March 14, 2007 · Posted in: 2007 Elections, Political Humor

Vote wisely

WE picked up this joke from a local mailing list and figured it would be worth sharing with everyone in this election campaign season. After all, jokes, more than being a form of political and social commentary, are also a way of showing participation in the nation’s political life. Filipinos dish out jokes — even rehashing old ones to suit present-day realities — to show that they are watching, commenting, and taking part in what is going on.

Often, too, jokes, we’d like to think, have a way of delivering the message in the most poignant and convincing manner.

While walking down the street one day a Philippine senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the senator.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the senator.

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the senator realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, “Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil smiles at him and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning…Today, you voted.”

3 Responses to Vote wisely

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Make A Wise Choice at Prudence and Madness

March 16th, 2007 at 10:12 am

[…] Here’s a little joke I found at Inside PCIJ site: While walking down the street one day a Philippine senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. […]

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Prudence

March 16th, 2007 at 10:13 am

Then, I guess, we’re all in hell right now :-) I wish this would be over soon.

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fjordz

March 23rd, 2007 at 3:44 pm

yeah i agree with prudence hehehe.

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