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A ship’s captain cautiously pilots his warship through the fog-shrouded waters in the middle of the night…
He sees a bright light straight ahead.
It appears to be a vessel on a collision course with his ship.
To avert disaster, he quickly radios the oncoming vessel, “This is Captain Patrick Williams,” his voice crackles over the radio…
“Please alter your course 10 degrees south! Over!”
To the captain’s amazement, the foggy image does not move…
Instead, he hears back on the radio, “Captain Williams, this is Private Thomas Johnson. Please alter your course 10 degrees north! Over!”
Appalled at the audacity of the message, the captain shouts back over the radio…
“Private Johnson, this is Captain Williams, and I order you to immediately alter your course 10 degrees south! Over!”
A second time the oncoming light does not budge…
“With all due respect Captain Williams,” comes the private’s voice again…
“I order you to alter your course immediately 10 degrees north! Over!”
Angered and frustrated that this impudent sailor would endanger the lives of his men and crew…
The captain growls back over the radio, “Private Johnson, I can have you court-marshalled for this!”
“For the last time, I command you on the authority of the United States government to alter your course 10 degrees to the south!… “
“I am a battleship!”
The private’s voice replies over the radio…
“Captain Williams, sir, once again with all due respect, I command you to alter your course 10 degrees to the north!… “
“I am a lighthouse!”
