Tragedy Explained

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Bill Clinton is visiting a school. In one class, he asks the students if anyone can give him an example of a "tragedy." One little boy stands up and offers that, "If my best friend who lives next door is playing in the street when a car came by and killed him, that would be a tragedy."



"No," Clinton says, "That would be an ACCIDENT."



A girl raises her hand. "If a school bus carrying fifty children drove off a cliff, killing everyone inside...that would be a tragedy."



"I'm afraid not," explains Clinton. "That is what we would call a GREAT LOSS."



The room is silent; none of the other children dare volunteer.



"What?" asks Clinton, "Isn't there anyone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"



Finally a boy in the back raises his hand. In a timid voice, he says: "If an airplane carrying Bill and Hillary Clinton was blown up by a bomb, *that* would be a tragedy."



"Wonderful!" Clinton beams. "Marvelous! 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 be no great loss!"