K
Kerl Smith Karl Smith
Guest
President George Bush is visiting an elementary school today
and he visits one of the classes (4th grade). 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 an American Air Force
plane, carrying Mr. & Mrs. Bush, were struck by a missile and
blown up to smithereens, by a terrorist like Osamabin 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 would not be a great loss."
and he visits one of the classes (4th grade). 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 an American Air Force
plane, carrying Mr. & Mrs. Bush, were struck by a missile and
blown up to smithereens, by a terrorist like Osamabin 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 would not be a great loss."