Dangerous Questions

["Craven, Jim" <jcraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

My micro class is in taking an exam right now (I don't monitor my exams and
just ask them to cheat quietly and pass wrong answers to each other without
disturbing others) and one of my extra-credit assignments is as follows:
With respect to any culture, any period of history and any person or persons
with real power, present a list of questions that would likely get you
killed and/or your career totally destroyed.

One of my students just handed me this:

Ashcrof was visiting an elementary school. After the typical civics lesson
to the class, he announces "All right boys and girls, you can ask me
questions now.

Little Bobby raises his hand and says "I have three questions: 1) How did
Bush win the election with fewer votes than Gore?; 2) Why are you using the
USA Patriot Act to limit Americans' civil liberties?; 3) Why hasn't the U.S.
caught Osama bin Laden yet?

Just then the bell sounds and all the kids run out to play.

Fifteen minutes later, the kids come back to class and again Ashcroft says
"I'm sorry we were interrupted by the bell, Now you can all ask me
questions."

A young girl named Charlene raises her hand and says "I have five questions:
1) How did Bush win the election with fewer votes than Gore?; 2) Why are you
using the USA Patriot Act to limit Americans' civil liberties?; 3) Why
hasn't the U.S. caught Osama bin Laden yet? 4) Why did the bell go off 20
minutes early?; 5) Where's Bobby?

Jim C.