something worth pondering

This article was e-mailed to me by my buddy Jeff and I just want to share it with all of you. Thanks for the e-mail Jeff!

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An Insight Into Decision Making

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other unused. Only one child played on the unused track, and the rest of the children on the operational track.

The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange, who happened to have the chance to change the course of the train.
You can make the train change its course to the unused track and save most of the children.

However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the unused 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. 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 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 the track was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in the 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."

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I believe in what the article says. Sometimes, making the right decision doesn't mean that everyone will agree with it. That's why I take time whenever I need to make important decisions. There are some situations when we make decisions to help or protect our family, friends and officemates. Sometimes, we make decisions even when we know that it's wrong. But there are times when you really have to make the right decision even if the consequence will affect someone close to you. Sometimes, we just have to bite the bullet and do what is right.


:-)