Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

Is there a right time for people in a society to fight for what is right? Is conforming to the majority always the right thing to do? In "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" author Ursula K. Le Guin speaks of a utopian society where everyone lives a worry-free life that is full of happiness. This life is all true expect for the life of one helpless child. You see the happiness I spoke of, it is dependent and exists solely on the pain and suffering this child “must” bear. The continuation of the child’s pain is the continuation of happiness in Omelas. Do they understand what is at stake for their happiness? A child’s life! Throughout the story Le Guin questions if ethics and morals exist for the people of Omelas. You then come to understand

Thoreau focuses more on the inexpedience of the government and the people who “unconsciously” follow like pets or robots. His main message is to rebel against what is immoral or unjust. He is not speaking of violent protest but peaceful ones. Le Guin speaks very little about the people who walk away from Omelas. Her final words about them are “They leave Omelas, they walk ahead into darkness, and they do not come back” (Le Guin 350). She does not speak of any actions that is done by the people after they walk away. We only know they leave the town of Omelas. They are so disgusted and hurt by the actions of Omelas they leave to show no support of the injustice. Thoreau states “All machines have their friction; and possibly this does enough good to counterbalance the evil. At any rate, it is a great evil to make a stir about. But when the friction comes to have its machine, and oppression and robbery are organized, I say, let it not have such a machine any longer” (Thoreau 4). In relation to Le Guin’s story, Omelas is the machine and the people who walk away are the friction. Thoreau believes that friction is good but it not good enough. The people who walk away must get rid of Omelas. Yes! Fight the injustice and bring light to the people who are afraid to see it! Thoreau continues by stating “ and he proceeds to say that “ so long as the interest of the

Thoreau states “If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth- certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law” (Thoreau 8). As individuals of a society we have the right to “overthrow a government”. It is our moral right to speak up for what is right. Yes there may be consequences but that comes with change. Many people before us like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi engaged in civil disobedience to make a statement for the better. Thoreau even speaks of the time he was thrown in jail for not paying his taxes. That is part of changed and people should be able to accept the consequence if it is worth equal happiness. It may be scary but a nonviolent protest or strike should not bring about violence and should emphasize the values of an individual. It is about having our voice heard because it matters. Democracy was originally built on equal opportunity and the power is vested in the people. This is what the people of Omelas are missing, they are allowing their personal morals and ethics become lost in the social