What is a Tragedy??

President Clinton 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 "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," Clinton says, "That would be an ACCIDENT."

A girl raises her hand. "If our school bus, full of kids, 
drove off a cliff, and killed everyone  - that would be a
tragedy."

"I'm afraid not," explains Clinton. "That is what we would call a
GREAT LOSS."

The room is silent; none of the other children volunteer.

"What?" asks Clinton, "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
says: "If the President and Vice President were meeting with all
of the Senate and Congress and then a bomb blew them all up, 
now THAT would be a tragedy."

"Wonderful!" Clinton beams. "Marvelous! And can you tell me WHY
that would be a tragedy?"

"Well," says the boy, "because it wouldn't be an accident, and it
certainly would be no great loss!"