Tragedy

Subject: Tragedy Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:00 pm

President Bill Clinton was visiting an elementary school today, and when he visited one of the 4th grade classes, they were in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings.

The teacher asked the President if he would like to lead the class in the discussion of the word, "tragedy." So, our illustrious leader asked the class for an example of a tragedy.

One little boy stood up and offered, "My best friend, who lives next door, was playing in the street, and a car came along and ran over him. That would be a tragedy."

"No," said Clinton, "that would be an accident."

A little girl raised her hand. "If a school bus carrying 50 children drove off a cliff, killing everyone in the bus, that would be a tragedy."

"I'm afraid not," explained the President. "That's what we would call a great loss."

The room grew silent. No other children would volunteer an answer. President Clinton searched the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"

Finally, in the back of the room, a small boy raised his hand. In a quiet voice, he said, "If Air Force One, carrying Mr.. & Mrs.. Clinton, were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."

"Fantastic," exclaimed Clinton. "That's right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?"

"Well," said the boy, "because it wouldn't be an accident, and it certainly wouldn't be a great loss!"