While walking from the hotel to the lake we stumbled upon a young bird. The bird was wounded or handicapped, he was unable to fly, so much was clear.
My godson wanted to save the young bird. Of course, the power of “moral sentiments” is immense, I for one wanted to help the bird as well. But how? Should we carry the bird to a veterinarian? Where would we find one in this village? Should we take the bird to our hotel room? And then?
I said: “We should let the bird alone, we should not interfere with his fate.”
Indifference can sound attractively straightforward; and let’s admit it: indifference is attractive and unavoidable.
But the power of moral sentiments didn’t leave my godson alone.
He said: “Perhaps some locals can save the bird.”
“Perhaps,” I said.
He was brave enough to start a conversation with a group of hikers; they very much seemed to be local.
He followed them.
We waited.
After five minutes, he came back; he looked pale.
“And?” I asked.
“They said: ‘no’,” he said.
“You couldn’t charm them into saving the bird, but next time you will be able to charm other people into saving birds and other animals. Never give up on your charm.”
Then we continued our walk to the lake.