Pre S.  To alleviate an actual political nature and, thereby, protect the guilty from the innocent -- or the innocent from the guilty -- no names of people (other than L'il Larry) or places are herein included.



L'il Larry was part of a small elementary school tour group that was to attend a government assembly, being assigned front row seating right in front of the podium. Prior to the commencement, the country suffered a national disaster. As the country's high official took his place behind the podium, aware of the young listeners before him, he was contemplating how to engage the topic of the disaster. He opened by acknowledging the school group before him and then asked if one of them could provide an example of the word 'tragedy'.

One of them raised their hand for recognintion and answered, "Our school bus is hit by a big gas truck which leaks gas all down the street. Then it explodes and the whole neighborhood goes up in flames and we are all killed in the raging fire... that would be a tragedy."
"No," the official responded, "that would be a great loss."
One of the girls raised her hand for recognition, replying, "Mommy has a pet dog she that goes with her everywhere. If Mommy is riding with Daddy and the police are chasing a speeder and he smashes into our car and kills our mom's pet dog, that would be a tragedy."
"No," the official responded, "that would be a sad accident."

Finally, Li'l Larry spoke up, "If your plane was shot down by friendly fire and all your family was killed with you, that would be a tragedy."
"That may well be a tragedy," contemplatively reponded the high official, "What would make that a real tragedy?"
"Because it woudn't be a great loss and probably wouldn't be any sad accident..." as he then looked at the girl who'd spoken, then back to the official, "and nobody would care about the loss of your wife's d*** dog, either!"