What is tragedy?
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:14 pm
George Bush visits an elementary school and sits in on one of the classes,
which is in the middle of a discussion on words and their meaning. The
teacher asks Mr. Bush 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."
"That's wrong", Bush shouts. "That would be considered 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."
"You are completely incorrect", shouts the President. "That would be what we would consider a great loss."
The room goes silent. No other children volunteer.
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 a small boy raises his hand. In a quiet
voice he says: "If a plane carrying President George Bush were struck by a
missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic!", exclaims Bush. "You are absolutely right. Can you tell me
why that would be a tragedy?"
"Well ...", says the boy, "it sure as hell wouldn't be a great loss, and it
probably wouldn't be an accident either!"
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:1139, old post ID:14340
which is in the middle of a discussion on words and their meaning. The
teacher asks Mr. Bush 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."
"That's wrong", Bush shouts. "That would be considered 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."
"You are completely incorrect", shouts the President. "That would be what we would consider a great loss."
The room goes silent. No other children volunteer.
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 a small boy raises his hand. In a quiet
voice he says: "If a plane carrying President George Bush were struck by a
missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic!", exclaims Bush. "You are absolutely right. Can you tell me
why that would be a tragedy?"
"Well ...", says the boy, "it sure as hell wouldn't be a great loss, and it
probably wouldn't be an accident either!"
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:1139, old post ID:14340