Oogla boogla!

The political campaigning under way in the US, with promises galore (something known to happen here in Israel, too), reminds me of a story of the candidate who went to speak to native Americans on their reservation.

The meeting hall was full. The candidate began speaking and, at the first promise he made, all of those present clapped their hands and screamed “Oogla boogla!” The candidate wasn’t expecting such enthusiasm, so he began adding promises going way beyond those he had been prepared to give, and at each promise, the native Americans clapped their hands and screamed “Oogla Boogla!”

When he ended his speech, he said to the tribal chief that it would be good publicity for the candidate to be photographed astride the chief’s horse, wearing his feather headdress. The chief agreed and said: “Come to the corral, where my horse is.”

At the corral, the chief said to the candidate: “Go into the corral, walk to the far side where my white horse is, and bring him here. After we help you sit on the horse, I’ll give you my headdress and you can be photographed.”

The happy candidate opened the gate and began heading for the far side when the chief called out: “Be careful! Don’t step into all of the oogla boogla! You’ll never get the smell off!”

Whenever I read of a politician promising something, I say to myself: Oogla boogla! YOSEF TUCKER

Jerusalem