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.............
How do you decide
What is your decision?
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 he 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." Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Ranks in the Army
REC - Really Enduring Camp in Tekong.
PTE - Physically Trained Expert after Tekong.
LCP - Lowest Confident Personnel in camp cuz u r still inexperience yet stil need to sign many extra like your seniors.
CPL - Cannot Play Liao cuz u r a senior in NSF.
SGT - Sayin Goodbye Thank u to your life as a NSF cuz ORD is coming.
SSG - Showing Social Grace bt informing pple not to call u sergeant anymore but stuff cuz its nicer to hear.
MSG - Must Say Good no matter wad to your commanders so that u will get your first amulet on yr shoulder faster
MWO - Must Watch Out for troublesome pple out to find trouble and give them extras.
SWO - Still Waiting Orders cuz you still need to serve other officers dispite your senior agr and experience.
LTA - listening To Advice cuz yr OC told u to do so and u cant disobey
CPT - Call Please Thanks cuz u r busy with work everyday and have no time to reply, especially at office.
MAJ - Must Always Joke so that pple in SAFTI MI will recognise u as a potential talent to commanding post.
LTC - Later Then Comfirm cuz u got so many meetings to attend.
COL - Content Over Leadership especially after taking so many >commanding post of your life, u still want to command pple , even at home.
BG - Better Gone cuz you almost reach the peak of your career and >planning retirement early unless you wanna be Chief Of Army or enter polities.
MG - Media Glamour cuz your pictures will be take anywhere at any SAF magazine, especially if u r Chief Of Army
LG - Last Game cuz its the highest peak u can go now in army, nth to compete for.
Can you read it?
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs?
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.
Cna yuo raed tihs?
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs?
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.
Cna yuo raed tihs?
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.
Great Philosophy about LIFE.
A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him.When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.He then asked the students again if the jar was full.They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.Of course, the sand filled up everything else.He asked once more if the jar was full.The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed.'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
'The golf balls are the important things - your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
'The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.
'The sand is everything else--the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf bal is.
'The same goes for life.
'If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.Play with your children.'Take time to get medical checkups.'Take your partner out to dinner.'Play another 18. 'There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
'Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.'Set your priorities.'The rest is just sand.
'One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked.'It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.'
He then asked the students if the jar was full.They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.He then asked the students again if the jar was full.They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.Of course, the sand filled up everything else.He asked once more if the jar was full.The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed.'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
'The golf balls are the important things - your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
'The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.
'The sand is everything else--the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf bal is.
'The same goes for life.
'If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.Play with your children.'Take time to get medical checkups.'Take your partner out to dinner.'Play another 18. 'There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
'Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.'Set your priorities.'The rest is just sand.
'One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked.'It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.'
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)