A Microbiologist's Lament

First they came for the viruses,

and I did not speak out because I was not a virologist.

Then they came for the bacteria,

and I did not speak out because I was not a bacteriologist.

Then they came for the fungi,

and I did not speak out because I was not a mycologist.

Then they came for the parasites,

and I did not speak out because I was not a parasitologist.

Then I went to find a job

and there was no one left to hire me.

Author's postscript: It is a slippery slope from virus denial to denial of the entire science of microbiology. If microbiologists don’t step up to defend viruses, who will? Of course we will use the evidence and the facts to make our case and fortunately, we have them on our side. However, the people we need to convince do not respond to evidence based arguments. The tools I will use are humor, sarcasm, irony, and my social media platforms. I will mock virus deniers mercilessly, without anger or malice or superiority or hatred, but with a smile on my face and laughter in my heart.