One day President Reagan, Chairman Andropov, the Pope, and a boy scout
were flying together in an airplane. Right out in the middle of
nowhere the plane developed engine trouble and started to go down.
Unfortunately, only three parachutes could be found for the four
passengers! Andropov grabbed one of the parachutes and declared
"Comrades, as leader of the socialist workers revolution, my life must
be spared," and he jumped out of the plane. Then Reagan exclaimed "As
leader of the greatest nation on earth, I must keep the world safe for
democracy," and with that he too jumped to safety. Now if you are
following all this (or counting on your fingers) you must see that
there is only one parachute left for the two remaining passengers. The
Pope looked kindly upon the boy scout and said "I have had a long and
productive life, my son. You take the parachute and leave me in God's
hands." "That's very kind of you," the observant scout replied, "but
there is no need. Reagan just jumped out with my knapsack."
