Would you walk away?

On Monday of this week in my literature class, we read a short story titled "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin. To summarize the text, the narrator tells about the city of Omelas, a Utopian society.  There were no sins, no crimes, no sadness, no laws, or even no higher status in this city. There was a Festival of Summer being celebrated. All the citizens were happy, the children were naked (in a good, healthy way), there were activities, and everything was perfect, as a Utopian society should be.

However, the story took a twisted turn. Underneath one of the buildings in this perfect city was this little room. Three paces long with no windows and no light. Inside this room was a boy or girl who looked about 6, but was nearly 10-years-old. The child lives on half a corn meal a day and some water, with no understanding or interval of time. The child speaks less and less often, usually crying to itself. The child is naked, sitting on top of its own excrement. The child remembers a time where there was sunlight and its mother's voice.

The people called this child "it." They knew it was there, that it HAD to be there, and that no one could do anything about it.. This was basically the trade off of the city. One miserable child, for the happiness of everyone in Omelas. Eventually, they learn to ignore the idea to continue with their lives. The people are able to see the child, but not one kind word should be spoken to it. Those who see it usually go home and cry, feeling guilt for weeks and even months. Others don't go home at all. Those are the ones who walk away from Omelas.

The story really gets you thinking. I know the author doesn't mean the story in a literal sense. It is fiction, after all. Le Guin does seem like she is criticizing some aspects of real life. But the question lies: Would you sacrifice a child to keep everyone happy or would you sacrifice everyone else's happiness for the sake of one child?