Good luck Eddie,
I can't imagine a more difficult time to have to make such moves.
The question is now moot, but since you asked, yes I have had to make some tough decisions a few times.
What I have learned is that the only thing which really matters is my relationship to my clients. Twice, in the US, I worked for government agencies which, after Republicans took power, persecuted gay employees. In both cases, I loved my job and had outstanding evaluations. Didn't matter one bit, your boss can only shield you so much when the 'big guy' is bashing gays.
Gay bashing is not a problem here in Germany, but I have had to choose between standing fast and failing a student who was caught cheating against the will of a dean who decided on renewing my non-tenured contract (guess what, she didn't, surprise, surprise) and caving in. Best teaching job I had ever had, but there it is - I couldn't let my honest students down, the ones who worked hard for their grades.
It hurts, it is no fun, but by being true to my clients - whether students or, earlier, US citizens, I was able to quit with my head high.
Steve, your mother was right! There are four people who are my priority, for lack of a better word - my parents, my darlin' and my cat. There are my very dear friends. My students.
Everything else is strictly a case of 'do as you have been done by'. It lets me enjoy places like AW.org - a wonderful site, run by a sweet witch and with only the occasional black and white left-over of the McCarthy era lurking in the wings.
