Life sometimes places us in situations that push us to do things we never thought was possible. Questions like whether we’d sacrifice a few people to save millions force us to examine our values and consider what we’re willing to stand for. If I had to do something terrible to achieve a positive outcome—but without taking anyone’s life or put others in a bad position —I might be willing to, even though it would take me time to think it through. However, when it comes to sacrificing a few lives for the sake of many, it’s not so simple.
On one hand, sacrificing a few lives sounds logical. The idea of the "greater good" implies that a small number could suffer so that the majority can live better and have safer lives. It’s a common theme in moral philosophy and even in some cultural practices. For example, in Yoruba culture, there are traditions where people are use as sacrifices to bring peace or good fortune to the community. But when you think deeply about this, it becomes hard to accept. Sacrificing someone for the “greater good” is a deeply personal loss for that individual and those who care about them. It means taking away everything that person has—their relationships, dreams, potential, and experiences. It’s not just “one life” versus “many lives”; each person is someone’s whole world.
When you make that kind of decision, you’re stripping away their right to life without their consent and without any wrongdoing on their part. Everyone has the right to live, and forcing someone to give up that right for the benefit of others feels like an act of injustice, no matter how “noble” the outcome might appear.
Another thing to consider is human nature. People are often ungrateful, and history has shown that the dead are easily forgotten. Imagine sacrificing a few people for the sake of millions, only for those millions to move on with their lives, never acknowledging the sacrifice made for them. It feels wrong to let a few people lose everything just so others can live comfortably, especially knowing that gratitude may be short-lived, if it comes at all. The dead would be lost to time, their contributions forgotten by the very people they saved.
Personally, I don't think i would be able to make that decision. I can’t imagine sacrificing myself for my siblings, let alone for millions of strangers who don’t even know me and may not even care about the people I leave behind. This is why I admire soldiers and others who go to war, fully aware of the dangers and the sacrifices they’re making. They face life-threatening situations for the safety of people who may never know their names. Some of these soldiers have families—wives, children, parents who will be left behind if they don’t return. By risking their lives, they know they may leave their loved ones devastated, their children fatherless or their spouses widowed. It’s a massive price to pay, and I honestly don’t think I could make that choice for myself.
In the end, questions like these remind me of how complicated life really is. I think every person’s life holds a value that’s hard to measure, and trading lives to make things “better” feels like a path full of loss and regret. I’d rather believe that there are other ways to solve problems—ways where no one has to be singled out to pay a price they didn’t choose. Maybe it’s idealistic, but I’d hope we could find answers that bring people together and build something positive without having to tear anyone else down. For me, that’s the kind of outcome I’d want to be a part of.
Hive power up day celebration
Today marks the beginning of my 6 months on hive and i am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have come this far. Also, it's a new month in 2024 and hive power up day. I have been powering up for some months now and for this month i have been able to power up more than the previous months. By powering up about 20hive which brings my total hp to 956.348hp.
It shows my account is growing and i am happy for my progress on the blockchain so far.
Cheers! To celebrating more hive power up day.
image is from Meta Ai.
