GORDON BROWN was visiting a Scottish 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 Mr. Brown if he would like to lead the discussion on the word ‘tragedy’.
So our illustrious leader asked the class for an example of a ‘tragedy’.
A little boy stood up and offered: ‘If ma best freen, wha lives on a fairm, is playin’ in the field an’ a tractor rins ower him and kills him, that wid be a ‘tragedy.’ ‘
‘No’, said Gordon – ‘that would be an accident’.
A little girl raised her hand: ‘If a school bus kerryin’ fufty children drove ower a cliff, killing a’b’dy inside, that wid be a tragedy’
‘I’m afraid not’, explained Gordon – ‘that’s what we would called a “great loss” .
The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Gordon searched the room.
‘Isn’t there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?’
Finally, at the back of the room, wee Johnny raised his hand…
In a quiet voice he said:
‘If a plane kerryin’ you and Mr. Darling’ wis struck by a ‘friendly fire’ missile & blawn tae smithereens, that wid be a tragedy.’
‘Fantastic!’ exclaimed Gordon. ‘That’s right. And can you tell me and the class why that would be a tragedy?’
‘Weel,’ says wee Johnny ‘it his tae be a tragedy, because it certainly widnae be a great loss….. and it probably widnae be a f*cking accident either!