The story of "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas" has many deep parallels to modern life. There are many who live happy and fulfilling lives like the people of Omelas. There are also those who are like the child in the cellar. Those who have contagious or incurable diseases, those who are mentally ill, those who are permanently disabled, and many others could be seen in this way. We may wish to help them, but in some ways, at least, we are unable to do so. This inability to help leads to compassion and advances in technology similar to that of the people of Omelas. We make these advances as an attempt to get closer to improving the lives of the children in the cellar. If everyone lived well, and no one suffered, would there be compassion? Would the happiness of the masses foster a sense of utopian comradery or would it foster greed and envy of those who were a fraction more blessed than others? Is the suffering of the few worth it for the happiness of the many? How can one decide whether to stay or walk away from Omelas? If it were an option, would someone be selfless enough to take the place of the child in the cellar? If it were me, cold I do that? Could I sacrifice my own happiness for the happiness of everyone else? Could you? This is just my own interpretation of the story and is in no way meant to be offensive.
--Brianna Higgins
I especially like the part where you said "If everyone lived well, and no one suffered, would there be compassion?". I find myself to be a very compassionate person. I find myself having the most compassion for people who are permanently disabled, diseased, and mentally ill. I am in the health sciences field, and I think most people in the health science field, are compassionate about these same things as well. A good way to look at this is, would science and technology have advanced this far if weren't for seriously ill patients who needed the science and technology? At times I wish disabilities and illnesses never existed, but without them there would be no variation in the world, our world would probably be much less technologically advanced, and there would be much less compassionate people.
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