Former President Clinton is visiting an elementary school and drops in on the 4th grade class. The class is in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings.
The teacher asks the Ex-President if he would like to lead the class in the discussion of the word "tragedy."
So, Clinton asks the class for an example of a "tragedy." 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 Clinton, "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 the Ex-President. "That's what we would call a GREAT LOSS."
The room goes silent. No other children volunteer.
Former President Clinton asks, "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?" Finally, way in the back of the room, Lil' Johnny raises his hand. In a quiet voice he says, "If Air Force One, carrying you and Mrs. Clinton, was struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic," exclaims Clinton, "that's right. And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?"
"Well," said Lil' Johnny, "because it wouldn't be an accident, and it sure as heck wouldn't be a great loss."
The teacher asks the Ex-President if he would like to lead the class in the discussion of the word "tragedy."
So, Clinton asks the class for an example of a "tragedy." 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 Clinton, "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 the Ex-President. "That's what we would call a GREAT LOSS."
The room goes silent. No other children volunteer.
Former President Clinton asks, "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?" Finally, way in the back of the room, Lil' Johnny raises his hand. In a quiet voice he says, "If Air Force One, carrying you and Mrs. Clinton, was struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic," exclaims Clinton, "that's right. And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?"
"Well," said Lil' Johnny, "because it wouldn't be an accident, and it sure as heck wouldn't be a great loss."
