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Bill Clinton was visiting an elementary school. When he visited a 4th grade
class, a discussion of words and their meanings was conducted. The teacher
asked the President if he would like to lead the class in the discussion of the
word “tragedy”. So our illustrious leader asked the class for an example of a
tragedy. One little boy stood up and offered, “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,” said Clinton, “That would be an accident.” A little girl raised her hand. “If a school bus carrying 50 children drove off a cliff, killing everyone in the bus, that would be a tragedy.” “I’m afraid not,” said the President. “That’s what we call a great loss.” The room grew silent. No other children would volunteer an answer. President Clinton searched the room. “Isn’t there someone who can give me a example of a tragedy?” Finally, in 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. Clinton, were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy. “Fantastic,” said Clinton. “That’s right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?” “Well,” said the boy, “Because it wouldn’t be an accident, and it certainly wouldn’t be a great loss.” |