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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 is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange.
You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save
most of the children.
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.
The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would
not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the
children 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 on board at stake. And in your attempt to save a few
children by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds
of people to save these few children.
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”
Everybody makes mistakes; that’s why they put erasers on pencils.
TISSA JAYAWEERA
It was pleasing to read the new efforts made by the Minister of
Environment to conserve the elephants in a meaningful way by taking
funds from the Tourist Board cess.
This is a step in the right direction to conserve the most valuable
asset of our country - the elephants and their natural habitats. I urge
all concerned in the Government and the Non-Governmental sector to grab
this opportunity and support the Minister to achieve his goals.
MILINDHA MORAHELA
I completely agree with the writer. A curious visitor wanting to
visit the North/East has no idea how to get about, if needed, to travel
to these areas and cost etc. It is about time politicians get off their
bums and get on with the jobs at hand.
RAJAN JEBAMONEY - Australia
With the ongoing inhuman treatment of our housemaids and labourers in
the Middle East, and particularly in Saudi Arabia, with beheading and
imprisonment without a proper trial, the Sri Lankan Government should
take a leaf from India and bring in similar restrictions to save our
citizens from the most violated human rights in these countries.
Henry Morrison
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