I totally blow it?  I don't remember anything else during that class.  

After class, I sheepishly approached the professor.  She handed me the paper and said she would like me to rewrite because she did not think I took the assignment serious.  I was dumbfounded and asked her to explain.  She went straight to the "Visigoths in tweed" comment.  I don't remember much else, as I was in total confusion.  By the time I reached my car, I was angry.  When I got in the car, I turned on the inside lamp.  I noticed that she had gave me a grade which she had then scribbled out.  Through the scribble I could make out a 19 over 20.  

By the time I got home, I was enraged.  I completed the assignment in the manner it was assigned.  I met all of the requirements of the assignments.  It appeared that the one thing I did do wrong was make a statement she did not like.  The next morning I made an appointment with her next available office hours.  I wasn't sure what I was going to say or how I was going to handle the situation.  I think I settled on mentioning how ironic it was that she was acting like the very Visigoth in tweed I mentioned.  I was going to say that if she had any bit of academic integrity, she would realize the ridiculousness of her request for me to rewrite.

When I made it to her office she met me at the door and said to have a seat.  She stepped out for a moment and while she was out her office mate, another History professor, came in and sat down at his desk.  When she returned, she made small pleasantries with her office mate.  However he said something that about knocked me over.  He said in a very jovial and sarcastic manner, "Are you coming to the Visigoths in Tweed party?"  She laughed.  I just sat there in bewilderment.  She looked at me and said, "Your paper and your little comment had made the rounds in the History department."

I wish I had been more Ben Shapiro or Charlie Kirk but I basically explained to her where I got the quote and why I used it.  Then I explained to her very politely that I will not rewrite the paper in total but I will remove that line.  I said I would leave it up to her conscious and belief in academic freedom and integrity.  I ended up with a 19 out of 20.  

Ultimately, I didn't have the time or energy to make a big deal out of the situation.  I just wanted to get through the program and move on.  I learned that liberals do not like to be challenged and have the thinnest of skins and two, I will always have an affinity for Dinesh D'Souza.