Conditio sine qua non
Posted May 2, 2008 · Charles O
One of those poignant unsolicited e-mails:
There was an over loaded plane that managed to take off. The pilot realized after they had taken off that the plane was carrying too much weight. If they didn’t lessen the load they will crash.
So they dumped the freight.
The plane was still too heavy. Then they dumped the luggage. Still too heavy! Then pilot announced to the passengers what was going on, and asked for about 15 volunteers to jump off the plane with parachutes. The navy had been alerted, they have ships waiting for them below. And they would get a pass to fly free on this airline for the rest of their lives.
No one budged.
The pilot asked again, still no one moved.
Then pilot said: “OK, we’re going to pick people to jump, but fairly.
We’ll go by alphabet, race by race: Please All African Americans step to the front of the plane now!”
No one moved.
He then said: “All Blacks, step to the front, please.”
Still no one moved.
“All Colored people step to the front, please.”
Still no one moved.
At this point a little boy asked his father: “Dad, aren’t we African American or Black or Colored?”
The father says: “No, son, today we’re Negroes. And if someone doesn’t hurry up and step up to the front, we’re going to be Zulu!”