Copy of an e-mail from a friend of mine.
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 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 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 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 as hell wouldn't be a great
loss, and it probably wouldn't be an accident either."
Enjoy
Nixter
