The Magnificent Farmers' Market

“The train station of Omelas is actually the handsomest building in the town, though plainer than the magnificent Farmers’ Market.”  This image makes me think of how a town/city can be a successful, thriving community. I think that when I read this, I read it all wrong. When I look at it in a different light, I see entrepreneurship and people working for what they want.  I think that I stopped and made up my mind the first time that I saw that Omelas did not have an army of any sort and they did not possess a stock market.  I honestly do not understand why they would not, but that is not for me to judge.   A Farmers’ market is one of those things that I wish was more common. In the north, like Pennsylvania, there is always farmers’ markets and if you are cautious about what you eat, or want some good fresh vegetables, there is no better.  I think that throughout all economies, the best possess two things: 1) they must be strong enough to be self sufficient, i.e. the farmers’ market. 2) Second of all they need a positive income from outside trading. What I mean by this is they need to be selling more than they are buying from outsiders, kind of like the U.S. and China, only opposite.  With Omelas bringing in trains and busses, their economy is undoubtedly much stronger because of it. 

“The terms are strict and absolute; there may be not even be a kind word spoken to the child.”  When I hear this, I think of omens.  Everyone has them, but nobody wants to think about it.  One that I have always had is such that if I have a good and positive day, then some time there after I will have a bad and negative day, so that in the end it will all balance out.  I feel like there always has to be balance in the world.  I know that it is crazy but that’s how I thought when I was in high school.  The people of Omelas, I think, take this kid as an Omen.  Almost as if the worse off he is, the better off they will be.  I do not know why it is that people always hold to these omens, and I am sure that not all people have omens.  But still I feel for the child.

The world is not perfect in any way, but if it were Omelas would be a good city for the most part, the only difference would be that there would be no abused child.  I really think that I can understand both sides of the argument, who walks away and who does not.  I cannot say which I would be, due to the fact that I am not in the element, but I think that regardless I would feel for the child. I think that the reason why nobody helps him is one phrase: “out of sight, out of mind.”  It is so true, yet so sad indeed.