Tragedy

[Dave Hedgehog]

President George Bush is visiting an elementary school and he visits one of the classes.

 

They are in the middle of a discussion related to

words and their meanings. The teacher asks the

President if he would like to lead the class in the

discussion of the word, "tragedy."

 

So the 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, is playing in the

street and a car comes along and runs him over, that

would be a tragedy.

 

"No," says Bush, "that would be an ACCIDENT."

 

A little girl raises her hand: "If a school bus

carrying 50 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 Bush 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. Bush, were struck by a

missile and blown up to smithereens, by a terrorist

like Osama bin Laden, that would be a tragedy."

 

"Fantastic," exclaims Bush, "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 wouldn't be a great

loss."