On our way to our morning coffee, we put a large garbage bag into the bin in front of my beloved’s apartment building. Knowing that people collecting bottles and cans will be around this morning, we did not tie the bag. When we returned from the coffee, we saw the bag on top of the garbage bin lid. It was ripped open down the middle. A large part of its content was all around the bin. As far as we could see, only a few aluminum beer cans were gone. “Let’s clean up this mess,” my beloved suggested. “Let it be,” I grumbled, “we can’t save this world from the vermin.” She consented, but she was not happy about leaving the mess by the front door. “Some of the people who collect the bottles and cans are quite neat,” she added. As we were climbing the stairs, I reflected on my attitude. By the time we returned to the apartment, I already had a piece written in my head. The best I can do to save the world from the vermin is to write about it. And in all the requisite detail. I am but an observer of my fellow humans, anyhow.

Addendum (July 19, 2016)

Although my fellow humans deserve a special mention, for they are kings and queens of all the vermin of this world, I feel like adding a few qualifying words to this piece. Namely, I am but an observer of the world entire rather than the human species alone. Whenever I happen to intervene in it, no matter how thoughtfully and gently, I end up by reminding myself of my observer status. Let it be! The best I can do to save the world from itself is to write about it. Period. Although my writing is likely to be entirely in vain, I will restrain myself from any other way of intervening in world affairs. Even writing often strikes me as a dash too close to meddling pure and simple…