Three men went to Mexico together on a vacation. They had known each other in high school, and they were eager to get to know each other again.
One night, they went out on the town and got completely drunk. When they woke up the next morning, they were in a jail cell. They asked the guard why they were there. He replied, “Last night the three of you killed an old man. You will be executed at noon.”
Of course, none of them believed this. They begged and pleaded with their jailer, and even offered him substantial bribes if he would just let them go. But, he stood firm, and the jail door stayed shut.
The hour came. They all ate their last meal and were herded into the room where the electric chair sat. The first man was strapped into the chair and was asked for his last words.
He said, “Well, I’m a theologian from Harvard Divinity School, and I believe in the power of God to intervene on behalf of the innocent.”
The executioner threw the switch, but nothing happened. He immediately thought, “God must be on this man’s side.” So he let him go.
The second man was strapped in, and he was asked for his last words. He responded, “I’m a lawyer from Yale Law School, and I believe in the power of justice to intervene on behalf of the innocent.”
The switch was thrown, but again, nothing happened. The executioner figured that justice must be on this man’s side, and he let him go.
Finally, the third man was strapped into the chair and was asked for his last words.
“Well, I’m an electrical engineer from MIT, and nothing’s going to happen if you don’t connect those two wires right there…”
