Definition of a Tragedy

George W. Bush is visiting a primary school class. They are in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. The teacher asks President Bush if he would like to lead the discussion on 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 on a farm, is playing in the field and a runaway tractor comes along and knocks him dead, that would be a tragedy."

"No," says the learned George Bush," that would be an accident."

A little girl raises her hand: "If a school bus carrying 50 children drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy."

"I'm afraid not," explains the exalted Republican leader. "That's what we would call a great loss."

The room goes silent. No other children volunteer.

George Bush searches the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"

Finally at the back of the room a small boy raises his hand. In a quiet voice he says: "If a jet carrying the President of the United States were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."

"Fantastic!" exclaims George Bush, "That's right. And can you tell me why that would be tragedy?"

"Well," says the boy, "because it sure as hell wouldn't be a great loss and it probably wouldn't be an accident either."