The story about the Omelas was similar to a view from two different communities. One spoke of a community during the festival, filled with music, dancing, children running around and being free to do as they please. Music filled the streets for miles and everyone seemed to ‘leave’ reality for a while. One theory of social justice is this first celebration of life and food and everything that the world has to offer to these Omela people. This is the definition of social justice in that it is creating a society or institution based on the principles of equality and solidarity. Paragraph One says, “…a cheerful faint sweetness of the air that from time to time trembled and gathered together and broke out into the great joyous clanging of the bells.” This was obvious in the reading because everyone was free and able to enjoy themselves with no responsibility or things to get in the way, one could almost say it was a paradise or utopia.
The second theory or view was from that of an adult, that spoke of living through days in despair, wishing for a miracle, complex people simply ‘going through the motions’. On top of this blandness, they were happy. Everyone was on their own path to do great things but it will take time to get through it. Life was equal but slow and calm. From the second paragraph the Omelas speak of, “The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid.” This speaks of their life being tough and that they were almost taught not to embrace happiness but to recognize it will always be there but be stupid. Le Guin says that these people can be happy during this festival over something as simple as the victory of life. Le Guin addressed that the Omela people do not experience feelings of guilt, hope, victory and courage through this festival of dancing and happiness for the things they have been given and what the a gratefulA for. Some aspects that are implied are that they are educated people, educated enough to realize the good in life as well as what they need to do everyday to live out their beliefs and work together to keep this society of theirs. They believe in nature and that it is here to help them no matter what life through at them. These people live their lives like everyday human beings except them live them easier, simpler, and equally.
