One day President Reagan, Chairman Brezhnev, 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! Brezhnev 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."
