Tragedy

　　George W. Bush visits an elementary school and the 4th grade class is in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. The teacher asks the President if he would like to lead the class in a discussion of the word "tragedy." So George W. asks the class for an example of a tragedy.

　　One boy stands up and says, "If 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 Bush, "that would be an accident."

　　A 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 President. "That's what we would call a Great Loss."

　　The room goes silent. No other children volunteer. President Bush searches the room and asks, "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"

　　Finally, in the back of the room, Johnny raises his hand and in a quiet voice he says, "If Air Force One, carrying Mr. and Mrs. Bush, was struck by a missile and blown up to smithereens(碎片) , that would be a tragedy."

　　"That's right! And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?" asks the President.

　　"Well," Johnny says, "because it wouldn't be an accident and it sure as hell(很，非常) wouldn't be a Great Loss."