Tragedy
Al Sharpton 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. Sharpton if he would like to lead
the discussion of 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 Al Sharpton,"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. Sharpton
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.
Sharpton were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens,
that would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic!" exclaims Sharpton, "That's right.
And can you tell me why that would be 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."
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