John Kerry visits a primary 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. Kerry 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", Kerry 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 Senator. "That would be
what we would consider a great loss".
The room goes silent. No other children volunteer.
Kerry 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 the Senator John Kerry
were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a
tragedy".
"Fantastic !" exclaims Kerry. "You are absolutely right. "Can you
tell me why that would be a tragedy?".
"Well", says the boy, "because it sure wouldn't be a great
loss and it probably wouldn't be an accident!".
