Bill Clinton, Al Gore and George W. Bush were set to face a firing squad in a small Central American country. Bill Clinton was the first one placed against the wall and just before the order was given he yelled out, “Earthquake!” The firing squad fell into a panic and Bill jumped over the wall and escaped in the confusion.

  Al Gore was the second one placed against the wall. The squad was reassembled and Al pondered what he had just witnessed. Again, before the order was given Al yelled out, “Tornado!” Again, the squad fell apart and Al slipped over the wall.

  The last person, George W. Bush, was placed against the wall. He was thinking, “I see the pattern here, just scream out something about a disaster and hop over the wall.” He confidently refused the blindfold as the firing squad was reassembled. As the rifles were raised in his direction he grinned from ear to ear and yelled, “Fire!”



*a firing squad, 군법회의에서 사형을 선고 받은 자를 일제 사격하는 분대 (총살대); fall into a panic, 공포에 휩싸여; in the confusion, 북새통에; reassemble, 다시 대형을 갖추다; fall apart, 산산이 흩어지다; slip over, 도망치다; pattern, (명확한 특색을 지닌) 경향; blindfold, 눈 가리개; fire, 불, 총을 쏘다; jump (hop) over, 껑충 뛰어넘다; grin from ear to ear, 이를 드러내고 온 얼굴로 웃다.



*유명인사를 소재로 한 흔한 농담 중의 하나입니다. 단어 하나가 몇 가지 뜻을 가지고 있는 점을 이용한 것인데, 대통령이라는 사람이 총살대를 마주하고 서서 뜻하지 않은 재앙을 말한다고 “불이야!’ 라고 했지만 그 단어는 “발사!” 라는 뜻도 가지고 있으니.