Bush on tragedy

[L French <lrfrench>]

President Bush was visiting a primary school in the mid-west and in one of the 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 discussion on the word tragedy." The illustrious leader of the free world asked the students to give him an example of a "tragedy." 

 

One little boy stood up and said, "If my best friend, who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a tractor runs over him and he is killed, that would be a tragedy." 

No," said the President that would be an accident." 

 

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

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

The classroom went silent. No other children volunteered. Mr. Bush searched the room and finally said, "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy? " 

 

Finally at the back of the room a small boy raised his hand. In a quiet voice he said: "If Air Force One carrying you and Mrs. Bush was struck by a friendly fire missile and blown to smithereens, wouldnt that be a tragedy? " 

"Yes, " exclaimed Mr. Bush. "You are exactly right. Now can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?" 

 
"Well," said the little boy, "It would have to be a tragedy, because I dont think it would be a great loss and I certainly dont think it would be an accident. " 
 
 
_________________________________________ 
 
Patti Smith: We must be vigilant. We must be citizen soldiers, stripped of fear. Our optimism is magnified in our music. We are all Walt Whitman. We sing of ourselves. The songs we create, which address our own condition, will ultimately sing of another. And another. 

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com