we disengage, we turn the page

"What sort of relationsip can there be between two countries?"

"Anything they want, I guess. As long as they put it in a contract and give it a name..."

"Ok, so say there's such a thing as Friend Countries."

"Ok, but they need to be bound by commercial or political rules."

"Free exchange of goods and money, but not people."

"Alright... I think that's common."

"Free exchange of people, then, just people."

"Ok"

"And pens."

"People and pens?"

"Anything they can carry on them."

"People can carry plasma TVs."

"Yes!"

"Um... ok. What if they pull a cart?"

"Then they can only bring the cart."

"Good one."

"They have to be able to lift it, though."

"So, friend countries are countries whose inhabitants are free to enter carrying whatever they can lift."

"Yes."

"Doesn't that favor really strong people?"

"Such is life."

"Sounds good to me."