The teacher asked the President if he would like to lead the class in the discussion of the word "tragedy." Our illustrious leader asked the class for an example of a tragedy." One little boy stood up and said,
"If my best friend, who lives next door, was playing in the street and a car came along and ran over him, that would be a tragedy."
"No," said Clinton, "that would be an accident."
A little girl raised her hand.
"If a school bus carrying fifty children drove off a cliff, killing everyone involved, that would be a tragedy."
"I'm afraid not," explained the president. "That's what we would call a great loss."
The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Clinton searched the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"
Finally, in the back of the room, a small boy raised his hand. In a quiet voice, he said,
"If Air Force One, carrying Mr. & Mrs. Clinton, was struck by a missile and blown up to smithereens, that would be a tragedy!"
"Fantastic," exclaimed Clinton. "That's right! And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?"
"Well," said the boy, "because it wouldn't be an accident, and it certainly would be no great loss!"