The Polish-Amish hybrid joke
If you are of Polish descent, like I am, or easily offended, you might skip today’s non-PC post.
Abe, Sarah and I were yukking it up at breakfast today, sharing some intercultural comedy.
I had heard Polish jokes in my time (as a card-carrying, passport-holding dual Polish/American citizen, I’ve gotten an earful, and told a few as well), had heard Amish jokes (they make the rounds, often passed on by Amish themselves) but had never heard of the hybrid–the Polish-Amish joke.
Abe shared a couple of these this morning with me. So, I don’t know how funny it will come off, but at the risk of losing a few dozen subscribers, here is my written rendition:
Some Poles, for whatever unknown reason, decide to construct a bridge in the middle of a dry, dusty desert. The next day they realize the folly of their endeavor and decide to tear it down. Returning to the bridge, they find that it won’t be so simple, as here were three Amishmen, sitting atop the bridge–fishing.
Yuk-yuk. Okay, I promise that will be the last of those. Something about Abe’s big grin makes that one work better. Or maybe it’s in the telling. Or maybe not. Anyway, I guess the point is, Amish people have a sense of humor too (though some of their jokes work better than others).
Google “Hybrid Polish Amish Joke” and you are directed back to this page. Guess nobody else heard the joke either. 🙂
Amish telling Polish jokes
Guess not Marcia–heard some more Polish jokes over the weekend, this time from the kiddos! They wanted to know what kind of jokes Polish people make. I told them ones about Russians and Germans. You tend to pick on your neighbors. Better than fighting with them!
I actually read an article in a Polish magazine recently about stereotypes and jokes among the nations of Europe. It was interesting to read about who digs on who. National stereotypes/jokes seem to be a worldwide phenomenon. I always wondered why Poles got stuck with the rap of being not so bright, though. Especially when looking at the scientific heritage (Copernicus, Marie Curie-Skladowska, etc). oh well!
Um… In case my name doesn’t make it obvious, I’m part Norwegian. So…
Sven and Ole leave home for a vacation out of town. Walking down a city street, they see a shop window with a sign reading, “Dress Shirts — $3.00 Men’s Suits — $5.00.” Sven gets excited and turns to Ole, “Ole! Dis is our lucky day! Vee can buy all de clothes here vee can afford, go back home, sell dem for normal prices dere! Vee can buy tickets to come back here and do it again and again! Vee’ll get rich!” Ole thinks about it and agrees, so they enter the shop. Sven offers to buy a good number of shirts and suits, but the clerk refuses to sell them. Sven gets incensed. “You can tell vee’re Norveegian, can’t you! You look at us and say, ‘Ja, it’s more dumb Norveegians. I don’t sell to no dumb Norveegians.’ Vell, let me tell you! Vee got cash! Vee got civil rights and dis is descrimination!”
The clerk looks at him very calmly and says, “No, this isn’t descrimination. This is a dry cleaner’s.”