[x-factor]

You're blaming the teacher when you should be blaming yourself. It sounds like you let the class discussion degenerate into a mob scene by not offering your point of view. All this inspite of, as you say, the professor doing his best to prompt alternative opinions.

The attitude that the professor had premeditated some subtle scheme to get the class to rise up in a fit of liberal mob mentality is a cop out. How do you know he wasn't counting on you to advocate for the piece? Besides, if their arguments were as weak as you say, then you shouldn't have had a hard time shooting them full of holes.

I'm not trying to bust your chops, but if you're serious about learning you should be eager to (politely) battletest your opinions at every opportunity. If you are in a seminar/discussion-based class and don't speak up when you have something relevant then you are not getting the full benefit of the education you are seeking and you are not doing right by your fellow students who are depending on you to add your perspective to the discussion.

Also, I'm from Florida and currently live in the DC area. (I'm actually looking at grad school at American if I have time.) If you want any more advice on either, I'm happy to help.