George W. Bush was visiting an elementary school, and the 4th grade class he sat through began a discussion related to words and their meanings.
The teacher asked the President if he would like to lead the class in a discussion of the word "tragedy." So, George W. asked the class for an example of a tragedy.
One boy stood up and said, "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," said Bush, "that would be an accident."
A girl raised her hand and said, "If a school bus carrying 50 children
drove off a cliff, killing everyone on board, that would be a
tragedy."
"I''m afraid not," the President said. "That''s what we would call a Great Loss."
The room went silent. No other children volunteered. President Bush searched the room and asked, "Isn''t there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"
Finally, way in the back of the room, Johnny raised his hand, and in a quiet voice, he said, "If Air Force One, carrying Mr. and Mrs. Bush, was struck by a missile and blown up to smithereens, THAT would be a tragedy."
"That''s right! And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?" asked the President.
"Well," Johnny said, "because it wouldn''t be an accident and it sure as hell wouldn''t be a Great Loss..."