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maisa
02-20-2006, 04:08 AM
Here is a small story on decision making. Please go through the story very carefully to get the sense of it.

Which one will you choose?

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track. The train came, and you were just beside the track interchange. You could make the train change its course to the disused track and saved most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way? Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make............


.. No cheating...


Most people might choose to divert the course of the train,and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place? Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was.

This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.

The friend who forwarded me the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use,and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.

While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made,we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one "Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right."

"Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; And consult with them in ways that are best and most gracious." (Al Qur'an, 16:125)

from my email
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May Allah guide us all to the righteous decisions
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north_malaysian
02-20-2006, 04:13 AM
Used or disused track, both are not playground for first instance.

What I'll do - I'll shout "Run for your live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I wont change the track because I'll spend my time shouthing at them, my voice is faster than the train. So nobody had to die then. I think so....:rollseyes
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maisa
02-20-2006, 04:46 AM
[QUOTE]
format_quote Originally Posted by north_malaysian
Used or disused track, both are not playground for first instance.

What I'll do - I'll shout "Run for your live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
:giggling:

The wisdom behind this is that life is full of decision making however not all the decision we make are the righteous ones
And that individual decision making must consulting with many people as possible and only then you can relay on your decision And that is what Islam calls "shora"

thanks for dropping by and for the laugh:okay:
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north_malaysian
02-20-2006, 05:31 AM
I think it's somehow logical. :okay:

How about others?:rollseyes
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Laaibah
02-20-2006, 10:57 AM
Wow Sis maisa... :D

I never thought of NOT making the train change it's track....
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