president bush while visiting a school in his home town was asked by a teacher if he would lead a class in he discussion of the meaning of tragedy. Agreeing, he sat in front of the class and asked if anyone could give an example of a tragedy. A little girl put her hand up. The President asked her to tell him.
"Sir, if a child was crossing the road and a car knocked down and killed them, that would be a tragedy".
"I don't think so" said the President "we would call that an accident". "Is there someone else with an example?"
A boy put his hand up. "Sir I have one".
"If the school bus full of childred ran of the road over a cliff and they were all killed. That would be a tragedy".
The President said "We would call that a great loss".
There was silence in the classroom for a few minutes, the from the back of the room a small voice broke the silence. "Sir if you were flying in Airforce one and a terrorist shot it down with an anti aircraft missile and you were killed. That would be a tragedy.
"Oh yes said the president and can you tell me why we would call that a that a tragedy."
The voice replied, "well Sir, it certainly would not be an accident and it would not be a great loss."