I heard a new Belgian joke today, and just in time for the holiday!

[conuly]

I'm sure it exists outside of this poem, and with different nationalities slotted in where they belong, but I quote unaltered. Easier to just c+p, really.

In the Belgian Army, the feud
Between the Flemings and Walloons grew vicious,

So out of hand the army could barely function.
Finally one commander assembled his men
In one great room, to deal with things directly.

They stood before him at attention. "All Flemings,"
He ordered, "to the left wall." Half the men
Clustered to the left. "Now all Walloons," he ordered,

"Move to the right." An equal number crowded
Against the right wall. Only one man remained
At attention in the middle: "What are you, soldier?"

Saluting, the man said, "Sir, I am a Belgian."
"Why, that's astonishing, Corporal–what's your name?"
Saluting again, "Rabinowitz," he answered

Comments

[prezzey.livejournal.com]

I knew the exact same story except with Hungarian immigrants instead of Jews, how scary is that?!

[conuly]

Hungarian immigrants where?

And as I said, I suspect the joke's passed around all the time with fill-in-the-blanks. It's too good to pass up :)

But it's weird how you first read or hear about something, and then suddenly it's everywhere. Weirdest was when I first heard about whale sharks while watching Diego with Evangeline, and then twenty minutes later read about them in a Thursday Next book.

[prezzey.livejournal.com]

In Belgium, oddly enough! Everything else is identical, except at the end the guy who asked about "Belgians" is revealed to be a Hungarian.

[lizziey.livejournal.com]

This is how it was with "Seth". Well, I mean, I knew the name, obviously, but had never met someone named Seth. Within a month, I had met a dozen or so guys named Seth, and I was kinda pissed. :/

(thankfully, he is the ONLY Seth in his class!! 3 Jaydens, 2 Jaylens, 2 Brooklyns, and 2 Madisons, but only 1 Seth. :D I did well I think!)