Tragedy

Tragedy

President Bill Clinton was visiting an elementary school today and when he

visited one of the classes (4th grade I believe), 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 asks the class

for an example of a tragedy." One little boy stands up and offers, "If 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," says Clinton, "that would be an accident."

A little girl raises her hand. "If a school bus carrying fifty children

drove off a cliff, killing everyone involved, that would be a tragedy."

"I'm afraid not," explains Mr. President. "That's what we would call a

GREAT

LOSS."

The room goes silent. No other children volunteer.

President Clinton searches the room. "Isn't there someone here who can

give

me an example of a tragedy?"

Finally, way in the back of the room, a small boy raises his hand. In a

quiet voice he says, "If Air Force One, carrying Mr. & Mrs. Clinton, was

struck by a missile and blown up to smithereens, that would be a tragedy!"

"Fantastic," exclaims Clinton, "that's right. And can you tell me WHY that

would be a tragedy?"

"Well," says the boy, "because it wouldn't be an accident, and it certainly

would be no great loss!"