Featured Replies
Join the conversation
You can post as a guest; create a free account to track replies, follow topics, and be part of the largest weight loss surgery community.
A better way to browse. Learn more.
A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.
Join BariatricPal free
You can post as a guest; create a free account to track replies, follow topics, and be part of the largest weight loss surgery community.
Find support for your bariatric or GLP-1 journey. Save helpful conversations and take part when you are ready.
Choose your email preferences on the registration form.
Already a member? Sign in
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 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. 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."