Tough Decision - Do not Make in Haste

The below is an extraction from an email that has been forwarded to me. The words in italics and purple are adapted from its original form. It really set me thinking, so I thought of sharing with you. Unfortunately, I do not know who is the original author to give him or her the due credit. Whoever he or she is, thank you for sharing this and set us thinking so that we do not lose sight of the bigger picture when we have to make a tough decision.

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other unused. Only one child played on the unused track, the rest on the operational track. The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the unused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the unused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?

Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. Yet, 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.

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.

This is indeed something is worthwhile pondering upon. Sometimes, in a haste to make decision, we may be lured into thinking short-term.