Why learn English

The retired folks in my life continue to send me good, bad, and political jokes. Here's another:

A United States Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that

included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and

French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a

large group of officers that included personnel from most of the

countries.

Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a

French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many

languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked "Why is it that

we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than

speaking French?"

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied "Maybe it's because the

Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have

to speak German."

You could have heard a pin drop......