  Tragedy 灾难

  George W. Bush visits an elementary school and the 4th grade class is in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. The teacher asks the President if he would like to lead the class in a discussion of the word "tragedy." So George W. asks the class for an example of a tragedy. 
  乔治布什到一所小学参观,四年级的孩子们正在讨论一些单词及其含义.老师问总统是否愿意副食孩子们一起讨论"灾难"的含义时,乔治布什要求学生们给出灾难的具体例子.

  One boy stands up and says, "If my best friend who lives next door is playing in the street and a car comes along and runs him over; that would be a tragedy."
  一个男孩站起来说,"如果住在我隔壁的最好的朋友在街上玩,一辆轿车开过来并从他身上辗过去,那 将是一场灾难."

  "No," says Bush, "that would be an accident."
  "不,"布什说,"那只是一场意外."
  
  A girl raises her hand: "If a school bus carrying 50 children drove off a cliff, killing everyone involved; that would be a tragedy."
  一个女孩举起她的手说,"如果一辆载着50个学生的校车翻下悬崖,车上所有的同学都丧命,那将是一场灾难."

  "I'm afraid not," explains the President. "That's what we would call a Great Loss." 
  "恐怕不是,"总统解释说,"那是我们所说的重大损失."

  The room goes silent. No other children volunteer. President Bush searches the room and asks, "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?"
  教室里一片安静,没有一个孩子再发言.布什总统扫视了一遍教室,然后说,"这里没有人能再给我一个例子,说明什么是灾难吗?"

  Finally, way in the back of the room, Johnny raises his hand and in a quiet voice he says, "If Air Force One, carrying Mr. and Mrs. Bush, was struck by a missile and blown up to smithereens, that would be a tragedy."
  最后,在教室的后面,约翰尼举起了他的手,用平静的口气说,"如果载着布什先生和布什太太的空军一号被导弹击落并炸成碎片,那将是一场灾难." 

  "That's right! And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy?" asks the President.
  "对了!你能告诉我为什么那是灾难吗?"总统问.

  "Well," Johnny says, "because it wouldn't be an accident and it sure as hell wouldn't be a Great Loss."
   "哦,"约翰尼说,"因为那将不是意外,也绝对不是重大损失." 