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The Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, while visiting a primary
school class, found themselves in the middle of a discussion related to
words and their meanings. The teacher asked both men if they would like
to lead the discussion of the word "tragedy". So the illustrious Rev
Jackson asks the class for an example of a "tragedy".
One little boy stood up and offered: "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 raised 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 Reverend Al. "That's what we
would call a great loss." The room goes silent. No other children
volunteer.
Reverend Al searches the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give
me an example of a tragedy?"
Finally at the back of the room little Johnny raises his hand. In a
stern voice he says: "If a plane carrying the Reverends Jackson and
Sharpton were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens that would be
a tragedy."
“Fantastic!" exclaims Jackson and Sharpton, "That's right. And can you
tell me why that would be a tragedy?"
"Well," says little Johnny, "because it sure wouldn't be a great loss,
and it probably wouldn't be an accident either."
school class, found themselves in the middle of a discussion related to
words and their meanings. The teacher asked both men if they would like
to lead the discussion of the word "tragedy". So the illustrious Rev
Jackson asks the class for an example of a "tragedy".
One little boy stood up and offered: "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 raised 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 Reverend Al. "That's what we
would call a great loss." The room goes silent. No other children
volunteer.
Reverend Al searches the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give
me an example of a tragedy?"
Finally at the back of the room little Johnny raises his hand. In a
stern voice he says: "If a plane carrying the Reverends Jackson and
Sharpton were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens that would be
a tragedy."
“Fantastic!" exclaims Jackson and Sharpton, "That's right. And can you
tell me why that would be a tragedy?"
"Well," says little Johnny, "because it sure wouldn't be a great loss,
and it probably wouldn't be an accident either."
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