Having the title doesn't mean you have good values

In 2008, a therapist I'd never met decided to have it in for me. A protege had recounted to him how I'd helped her, telling this story to him not to gripe about me, but to affirm how helpful, how positive, how effective I had been. It was surprising when his response was to be offended by the methods and values I'd implemented in that work. To him, everything about me was wicked, outrageous, unforgivable. He propagandized his offense and insisted that the protege adopt his same umbrage, at one point directing her to reverse points of view and either condemn me (based on his points of criticism of my conduct) or else HE would. Having never met me, contacted me, and not even considering that my work had produced outstanding results where three prior clinicians had failed, he identified me as "immoral target number one." I should add that he comes from a very fundamentalist religious background, in which varying social values aren't seen merely as alternative points of view, but as violations of professional ethics!
Well, I've never repented of my values, and continue to be quite proud of the very attributes he condemned. In fact, finding myself on the other side of the moral fence from him has been a very blessed experience of mine. He wielded his power (being a Doctor on a certain local professional board) to cram through his fundamentalism-based condemnation of me, which in hindsight did more to crystallize my core beliefs and values rather than obliterate them.
Well, now this same toxic bully strikes again. In Oklahoma City, a young therapist named Cassie participated (on her own time) in an art project in which photo portraits of gay and lesbian role models were posted in a gallery to highlight the true face of diversity in the community. A coworker of hers found the images (a classy black and white headshot) and referred them to their supervisor.
This supervisor was the very same man who, years before, had picked that fight with me!
This man, upon discovering Cassie's participation in an LGBT role-model community project, told her that because of her sexuality she ought to be removed from the counseling profession! Her workplace became toxic and hostile, eventually forcing her to resign. She plans to file a complaint against HIM with his board now.
So what does this show? It clarifies his values, certainly. It reveals him to be a small-minded, controlling, angry bigot who takes swipes at other therapists with whom he has personal morality quarrels.
It shows that being a target of his says less about the target's supposed conduct, and more about his own willingness to bully, pull strings, and threaten to expel people of dissimilar moral views than his from the profession.
It shows that being made an enemy by him is not necessary an indictment of one's professional values, and may actually be preferable than to be an ally of his.
It shows that when someone forfeits values of compassion, gentleness, acceptance, and mercy to align with him, the disgrace is in that compromise, not in being found at odds with his dictates of "proper professional conduct."
Learning of this story (read it here) made me feel proud and vindicated. Oh sure, there are harpies out there who love to caw and squeal that once upon a time this man targeted me and brought harm to my professional life, using a pathetic system under his control to accomplish it. But if they want to ally themselves to the moral base from which he operates, so be it: they stake themselves to bigotry.
I'm thrilled to learn that I was set loose from a profession that would enable this sort of abusiveness, and then conclude that I don't overlap its values in any way. When someone that rank with prejudice, power-hunger, inflexibility, and intimidation declares those to be the only acceptable values of his profession, and then complains that I do not display those values, I'm honored and relieved. Woe and shame be upon those cowards who sold out and signed up to exalt his vision. We each make our choices.
I'm not polishing my halo here, or declaring myself to be perfect. I'm not being smug about my own morality. Never in my life, even for a moment, have I been deluded into thinking I'm a moral paragon, or that I'm flawless (either personally or professionally). But here's what I do say: I'm not mean. I don't abuse people who are gay or lesbian. I don't regard people with different values than mine to be beneath me. When I tell people I care about them, I truly mean it, and my heart is in it. Do I get it right? No, not always. But do I try? Over and over.
I'm so proud to have been found heretical by this man, and to have been seen as a threat to the kind of professional conduct, values, and ethics he thinks are obligatory. If he wants to continue to drive people out of his profession because they clash with his personal points of view, then the contrasts in values will continue to become clearer, and those of us on the other side may have lost jobs or pieces of paper or tokens of approval, but at least we haven't lost our hearts and souls.