Kevin Rudd was visiting a primary school in Tasmania.
One class was in the middle of a discussion related to words and their
meanings.
The teacher asked Mr. Rudd if he would like to lead the discussion on the
word 'tragedy'.
So the illustrious leader asked the class for an example of a 'tragedy'.
A little boy stood up and offered: 'If my best friend, who lives on a farm,
is playing in the field and a tractor runs over him and kills him, that
would be a 'tragedy'.
'No,' said Rudd 'that would be an accident.'
A little girl raised her hand: 'If a school bus carrying fifty children
drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy.
'I'm afraid not,' explained Mr. Rudd 'that's what we would call a great loss.
The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Rudd searched the room.
'Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?'
Finally, at the back of the room, little Johnny raised his hand.
In a quiet voice he said: 'If a plane carrying you and Mrs. Rudd was struck
by a 'friendly fire'
missile & blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.'
'Fantastic!' exclaimed Rudd . 'That's right. And can you tell me why that
would be tragedy?'
'Well,' says little Johnny 'it has to be a tragedy, because it certainly
wouldn't be a great loss and it probably wouldn't be a f*cking accident
either!'
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Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:38 pm
