“The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” by Ursula K. LeGuin, is a story about a utopian city whose residents enjoy happiness and prosperity, but this state of bliss requires that one child should be kept in misery and darkness and filth. Residents are told this, but most are able to live with the idea. After all, what is the misery of one child compared to the good fortune of the entire city? Nevertheless, every year some of the inhabitants walk away from Omelas.
I thought of this story when I read about Private Bradley Manning, the American soldier accused of providing material to WikiLeaks. He is kept in solitary confinement at the brig in Quantico. He’s allowed to walk around one hour a day--in shackles. He is forced to remove his clothing at night. He is forced to stand naked outside his cell every morning. This is because, supposedly, he is suicidal, although he, his lawyers, and his friends deny this. Even if he were suicidal, since when does a suicide watch require nakedness?
Philip Crowley, a State Department official, said that the military’s treatment of Mr. Manning was “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.” For telling the truth, Mr. Crowley was forced to resign his post. And now President Obama, the Commander-in-Chief, has said he will not interfere with the way Private Manning is treated.
If Dick Cheney were doing this, we would raise the roof. We need to raise it now. What is wrong with our President? It is not enough to walk away from Omelas. We are required to speak out.
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