Tragedy
Jesse Jackson is visiting a primary school and he visits one of the
classes. They are in the middle of a discussion related to words and
their meanings.
The teacher asks the Rev. Jackson if he would like to lead the discussion
on the word "tragedy". So the illustrious leader asks the class for an
example of a "tragedy".
One little boy stands up and offers: "If my best friend, who lives on a
farm, is playing in the field and a runaway tractor comes along and
knocks him dead, that would be a tragedy."
"No," says the Great Jesse Jackson," that would be an accident."
A little girl raises her hand: "If a school bus carrying 50 children
drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy."
"I'm afraid not," explains the exalted spiritual leader. "That's what we
would call a great loss."
The room goes silent. No other children volunteer. Rev. Jackson searches
the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a
tragedy?"
Finally at the back of the room a small boy raises his hand. In a quiet
voice he says: "If a jet carrying the Rev. & Mrs Jackson were struck by a
missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic!" exclaims Jackson, "That's right. And can you tell me why
that would be tragedy?"
"Well," says the boy, "because it certainly wouldn't be a great loss and
it probably wouldn't be an accident either."