The Story is told of Erich Honecker, the leader of Socialist East Germany getting up in the morning in Berlin, and seeing the sun shining through the windows.
Now Erich was a ruthless dictator but he did have some finer feelings. He went out onto the balcony of his apartment and called "Good morning sun. Is is not a beautiful day?"
"Good morning Erich" called the sun. "You are quite right, it is a beautiful day"
Erich was delighted at this and went inside to get ready for work.
At midday, Erich was in his office in the middle of Berlin and he saw the sun was high in the sky. He went out onto the office balcony and called "Hello sun. Doesn't the rebuilt Berlin look lovely?"
And the sun replied
"Hello again Erich, yes, your city looks particularly lovely and progressive."
Erich was delighted and went back to plotting the deaths of anyone opposed to his regime.
In the evening Erich had been chauffeured back to his apartment, and he saw the sun setting over the Brandenburg Gate. He went out to the balcony again and called:
"Good evening sun, doesn't the sunset show the beauty of the Democratic Republic?"
The sun said nothing.
Erich celled louder: "I said; doesn't the sunset show the beauty of the Democratic Republic?"
The sun still said nothing.
Erich became angry and called "Why don't you answer me any more?"
And the sun said "Stuff you Erich, I'm in The West now; I can do what I like."