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.
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 as hell wouldn't
be a great loss and it probably wouldn't be an accident
either."
Jesse Jackson
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
