The ones who walk away from omelas
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It’s not really about where we would go, though. There’s a part of my identity and memory prior to the church. Or in one of those Anglican churches with old-fashioned liturgy but social justice politics. Because I keep wanting to answer, “I can think of a whole lot of places I’d go, actually.” I could see myself in a synagogue, rediscovering the ancient faith of my foremothers, where I have often found peace. Perhaps they’ve been granted some vision of redemption I’ve never seen. And maybe these people have a solider faith than mine. “Where else would I go?” some have said, echoing the words of Peter to Christ. Some have been told our faith is insufficiently strong if we’re even thinking of giving up. But we also encounter surprise, disapproval, even coercion. Sometimes in these conversations we are met with compassion. And the conversations happen, in person or online, furtively or with open anger: What do I do now? Can I stay in this church? Is this when I leave? Do I stay and reform? But how? Omelas does not exemplify any of the fundamental things that a Utopia is composed of, and therefore I do not think this reading should be required for students studying this subject.In recent weeks, many have felt the faith on which we built our lives shifting beneath us, no longer sturdy rock but treacherous sand. In Utopia, the social and political aspects are morally perfect, with ideal citizens who strive to continually better their community, and peace is kept without the torture of children. The characteristics that are shown from the people and the organization of Omelas do not relate to a Utopian community. “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” describes a primitive society that is far from a Utopia. The desire of citizens to create an overall perfect community is an important fundamental aspect of creating a true Utopia, but the people of Omelas clearly do not exemplify this. In a perfect society, the citizens would want to enhance their living conditions and better their technologies. A Utopian society is filled with people who contribute to the wellbeing of their community, and are always desiring to advance their way of life. They are satisfied with doing nothing to better their lives. The Omelasians are not motivated to further their knowledge, and education is not a priority to them. Omelas is aware of the new technologies in other parts of the world, but they choose not to better their own society by adopting these advancements, and are instead living like primitive cave people. This lack of moral structure indicates another reason why Omelas is not a good example of a Utopian society.
THE ONES WHO WALK AWAY FROM OMELAS FREE
The Omelasians do not show any civilized morals, and they are basically free to do what they please, as long as it does not disrupt the peace in the community. Utopian societies are greatly characterized by a perfect, fair government with moral citizens. In Omelas, the people do not really have a form of government, and their only main job is to survive. The Omelasian lifestyle is that of uncivilized behavior, with the citizens spending their time frolicking around naked and riding horses instead of contributing to the advancement of their society. Utopia is largely based on the idea of social perfection, therefore this aspect of torture in Omelas does not exemplify a Utopian society. The torturing of children is not something to be found in an ideal society, where everyone should be treated equally with natural rights given to them.
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This is definitely not a characteristic of Utopia, and it even shocks some people into leaving the community. The Omelasians believe that this is necessary for them to coexist happily. The citizens of Omelas have chosen a young boy that they hold captive as a spectacle of torture in order to motivate their society to remain peaceful. A more appropriate reading should be required for students in my grade that embodies a morally civilized version of Utopia. Omelas is a peaceful group of uncivilized people, but it is not a Utopian community. A society that is willing to torture an innocent young boy, spends its time riding horses naked instead of establishing a reasonable government, and has no desire to advance their lives or their technology, does not exemplify the true meaning of an ideal society.
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“The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” is a warped version of this visionary Utopia, so I do not think it is a good reading to be used as a primary example. When writing his composition, Utopia (1516), Sir Thomas Moore envisioned this place as an ideal community with moral citizens, no war, and containing a fair, just government allowing political and social perfection.
THE ONES WHO WALK AWAY FROM OMELAS FULL
When studying about Utopia, I believe that students should be required to read literature that embodies the full aspects of an ideal Utopian society.