The difference between an accident, a great loss and a tragedy.
Bill Clinton was visiting a grade school recently and he asked in one
class of students if anyone could give him an example of a "tragedy".
One little boy stands up and offers that, "If my best friend who
lives next door is playing in the street and a car comes by and kills him,
that would be a tragedy".
"NO!" Clinton says, "That would be an ACCIDENT."
A girl raises her hand. "If a school bus carrying fifty children
drove off cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy."
I'm afraid not, explains Clinton. "That is what we would call a GREAT LOSS".
The room fell silent; none of the other children would dare to
volunteer. "What?", asks Clinton, "isn't there anyone here who can give
me an example of a tragedy"?
Finally, little Johnny raises his hand. He says "If an Airplane
carrying Bill & Hillary Clinton was blown up by a terrorist, 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
wouldn't be any great loss!"