Is There a Paradise?

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Ursula K. Le Guin, who we lost recently in 1973, wrote a short story about utopia. The city of Omalas is described as using all of the flowery language you would use to describe an idyllic fairy tale scene. It requires that one child be living in a dark damp basement with very little light and nothing around them. Some people choose to actually go look at this kid and what they do after doing so is crucial to the story.

David and Tamler are pulled into Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas." Omelas is a truly happy city, except for one child who lives in abominable misery. Is that too high a moral cost? Why do some people walk away from the city? Why does no one help the child? Why does Le Guin make us create the city with her? Plus, we talk about our listener meetup in Vancouver, and a new edition of [dramatic music] GUILTY CONFESSIONS. Note: if this episode strikes you as too puritanical, then please add an orgy.

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