Tragedy or Loss

[Nick_Ninja]

President Bush visits a primary school classroom. They are in the
middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. The teacher
asks President Bush if he would like to lead the discussion of the word
"tragedy." So the president 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 tractor runs him over
and kills him that would be a tragedy."
"No," says President Bush, "that would be 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."
"I'm afraid not," explains President Bush. "That's what we
would call a 'great loss'."

The room goes silent. No other children volunteered. Bush
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 Air Force One carrying you, Mr. President,
were struck
by a 'friendly fire' missile and blown to smithereens, that
would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic!" exclaims President Bush. "That's right. And can
you tell me why that would be a tragedy?"
"Well," says the boy, "because it certainly wouldn't be a
'great loss', and it probably wouldn't be an 'accident' either."

[NZ Darren]

Nice but heard that many years ago:

http://www.jokesandhumor.com/jokes/173.html

Once Bill Clinton visited a elementary school to talk to a group of 3rd graders. He said to them, "Today we are going to discuss the difference between a tragedy, a great loss and an accident". Then he said, "Can anyone give me an example of a tragedy?"
A little boy raises his hand and says, "If a kid runs out in the street after a ball and gets hit by a car." Clinton says, "No, that would be an accident. Can anyone else try?" A little girl raises her hand and says, "If a busload of kids drove off a cliff." Clinton says, "No, that would be a great loss. Come on, anyone else?"

A boy raises his hand and says and says, "If you and Mrs. Clinton was on a plane and it blew up." Then Clinton says, "Well, Yes, but can you tell me why it would be considered a tragedy?" And the little boy says, "Well, it wouldn't have been an accident, and it sure as heck wouldn't have been a great loss."

[NZ Darren]

And just cause I am bored and have nothing better to do:
The BBHQ Joke of the Week: 02/02/98

Saddam Hussein is visiting a school. In one class, he asks the students if anyone can give him an example of a "tragedy." One little boy stands up and offers that "If my best friend who lives next door was playing in the street when a car came along and killed him, that would be a tragedy." "No," Hussein says, "That would be an ACCIDENT." A girl raises her hand. "If a school bus carrying fifty Iraqi children drove off a cliff, killing everyone involved... that would be a tragedy." "I'm afraid not," explains Hussein. "That is what we would call a GREAT LOSS." The room is silent; none of the other children volunteer. "What?" asks Hussein, "Isn't there any one here who can give me an example of a tragedy?" Finally, a boy in the back raises his hand. In a timid voice, he speaks: "If an airplane carrying Yasser Arafat, Colonel Kaddafi, and Saddam Hussein were blown up by a bomb, that would be a tragedy." "Wonderful!" Hussein beams. "Marvelous! And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?" "Well," says the boy, "because it wouldn't be a accident, and it certainly would be no great loss!"