Kerry At School

John Kerry visited a school classroom.  The students were in the middle of a discussion related to their words and meanings.  The teacher asked Mr. Kerry if he would like to lead the discussion on the word "Tragedy." So the illustrious Senator 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 him over and kills him, that would be a tragedy."

"No," said Kerry, "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 Mr. Kerry.  "That's what we call a great loss."  The room went silent.  No other children volunteered.  Kerry searched the room. "Isn't there someone else 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 your campaign plane, carrying you, Mr. Kerry, were struck by a friendly fire missle and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."

"Fantastic!" exclaimed Kerry.  "That's right.  And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?" 

"Well," said little Johnny, "because it certainly wouldn't be a 'great loss' and it probably wouldn't be an accident either."