Prime Minister John Howard was visiting a primary school and he visited one of the classes. They were in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings.
The teacher asked the Prime Minister 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".
One 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 Howard, "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 the Prime Minister "That's what we would call a great loss."
The room went silent. No other children volunteered.
John searched the room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of tragedy?"
Finally, at the back of the room, a small boy raised his hand...In a quiet voice he said: "If the aeroplane carrying you and Mrs Howard was struck by a "friendly fire" missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.
Fantastic!" exclaimed John Howard. "That's right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?"
Well," says the boy "It has to be a tragedy, because it certainly wouldn't be a great loss and it probably wouldn't be a bloody accident either.
Graphic by Guy Pearce
7 comments:
This had me spurting my coffee across the table. I've copied and sent it to everyone I know.
Poor John H - everyone down on him at a difficult time. What a tragedy after all he's done for the country. :) See what that does to your coffee.
Great!
Lmao. I don't know John, I guess his popularity doesn't reach to Belgium,... but it's certainly funny.
nice one, Colin. though i still dont really know why Jonnie H is so unpopular around these parts.
btw - why don't you give someone else the benefit of your stats now. im feeling guilty!
Pommygranate
It is interesting on its merits why John Howard would be so unpopular. I think that it has a lot to do with why other politicians like Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher wear out their welcome.
People compare this to Paul Keating, when he wore out his welcome. I am not at all familiar with that, but I do think that there is a time when politicians should sail of into the sunset.
Thanks. I had forgotten that you are on the bottom. I will swap that around.
:-))))
No. I'd not tell the joke which I was immediately reminded of when reading this one.
Thanks for giving me a homeric laughter, Colin.
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