But, an unforeseen humiliation had been directed towards both scientists previous week. Both of them had appeared before the Senate Research Appropriation Committee to request for more funding. As they were presenting their scientific findings, they sensed the members of the major political party in that committee were getting agitated hearing some of the scientific terms they were using. Finally, the Chairman denied their request, blurting out “You two appear like “welfare-queens in lab-coats” asking for your entitlement money.” Oh, what a shame as well as an insult, that remark was!
Before heading home for the evening, Prof. Booth checked her e-mail inbox for any new incoming messages. One of the messages stood out. She learned that the current administration in the capital had issued a secret directive to the officials at the Center for Disease Control, the nation’s highest health authority, prohibiting them from using six words in their official documents. They were science-based, vulnerable, entitlement, diversity, transgender, and fetus (words anathema to the ideology of the current political administration). Both Prof. Boyd’s and her scientific presentations were adorned with those six words in order to explain their scientific advancements to date and request for additional grants for future research. And now, Prof. Booth understood the reason behind their humiliation.
Though dejected, Prof. Booth suddenly remembered the words of wisdom of eastern philosophy, learnt from her rebellious wandering hippie days: “Remember, we are all actors on this world stage. At the end, only noble souls win; otherwise current humanity would never have existed.”