Something to think about it !!

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use

while the other abandoned. Only one child played on the abandoned 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

abandoned track and saved most of the kids…

However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the abandoned track

would be sacrificed.

Or would you rather let the train go in its way?

Let’s take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make.

Most people might choose to divert the train, and sacrifice only one child.

You might think the same way too. 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 abandoned

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 and how knowledgeable the minorities 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.

A person replied to the question answered he would not try to change the

course of the train because he believed that kids playing on the

operational track should have known very well that track was still in use,

and that they should have run away if they heard the train’s sirens.

If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he

never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track

was not in use probably because it was not safe.

If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all the

passengers onboard at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by

sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to

save these few kids.

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.