Okay, I finally ran across a joke...

[cosine]

on the Internet which I haven't heard before. With apologies to 280 for needling him about that subject lately, here's the joke I found (on another forum):

The Iranian ambassador to the UN had just finished giving a speech and walked out into the lobby where he met the United States ambassador John Bolton.

They exchanged pleasantries and as they walked the Iranian said, "You know I have just one question about what I have seen in America."

Ambassador Bolton said, "Well anything I can do to help you, I will."

The Iranian whispered, "My son watches this show 'Star Trek' and in it there is Chekhov who is Russian, Scotty who is Scottish, and Sulu who is Chinese, but no Iranians. My son is very upset and doesn't understand why there aren't any Arabs or Muslims on Star Trek."

Bolton laughed, leaned toward the Iranian ambassador and whispered back,


"It's because it takes place in the future."

Now, I have no comments on the hilarity (or not) of the joke, but am wondering if you've ever heard this one before. (it's a rare day when I run across a joke on the Internet that I haven't seen before.)

[Standing Wolf]

I've encountered variations upon the theme of this joke here and there on the internet for several years.

[grampster]

That's just because you're old, Standing Wolf, very very old.  

[The Rabbi]

Yup, heard it or a variation often.
Whoever posted it isn't too bright.  Iranians aren't Arabs.

[Car Knocker]

But they are Muslims (for the most part).

[Perd Hapley]

I read somewhere on the Glorious Shining Collection of All True Knowledge (the internets) that Roddenberry himself made this observation, and in earnest.

[280plus]

Can't say as I've ever heard that one. But it does remind me of the cowboy and indian one...

[Sindawe]

Can't say as I've ever heard that one. But it does remind me of the cowboy and indian one...

Same here.  Even with its flaws though, it did make me chuckle.