What's a Tragedy?

[cominatcha]

What's a 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. 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."

[conlor]