Definition of Tragedy
The President was visiting a grade school the other day and sat in on an English class. To participate in the class, he asked for someone to give him an example of a tragedy.
A little girl named Peggy held up her hand timidly and said, "If my friend was walking across the street and a car ran over her... well, that would be a tragedy!" "Well, thank you for trying," the President said. "That would be what we would call an accident, but not a tragedy. Can anybody else give me an example?"
A little boy named Timmy said, "If the school bus was full of kids and a truck hit it and killed all the kids that would be a tragedy." "Well, that would be what we call a great loss, but it doesn't quite make the tragic category," the President replied.
About his time little Johnny held up his hand. "Oh. Oh. I know, I know..." Johnny started. "If you and the Vice President and all the senators and all the congressmen were having a meeting, and a bomb blew everybody up that would be a tragedy." "That's right!" the President exclaimed. "How did you figure that out?" "Well," said Johnny, "it wouldn't be an accident and it darn sure wouldn't be a great loss!"
The President was visiting a grade school the other day and sat in on an English class. To participate in the class, he asked for someone to give him an example of a tragedy.
A little girl named Peggy held up her hand timidly and said, "If my friend was walking across the street and a car ran over her... well, that would be a tragedy!" "Well, thank you for trying," the President said. "That would be what we would call an accident, but not a tragedy. Can anybody else give me an example?"
A little boy named Timmy said, "If the school bus was full of kids and a truck hit it and killed all the kids that would be a tragedy." "Well, that would be what we call a great loss, but it doesn't quite make the tragic category," the President replied.
About his time little Johnny held up his hand. "Oh. Oh. I know, I know..." Johnny started. "If you and the Vice President and all the senators and all the congressmen were having a meeting, and a bomb blew everybody up that would be a tragedy." "That's right!" the President exclaimed. "How did you figure that out?" "Well," said Johnny, "it wouldn't be an accident and it darn sure wouldn't be a great loss!"
