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What is a tragedy?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by patsparks, Jan 31, 2008.

  1. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    You have all most likely seen this already, I have but I thought it worth bringing out again.

    President George W Bush 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 President 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 Bush, 'that would be an accident.' A little girl raised her
    hand: 'If a school bus carrying 50 children drove over a cliff, killing
    everyone inside, that would be a tragedy.'

    'I'm afraid not,' explained the president. 'That's what we would call great
    loss.'

    The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Bush searched 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 raised his hand...In a quiet
    voice he said: 'If Air Force One carrying you and Mrs. Bush was struck by
    a 'friendly fire' missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.'

    'Fantastic!' exclaimed Bush. 'That's right. And can you tell me why that
    would be 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 fliping accident either'.
     
    #1 patsparks, Jan 31, 2008
  2. yunebug

    yunebug Gas Guzzler

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    lol!
     
    #2 yunebug, Jan 31, 2008
  3. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    #3 firepa63, Jan 31, 2008
  4. Proco

    Proco Senior Member

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    But funny! And it's adaptable.
     
    #4 Proco, Jan 31, 2008
  5. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    As was stated in my first line of text.
     
    #5 patsparks, Jan 31, 2008
  6. jammin012

    jammin012 The man behind The Man

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    you da man, love it.......
     
    #6 jammin012, Jan 31, 2008
  7. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Proof positive the No Child Left Behind act is making progress.
     
    #7 Godiva, Jan 31, 2008
  8. koa

    koa Active Member

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    I sure will be glad when the writer's strike is over.
     
    #8 koa, Jan 31, 2008
  9. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    It is getting tough finding new material.
     
    #9 patsparks, Feb 1, 2008
  10. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    I don't quite understand why the anti-Bush crowd keeps holding up the "No Child Left Behind Act" as a failing of or the fault of Bush. (other than their tendency to blame everything they are unhappy with on Bush).

    The No Child Left Behind Act actually got more support from Democrats in Congress than it did Republicans. Both in absolute numbers and percentage of party members.

    It passed in the House with:
    Dem: 197-10 in favor, GOP: 186-34 in favor, Ind: 1-1 split

    It passed in the Senate with:
    Dem: 47-2 in favor, GOP: 43-6 in favor, Ind: 1 in favor

    The bill may have been introduced by a Republican representative, but nearly all of the Democrats apparently thought it was a good idea.
     
    #10 Marlin, Feb 1, 2008
  11. yunebug

    yunebug Gas Guzzler

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    It looked good on paper. Communism is a great idea on paper: where everyone shares and no one goes hungry. It just isn't very practical here in the US.

    From a teacher's stand point on NCLB, it is a ridiculous solution for our education policy. Certainly there are other websites and blogs that can explain its problematic areas and flaws much better than I can on Friday morning without any coffee in my system. However, we're leaving plenty of kids behind. More and more testing, more and more pressure on schools to teach testing and administer testing because without a good test score, the schools might not receive federal funding that it so desperately needs (which is never enough anyway). As is, we all know that people learn in different ways. How can a legislature throw a same test to EVERYBODY? That's not practical: an assessment of a pupil's capabilities should also consider the socio-economic status of the family as well as the community. It should also include other subject areas as well: art, music, drama, P.E., and other electives that students excel in. I'm sure there are even more elements that needs to be considered. Currently, students are only tested on English, math, history, and science.

    In an ideal setting, all of this would be in place and administered. So what's holding us back? Oh yeah: lack of funds.

    I could say more, but I need to prepare for my next class (conference period).
     
    #11 yunebug, Feb 1, 2008
  12. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    Just because I think Bush hovers somewhere between "idiot" and "evil" doesn't mean I also can't think the Democrats are a bunch of spineless jellyfish who, for the past eight years, the only thing they ever said was "Thank you sir, may I have another?" while clutching their ankles.

    Which is why I'm registered as an Independent.
     
    #12 Stev0, Feb 1, 2008
  13. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    A sentiment I heartily agree with!
     
    #13 daniel, Feb 1, 2008
  14. Wildkow

    Wildkow New Member

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    It's called Bush Derangement Syndrome.

    Wildkow

    p.s. But the joke was still funny!
     
    #14 Wildkow, Feb 8, 2008
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