I modified it a little and sent it to a couple Marine buddies of mine.... They're still trying to figure out how to retaliate...
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THE POPE AND THE SHARK
On a recent tour of the state of New York, the Pope took a couple of days from
his itinerary to visit the Empire State's Eastern Shore for an impromptu
sightseeing trip. His 4x4 "PopeMobile" was cruising along the beautiful
shoreline when his entourage heard an enormous commotion just off one of the
points in the bay. They rushed to see what it was.
Upon approaching the scene, the Pope saw in the water a hapless man wearing a
sharp blue uniform and a white cap emblazoned with the Marine Corp emblem,
struggling frantically to free himself from the jaws of a 20-foot shark.
At that moment a speedboat containing three men wearing desert camo, Army
Sergeant rank and holding beer cans, roared into view from around the point.
Immediately, one of the Sergeants took aim and fired a harpoon into the shark's
ribs, instantly immobilizing it. The other two set down their beer cans,
reached out and pulled the exhausted Marine from the water. Then, using long
clubs, they killed the shark. They bundled the bleeding, semiconscious Marine
into the boat along with the dead shark and prepared to motor off when they
heard frantic shouting from the shore. It was the Pope summoning them to the beach.
When they reached shore, the Pope praised them for the rescue and said, "I
give you my blessing for your brave actions. I had heard that there is a
bitter rivalry between the soldiers in the Army and the Navy's Marine Corp., (chuckle)
but now I can see with my own eyes that this is not true. I can see
that you are an enlightened example of true harmony and could serve as a model
for other Militaries to follow." He gave them his Papal blessing and drove off in
a cloud of dust.
As he departed, the Sergeant with the harpoon asked the others, "Who was that?"
"That," one answered, "was THE Pope."
"Well," the one Sergeant replied, "He sure doesn't know anything
about shark fishing. Is the bait holding up OK or do we need to
get another one?