Obama was visiting a primary school and he talked with one of the
classes. They were in the middle of a discussion related to words and their
meanings. The teacher asked the president if he would like to lead the
discussion on the word 'tragedy'? So our illustrious president asked the
class for an example of a 'tragedy'.
One little boy stood up and offered: 'If my best friend, who lives on a
farm, is playing in the field and a tractor runs over him and kills him,
would that be a tragedy?'
'No,' said Obama, 'that would be an accident.'
A little girl raised her hand: 'If a school bus carrying 50 children drove
over a cliff, killing everyone inside, would that be a tragedy?' 'I'm afraid
not,' explained Obama. 'That's what we would call great loss.'
The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Obama searched the
room. 'Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?'
Finally at the back of the room, Little Johnny raised his hand. In a quiet
voice he said: 'If the plane carrying you and Mrs. Obama was struck by a
'friendly fire' missile and blown to smithereens that would be a tragedy.'
'Fantastic!' exclaimed Obama.. 'That's right. And can you tell me why that
would be tragedy?'
'Well,' says Little Johnny, 'It has to be a tragedy, because it certainly wouldn't
be a great loss... And it probably wouldn't be an accident either.
