A military aeroplane is crossing the Atlantic carrying an international delegation of 5 diplomats from the UN. Half way across it starts to develop fuel flow problems. Shortly thereafter engine #4 cuts out. The pilot comes on the intercom, explains the issue but assures everybody that there are no grounds for concern,
the plane can very safely fly on three engines.Ten minutes later however, #3 engine splutters to a halt. The pilot comes on the intercom to explain that the situation has worsened slightly, but nobody need to be concerned, there are still two healthy engines remaining. As a precaution however the pilot requests that they throw out of the plane any unecessary equipment and baggage. So the delegates all commence to throw out baggage, loose equipment etc so as to lighten the plane. All is fine, a lighter payload and two engines, for a while. Untill motor #2 calls it a day. At this point, the pilot comes over the intercom, clearly anxious, to explain that he cannot keep the plane aloft indefinitely on one engine.
He advises the passengers to take a parachute and jump, it being the better alternative to a ditching in the sea. The delegates look around, and see to their dismay that in their haste to jettison weight they threw out all the parachutes,
except for one. In true international style, they all start quibling over who should have the right to the parachute, who has done the most selfless work for humanity etc etc
The arguments are getting them nowhere, so in a dignified manner, the British delegate walks to the hatch, says quietly "God save the Queen" and jumps out without a parachute, to certain death. The group are astonished by this selfless act, but there is still only one parachute. So the French delegates decides whatever the Britsh can do, surely a Frenchman can also. He walks to the hatch and in a strident emotional voice exclaims "Vive La France" and steps out into the void. The Irish delegate gets up, looks out of the hatch and his two comrades falling to the ocean below, and says "Ahh Feck it, we'll be all dead some day" and jumps after them.
This leaves only two left. Deeply moved, the US delegate, from Texas, all 6' 6" of him stands up, straightens his tunic, and looks back at the Mexican delegate and says :
"Remember the Alamo"
and throws the Mexican out of the plane.
