One fine day in the summer of 1980, a Polish architect gathered thousands
and thousands of Polish steelworkers, carpenters, etc. and said to them,
"We have to do something about the way the world looks at Poland! We should
build the biggest bridge in the world, bigger than any other, then they will
respect us, so go to it ... for Poland!" So the inspired laborers went off
and come back 10 years later. The foreman announced, "We have built the
biggest bridge in the world, bigger than any other!" The architect of the
idea asked, "Well where is it, across the Atlantic?"
"No, not quite that big."
"Across the Mediterranean?"
"No, not there either."
"Then where the hell is it!?"
"It is in the middle of the Sahara desert," said the foreman proudly.
"What?", said the archtitect in disbelief. "Quick, take it down before
someone sees it. Blow it up if you have to!"
So the foreman left. Soon he came back and said, "We can't."
"Why not?" is the replied the angry architect.
"Because," explained the foreman, "there are 500 Italians fishing off of
it!"