What is a Tragedy?
A teacher was trying to get his class to understand the concept of a tragedy. He asked the class "what is a tragedy?"
One student in the front said "you see 2 cars at the intersection, one runs a red light, there's a crash, and everyone dies. That's a tragedy."
The teacher says "No, that's an accident. Who can tell me what a tragedy is?"
Another student, this one on the second row, says "how about when there's a big storm out on the sea, and there are two huge ships, and they collide, and everyone on board dies?"
The teacher says "No, that would be a great loss. Doesn't anyone know what a tragedy is?"
Finally, a boy from the back row says "I know. Let's say that the President invites you to the White House but while you're meeting with him, an Al Quaeda assassin with a bomb blows you both up. That must be a tragedy."
"Very good, you're right. How did you figure out that was a tragedy?"
The boy shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it's not an accident, it's no great loss, so it must be a tragedy."
