Two Arabs boarded a flight out of London. One took a window seat and the other sat next to him in the middle seat. Just before takeoff, an Army helicopter crew chief sat down in the aisle seat.

After takeoff, the crew chief kicked his shoes off, wiggled his toes and was settling in when the Arab in the window seat said, "I need to get up and get a coke." "Don't get up," said the CE, "I'm in the aisle seat, I'll get it for you."

As soon as he left, one of the Arabs picked up the soldier's shoe and spat in it. When the crew chief returned with the coke, the other Arab said, "That looks good, I'd really like one, too." Again, the soldier obligingly went to fetch it.

While he was gone the other Arab picked up the CE's other shoe and spat in it. When the crew chief returned, they all sat back and enjoyed the flight.

As the plane was landing, the soldier slipped his feet into his shoes and knew immediately what had happened. "Why does it have to be this way?" he asked. "How long must this go on? This fighting between our nations? This hatred? This animosity? This spitting in shoes and peeing in cokes?"