Jesse Jackson, while visiting a primary school
class, found himself 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 asked 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 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 plane
carrying the Rev. 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 a tragedy?"
"Well," says the boy, "because it sure wouldn't be
a great loss, and it probably wouldn't be an
accident either."
Boy, ain't that the damn truth.
