Thread: Definition of a tragedy

DEFINITION OF TRAGEDY


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 t he 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!" exclaim 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."

Little Johnny always comes through in the clutch. He's a funny kid.