In the story “The ones who walk away from Omelas”, Le Guin presents a narration that is based on the concept of scapegoatism. “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” is a work of science fiction that grapples with the question of suffering, the tyranny of the masses, and the tragedy of the commons. Le Guin’s story describes life in a utopian-like city named Omelas, in which the happiness and prosperity of its citizens depends on the fact that one of its child citizens must be forced to live in poverty, squalor, and misery. There is also a sense in which utilitarian has been well thought and addressed in this story. To be a scapegoat normally means the idea of getting blamed in lieu of another person.
However, in this setting the idea varies in that there similar suffering for the subject the child in lieu and the entire city. In a great way, the child plays a fundamental role in the society since her suffering makes life people for those dwelling in Omelas. The author presents an idea of lonely torture which derives happiness to the entire population. Therefore, a certain lost soul gives millions permanent happiness. The entire scene presents juxtaposition whereby there is a sharp contrast between the child and the entire city. The poor and wealthy families are not experiencing the same issues since the political and economic systems seem to benefit the wealthy.
Le Guin explores that idea of people refuting to admit that their happiness is built on the suffering of others. In the city people are cherishing life and wallowing in wealth while the innocent persons are in abject poverty and pain. However the story ends with a realization that there cannot be a satisfying reconciliation with the wretched life of the child. The author however doesn’t offer any judgments of the Omelas. There is a sense in which she presents the notion that coping with the idea that luxury living is costly to an innocent is disturbing. Thus, some people leave the city in silence and during the dark because they can hold on the realization that while they are in comfort zones a child was going through hell. The exodus out of Omelas took months and years as eviction was based on how much the people were hit by the realization. The subtle critique of such social conditions leaves the reader to form an opinion of the lives of Omelas.
While some members of the society object to this, most accept it by arguing that the suffering of one person is a small price to pay for the happiness of an entire civilization. While I have difficulty accepting this as a true concept that humans should strive towards, I accept it as a factual reality that the human race will never escape from: the happiness and success of some is dependent on the failure of others. In my travels abroad, I have experienced preferential treatment due to my status as an American Airman of the United States Air force, treatment that is predicated on the misery and suffering of the countries and places I have been to. I am not entirely happy about this, I was also born in a foreign country but I enjoyed this treatment nonetheless, and it is a reality that not easy to get rid of.
I’ve traveled across the world and have been to some different countries, from Ecuador and Peru to Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama. In most of the countries I’ve visited, I’ve received preferential treatment in services and other areas of life due to the fact that I serve for America. For example, due to the low value of the Peruvian sol and Colombian peso relative to the U.S. dollar, I can visit both countries inexpensively and afford pleasures that are out of reach for the actual residents of those countries. In some countries such as Ecuador, the exchange rate is so favorable that it’s possible for Americans to live like kings, bearing in mind that Ecuador is a poor country, where the average resident makes $300 a month. Similarly, American men who visit these countries are often given extra attention by local women, who prefer to their own men due to their looks, money, and foreignness. It is not common to see unattractive American men with women who are considerably more attractive than what they would be stuck with in the U.S. These men are openly taking advantage of a slanted playing field in which they can outcompete local men due to their bank accounts and jobs.
Attempting to get foreigners who go to these places to stop their practices is largely useless due to the fact that the cultures of these countries are so deeply entrenched that no positive change is likely. For example, Ecuador has seen its GDP fall considerably since 2014, which has made it even more attractive to foreigners. The tragedy of the commons is that while foreigners who visit these countries are helping worsen their various problems, there is very little impact that would happen if one of them would individually cease.
Ultimately, much human suffering is the result of people failing to recognize how their individual actions add up to a collective whole. In the case of my experiences abroad, I benefited from preferential treatment as an American, something that would not have eased suffering had I not come to those countries. To a certain extent, human suffering and poverty will always be with us, and the best we can do is help minimize and reduce it.
