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| Spiral of Silence |
Spiral of silence theory explains that people will be unwilling to publicly express their opinion if they believe they are in the minority. They will also be more vocal if they believe they are a part of the majority. Thus, the more marginalized you become, the less you speak and so spiral into a fully marginal position.
This works because we fear social rejection, and that when a person appears to be rejected, others will back away from them, fearing being rejected because they associate with the rejected person. It also makes marginalization a powerful way of eliminating political and social competition (changingminds.org).
This morning, the accounting department invited all departments in my work for a breakfast that was hosted by them. Before the breakfast, I was a little bit surprised to see chairs arranged in a theater set-up, LCD projector, and a laptop computer.
The hosts for the breakfast decided to first have a program before we munch on the food. A teacher from the faculty department made us watch a religious video, and then after, correlated the video into a religious talk.
The religious talk was all based in the bible, and perhaps, some assertion from the speaker. Actually, the whole talk was opposite with my views when in comes to religion.
More than a year from today, I detached myself from being a catholic, and followed a philosophy named Abstract Ideals. The philosophy is not focused on worshiping a supernatural creature or a god, but in achieving a higher sense of being by abiding norms and morals that was set by the society.
On the last part of the talk, the speaker asked us, the audience to stand up if they believe we accept Jesus as our savior. Honestly, I was not moved by the video and by the talk. But since almost everyone stood up, I also stood up for acceptance’s sake.
If I didn’t stand up, perhaps all eyes of my office mates will be glued on me, and I can be a subject of ridicule. Here in my country, Catholicism is the most practiced religion. The majority practice it and that circumstance made me belongs in the minority and can be vulnerable to discrimination.
Though it’s hard for me to stand up, I stood up to fit in. Well I guess that’s just the way it goes, one will just pretend to be accepted. In a person that values acceptance more than anything else, most often than not, conformity weighs more than integrity and courage.
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Now here's the better half of the story: FOOD :) Some familiar faces were already gone, good enough, new faces replaced them. Congratulations CPDFI for finishing another semester. :)
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| L-R: Sir Jan, Mam Grace, Mam Chris, Mam Juliet, and Me :) |
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| L-R: Kuya Mon, Kuya Dennis, Mam Connie, and Me :) |
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| Poly Men :) |
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| Poly Girls :) |
