What We Do In Omelas
Ursula K. LeGuin wrote a story in 1973 called “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”. It’s about a utopian society whose utopia is powered by the perpetual suffering and misery of one child. N. K. Jemisin wrote a story as well in dialogue with this one set in a similar place called Um-Helat. It’s intended as allegory, some say for capitalism.
I found this spectrum illuminating and indicting. There's alt text in the image if you need that.
Of course, it seems deeply unfair to put all of this on one innocent child. But what if it was a nameless horde of them that you could never know personally?
Where do you fall? And where do you disagree with the characterization?