If you were a citizen of Omelas, would you stay or would you walk?

        When  first reading Ursula K Le Guin's short story "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" The decision of never wanting to live in this "utopia" was made. I would walk away from Omelas. However going to lecture and listening to others I realized that I was wrong. I would in fact live in a world where a young child was living a tortured and agonizing life. Although I would be amongst the few who are "...shocked and sickened at the sight"(Le Guin,3); I would still stay. I came to this realization when a student brought up that we as educated students, buy name brand clothing knowing that children are working in sweatshops in order to make the clothing, toys and shoes we buy in vast amounts. We would like to think that we would walk away, or help the child and save him from his misery, let him live a life worth living. Instead many of us would willingly stay. Moreover there are others who may walk away, in order to do that a large amount of strength and courage is needed. To walk away from the life you were content with, your friends, family and everything comforting to you is easier said then done. There are people who would do that. I wish I were among them, however I know that I will always need the comfort of my mother and family. Something the little child living in a broom cupboard does not receive. Consequently, Omelas is where I would stay, although one can not feel guilt living there, I'm not sure what I would feel, maybe a sickness in my stomach or a headache when the child is brought up, however as hard as it is I know that I would learn to live among the happy citizens of Omelas.