Lessons in English Language
Barack Obama was visiting a primary school and he visited 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,
that would 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, that would be a tragedy."
"I'm afraid not,' explained Obama. 'That's what we would call a 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 a tragedy?" "Well,' says Johnny, 'It has to be a
tragedy, because it sure as hell wouldn't be a great loss... and you can
bet your ass it's probably not an accident either."
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