Which one will you choose? A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in
use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track,
the rest on the operational track. The train came, and you were just
beside the track interchange. You could make the train change its course
to the disused track and saved most of the kids.
However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused
track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?
Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could
make................
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child.
You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought the same way
initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only
one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and
emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play
on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a
safe place?
Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends
who chose to play where the danger was.
This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office,
community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the
minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter
how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and
knowledgeable the minority are.
The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track
was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a
tear for him.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to
be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the
right one.
"Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular
isn't always right."
