Lost in translation

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 airplane carrying you was struck by "friendly fire" 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 an accident either."

You should've thought about that, Mr. Howard, before you refused to sign the Kyoto protocol! I could have replaced Bush' name instead of the jolly good Australian PM , but would probably have been arrested by the FBI, SAS, CSI, various anti-terror units, Hamas or you name it who they've managed to get on their side.

So, some things are pretty self explanatory and there's no need for further explanation. Some things however needs more explanation than you would think. I spent last weekend in Stockholm (which is in another country for those Aussies thinking it was the capital of Norway), yet didn't think twice about actually bringing a passport before I was standing rather nervous at the airport thinking "Shit, do you need a passport, or is it in Schengen, or EEC or something," and luckily I made it to Sweden. Stockholm was a great city, but it is funny how culture shock can hit you, despite being so damn close to home. We were heading from one part of the town to another, and at the train station, trying to focus on what the cute Swede was saying I felt more lost than what I've done in Esquintla, San Cristobal or Huehue.

Great to know I'm heading back there soon.