The Moral Dilemma

The Moral Dilemma

First the story. A group of children is playing on a railway track. There is also a disused track inter connected to this track nearby on which a lone child is playing. Let us also assume that you are at the junction of the track; when you noticed to your horror that a train was fast approaching the children who are still playing unaware of the catastrophe. Being at the track interchange junction you are in a position to change the course of the train to the unused track in time so that you are able to save all those in that track. But if you do so you may have to sacrifice the lone child who also is unaware of the approaching train. What should you do in this situation?

Should you let the train to proceed on its track and allow the children to be mowed down or should you change the track of the train forcing it to avoid the usual track and save that majority of children; mean while sacrificing the lone child on the disused track?

The immediate response to this dilemma would have been to divert the train so that maximum lives are rescued on the expense of one. It might be thought to be the most rational decision because; considering the number of lives saved you may even think that it is the one and only recourse available. But at the same time have you ever thought that the child who chose to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?

The right thinking child’s life is being sacrificed for the sake of those who are ignorant and careless; who chose to play where the danger was?

This kind of situation arises every day in our lives. You can find it happening every where. It happens in your office and at home. It is there in politics and in society. It is the bane of democracy in a way where the majority rules the roost.  Many a time a minority is sacrificed for the sake of a majority. It is not at all important even if the opinion of the majority is all utter rubbish or that of the minority’s wise and far sighted. The child who wisely chose to play safe and selected the unused track is sacrificed for the sake of that foolish bunch and every body will happily go home. Not a tear will be shed for his sake.

In the opinion of the great critic Leo Velski Julian; he would not attempt to change the course of the train due to the following reason.

First of all the boys playing on the operational track might be fully aware of the risk they are taking in doing so and might be vigilant enough to any incoming trains and are prepared to save themselves at the nick of the time. On the other hand the boy who is playing on the disused track is sure that no train is expected on that track and might be oblivious of the incoming train even if it gives a siren. If the train is diverted that lone child will definitely die for it will never come to his mind that the train can come on the track on which he is playing.

More over that track was not in use may be because it was a faulty one and not safe for the train to run on it. Hence diversion of the train on to such a track not only will kill the lone child but also put the lives of all those traveling in the train in jeopardy. May be you might be inviting a larger catastrophe by diverting the train, in order to save a few lives.

Coming back to our situation the moral of the story as I said earlier is about the brute power of majority. May be that is why EM Foster the great essayist of yester years have named his essay about democracy as “Two cheers to Democracy”; because after all the bed rock of Democracy is the rule of majority over the minority, right or wrong.  

JOKES

• They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom gets to speak.
  
• It doesn't matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.
  
• Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live without...but whatever you do, you'll regret it later.
  
• My wife and I always compromise; I admit I'm wrong and she agrees with me.
• Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live without...but whatever you do, you'll regret it later.
  
• Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is a husband.
  
• A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
  A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
  
• Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves.
  After marriage, the "y" becomes silent.
  
• When a newly married couple smiles, everyone knows why.
  When a ten-year married couple smiles, everyone wonders why.
  
• My wife told me I should be more affectionate.
  So I got two girlfriends.
  
• A husband said to his wife,
  "No, I don't hate your relatives  In fact, I like your mother-in-law better than I like mine."

