There were two railway tracks, one still in use while the other was disused. A group of children were playing on the operational track. Only one child played on the disused track.
Suppose the train came, and you were just beside the track interchange. You could make the train change it's course on the disused track and save 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. 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 is, and how far-sighted and knowledgeable the minority is.
The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And, in the case, he was sacrificed.
If the train were 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 possibly because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, you could put the lives of all passengers on board 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, we may not realize that what’s right isn’t always popular, and what’s popular isn’t always right.
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