‘THE NEEDS OF THE MANY’ IS AN EVIL PHILOSOPHY’
'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few’ are well known words to any Trekkie and indeed anyone who has simply dropped into that universe to watch a few of the movies. They are synonymous with self-sacrifice and can be perceived as truly heroic. However, what may be true in one beautiful instance, in which an individual gives his life to save his friends, may not be true when extended to a wider context.
When looked at from another perspective, however, the ‘needs of the many’ is not just dangerous; it’s cruel and even frightening. This darker side to the Vulcan philosophy in history is ‘filled with groups who have decided that their needs were more important than others. The result: slavery, genocide.’
Another word for ‘the many’ is, of course, the ‘majority’. The majority has a loud voice and loud voices tend to be heard. ‘The few’ is obviously the ‘minority’. The voice of the minority is softer, sometimes so soft it is almost silent but that doesn’t mean that these whispered words carry no meaning. In saying that ‘The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few’, it is effectively being argued that it is only logical and right for the majority to neglect the needs of the minority.
In the big wide world ‘the few or the one’ is not a hero bravely sacrificing themselves for the good of their crew, they are the silent sectors of society who are
classified as ‘different’ or even ‘marginal’. They have no choice in the sacrifices they make; they are coerced into making sacrifices everyday in the name of the majority and the societal expectations that are forced upon them.
In many instances, the minority is regarded solely in terms of that which makes them different. This separation between ‘them’ and ‘us’ is very dangerous. It can be dehumanising, reframing the ‘other’ as deviant or inferior. This is the basis of emotional and physical violence that can be perpetrated against minorities. Those who happily fall into the standard of acceptability feel somehow entitled to abuse those who, through no fault of their own, fall outside of what is perceived to be ‘normal’.
Even where individual abuse or violence is not an issue the majority who refuses to listen to the needs of the few is still a bully. In an environment where the majority is closed minded and ignorant, they will force their opinions and perspectives upon those who may be ill equipped to defend themselves. Through fear and vilence anyone who trades freedom for security deserves neither.
The biggest battle that we face in our social evolution is the path towards equality and unity, the many and the few need to join together to become the one. Unity alone, however, is not enough, we have to learn to accept that while ‘we’ should stand together, ‘we’ will always be made up of hundreds of millions unique individuals. Each one of these individuals has their own life, voice and inherent worth.
In the spirit of this

'post (or blog if you prefer I take my ramblings there)
May all of REOville live long & prosper this week,
RHP