Marriage is a three ring circus:
engagement ring
wedding ring
suffering

valentine day -history

The word "Valentine" has two meanings. It can imply a card sent or given to a sweetheart) on Saint Valentine's Day. It can also indicate any particular person, especially a sweetheart, chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day. Both implications of the word come from a time long long ago. At a turbulent period of Roman History, when a crumbling Roman empire was facing hostilities from all sides, the country needed valiant soldiers who would be ruthless and able to lay down their lives for the cause of the motherland. Emperor Claudius II felt that marriage was becoming a serious impediment in building a strong national defence as married soldiers felt disinclined to stay away from home for a long time. He issued an edict forbidding marriage to assure quality soldiers. But a kindly priest Valentine came to the rescue of young Romans and secretly married them off. But this good time was not long to last for Claudius II soon got wind of Valentine's actions and had him arrested. Though initially impressed by Valentine's personality and courage, the emperor tried to force his order on him and is even said to have attempted to convert him. When Valentine refused to obey both royal orders, the incensed emperor ordered his execution. While awaiting his sentence in prison, Valentine is believed to have restored the sight of the jailor's daughter with his reported mystical powers. This earned him the friendship of the jailor Asterius as well as his daughter. A little time before his death, Valentine is said to have asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and wrote a farewell message to Asterius' daughter signing it as "From Your Valentine," a phrase that lived ever after. The Roman Empire was soon to fall, and its end brought everything back to normalcy. The people never forgot Valentine and they created a holiday in memory of their loving priest. Along with "Valentine's Day", the tradition of sending personal messages also gained popularity among love birds and such handwritten notes of love came to be known as "Valentine", a name drawn from the signature of Valentine's last letter to Asterius' daughter. The first modern valentines reportedly became popular from the early 15th century. Following his defeat in the battle of Agincourt, the young French Duke of Orleans was captured and confined in the Tower of London for many years. During his captivity, he wrote many poems to his wife. About sixty of these remain and have been preserved among the royal papers in the British Museum. When printers came in use, a limited number of cards with verses and sketches began to be produced. However, these were smaller and costlier than the handmade cards which were oversized but economical and elaborate. By the 18th century, it became a common practice in England to exchange hand-made cards on Valentine's Day. People began to create valentine cards for their sweethearts by themselves out of lace or ribbons, and featuring cupids and hearts. Gradually, the American colonies took on the tradition. But it only during the 1840s that Valentine's Day greeting cards began to be commercially produced in the U.S. The first American Valentine's Day greeting cards were created by Esther A. Howlanda Mount Holyoke, a graduate and native of Worcester. Mass. Regarded as the "Mother of the Valentine", Howland made elaborate "Valentine" cards with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap". It was only with Howland's mass production of the Valentine cards that the custom gained popularity in the United States. With a reduction in postal rates in the early 19th century, the production of Valentines got a greater thrust. It also helped establish the custom of sending anonymous messages or cards to those one admired. In the 21st century, Valentine's Day has become one of the major holidays in the world, especially in the U.S. where it has spawned a multimillion dollar greeting card industry. As per a survey by the Greeting Card Association, 25% of all cards sent each year in the U.S. are "Valentine"s. This is another evidence of the ever increasing popularity of the "Valentines", that are seen by many as an extension of the old love letters. A message of love, that is what the "Valentine" is. Try sending one to your special someone on this Valentine's Day.

bihar joke

A person  who was  WORKING IN MUMBAI, AND DID NOT MEET HIS wife for four (4) years while his wife was in his home town. At the end of 4 years he distributed sweets to his colleagues in office stating that his wife had delivered a son. His colleagues were quite shocked and they asked how this "Happy event" happened when he had not seen his wife for four years... The man said it is common in his state  that neighbours take care of the wife (good Samaritans) when men are away.

The colleagues asked him, "What name will you give to the son?"

The man explained, "If its the second neighbour who has taken care, then the name would be "DWIVEDI";

If it is the third neighbor then it would  be "TRIVEDI",

If it is the fourth neighbor then it would be "CHATURVEDI" ;

If its the fifth neighbor then it would be "PANDEY"...

After listening to this, questions followed.

What if it is a mixture of neighbours? "Then the boy would be named "MISHRA"...

And what if the wife is too shy to tell the name of the neighbour? Then it would be "SHARMA"...

But what if she refuses to divulge the  name of the neighbour? Then the name of the child would be "GUPTA"...

If she does not remember the name then? "It is YAADAV"

But who knows whether the child resulted from a rape? Then it will be named "DOSHI"...

Finally, if the child happened because of wife's burning desire? Then he will be named "JOSHI"...

And if the whole country had made efforts for the happy arrival?...."DESHPANDEY..

bihar joke

A person  who was  WORKING IN MUMBAI, AND DID NOT MEET HIS wife for four (4) years while his wife was in his home town. At the end of 4 years he distributed sweets to his colleagues in office stating that his wife had delivered a son. His colleagues were quite shocked and they asked how this "Happy event" happened when he had not seen his wife for four years... The man said it is common in his state  that neighbours take care of the wife (good Samaritans) when men are away.

The colleagues asked him, "What name will you give to the son?"

The man explained, "If its the second neighbour who has taken care, then the name would be "DWIVEDI";

If it is the third neighbor then it would  be "TRIVEDI",

If it is the fourth neighbor then it would be "CHATURVEDI" ;

If its the fifth neighbor then it would be "PANDEY"...

After listening to this, questions followed.

What if it is a mixture of neighbours? "Then the boy would be named "MISHRA"...

And what if the wife is too shy to tell the name of the neighbour? Then it would be "SHARMA"...

But what if she refuses to divulge the  name of the neighbour? Then the name of the child would be "GUPTA"...

If she does not remember the name then? "It is YAADAV"

But who knows whether the child resulted from a rape? Then it will be named "DOSHI"...

Finally, if the child happened because of wife's burning desire? Then he will be named "JOSHI"...

And if the whole country had made efforts for the happy arrival?...."DESHPANDEY..

how smart ..god

God is Smart     The man: "God, how long is a million years?" God: "To me, it's about a minute." The man: "God, how much is a million dollars?" God: "To me it's a penny." The man: "God, may I have a penny?" God: "Wait a minute."