President Bill Clinton was visiting an elementary school, and when he visited one of the classes (4th grader, 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!"
by an unknown author
