Barack Obama was visiting a primary school in North Carolina and he visited a fourth grade class.
They were in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings.
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The teacher asked the president if he would like to lead the discussion on the word - tragedy.
So our illustrious president 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 Obama, "that would be an accident."
A little girl raised her hand: "If a school bus carrying 50 children drove off a cliff, killing everyone, that would be a tragedy."
"I'm afraid not," explained Obama. "That's what we would call a great loss."
The room went silent. No other child volunteered. Obama searched the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"
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Finally at the back of the room, Little Johnny raised his hand......
The teacher held her breath.
In a quiet voice he said: "If the plane carrying you and Mrs. Obama was struck by a 'friendly fire' missile and blown to smithereens that would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic!" exclaimed Obama. "That's right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?"
"Well," says Johnny, "It has to be a tragedy, because it sure as hell wouldn't be a great loss...and you can bet your ass it wouldn't be an accident either!"
I love little Johnny....