The Tory leader, William Hague, was visiting an elementary school today. When he visited a class in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings, the teacher asked Mr. Hague if he would like to lead the class in the discussion of the word “tragedy.” So, our illustrious leader asks the class for 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 and a car came along and ran over him, that would be a tragedy.”
“No,” says William Hague, “that would be an accident.” A little girl raises her hand. “If a school bus carrying 50 children drove off a cliff, killing everyone involved, that would be a tragedy.”
“I’m afraid not,” explains Mr. Hague. “That’s what we would call a GREAT LOSS.” The room goes silent. No other children volunteer.
The Tory leader searches the room. “Isn’t there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?” Finally, way in the back of the room, a small boy raises his hand.
In a quiet voice, he says, “If Air Force One, carrying Mr. & Mrs. Hague, was struck by a missile and blown up to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.”
“Fantastic,” exclaims Mr. Hague, “that’s right. 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.”
