[Lyonmt]

The Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, while visiting
a primary school class, found themselves in the middle of a
discussion related to words and their meanings.

The teacher asked both men if they would like to lead the
discussion of the word "tragedy". So the illustrious Rev
Jackson 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 Reverend Al. "That's
what we would call a great loss." The room goes silent. No
other children volunteer. Reverend Al searches the
room. "Isn't there someone here who can give mean example of
a tragedy?"

Finally at the back of the room little Johnny raises his
hand. In a stern voice he says: "If a plane carrying the
Reverends Jackson and Sharpton were struck by a missile and
blown to smithereens that would be a tragedy."

"Fantastic!" exclaims Jackson and Sharpton, "That's right.
And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?"

"Well," says little Johnny, "because it sure as hell
wouldn't be a great loss, and it probably wouldn't be an
accident either."