Ol' WDB's Column

From: "Bob Crowninshield" <mutha@capeonramp.com>
To: "wdbonner@pacbell.net"
Subject: Tradigy

George Bush is visiting an elementary school today and he visits one of the classes (4th grade I believe). They are in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings.

The teacher asks Mr. Bush if he would like to lead the class in the discussion of the word, "tragedy."

So our illustrious leader asks the class for an example of a "tragedy."

One little boy stands up and offers, "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 little 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 Mr. Bush . "That's what we would call a GREAT LOSS.

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

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

"Fantastic," exclaims Bush, "that's right. Can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?"

"Well," Li'l Johnny replies, "because it wouldn't be an accident, and it certainly would be no great loss."