[George Walker Bush or John Kerry] visits a primary school and sits in on one of the classes, which is in the middle of a discussion on words and their meaning.
The teacher asks [President Bush or Senator Kerry] if he would like to lead the discussion of the word "tragedy."
So, the illustrious leader asks the class for an example of a "tragedy."
One little boy stands up and offers: "If my best friend, who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a runaway tractor comes along and knocks him dead, that would be a tragedy.
"That's wrong," [President Bush or Senator Kerry] shouts. "That would be considered an accident."
A little girl raises her hand: "If a school bus carrying 50 children drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy."
"You are completely incorrect" shouts [President Bush or Senator Kerry]. "That would be what we would consider a great loss."
The room goes silent. No other children volunteer. [President Bush or Senator Kerry] searches the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"
Finally at the back of the room a small boy raises his hand. In a quiet voice he says: "If a plane carrying [President Bush or Senator Kerry] were struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."
"Fantastic!" exclaims [President Bush or Senator Kerry]. "You are absolutely right. "Can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?"
"Well", says the boy, "because it sure as hell wouldn't be a great loss, and it probably wouldn't be an accident!"