Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Example

George W. Bush is visiting a primary 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 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 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 President 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 leader. "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
at the back of the room, little Johnny raises his
hand. In a quiet voice he says: "If Air Force One
carrying you was struck by a missile and blown to
smithereens, that would be a tragedy." "Fantastic!"
exclaims President Bush, That's right. And can you
tell me why that would be a 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.

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