One night, a commuter plane was flying somewhere over the Pacific Northwest.  There were five people on board: the pilot, Michael Jordan, George Bush Jr., the Dalai Lama,  and a hippie. Suddenly, an illegal oxygen generator exploded loudly in the luggage  compartment, and the passenger cabin began to fill with smoke.

 

The cockpit door opened, and the pilot burst into the compartment. "Gentlemen," he began, "I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that we're  about to crash somewhere near Seattle. The good news is that there are four parachutes, and  I have one of them!" With that, the pilot threw open the door and jumped from the plane.

 

Michael Jordan was on his feet in a flash. "Gentlemen," he said, "I am the world's  greatest athlete. The world needs great athletes. I think the world's greatest athlete  should have a parachute!" With these words, he grabbed one of the remaining parachutes,  and hurtled through the door and into the night.

 

George Bush rose and said, "Gentlemen, I am the leader of the greatest country in the world and the world needs me to lead it.  Beside that, I'm the world's smartest man. The world needs  smart men. I think the world's smartest man should have a parachute, too."  He grabbed a pack, and out he jumped.

 

The Dalai Lama and the hippie looked at one another. Finally, the Dalai Lama spoke.  "My son," he said, "I have lived a satisfying life and have known the bliss of True  Enlightenment. You have your life ahead of you; you take a parachute, and I will  go down with the plane."

 

The hippie smiled slowly and said, "Hey, don't worry, pop. The world's smartest man  just jumped out wearing my backpack."