Three men who died recently are brought before the throne of God and told that they may each have one wish.
The Briton asks for an end to war.
The American asks for an end to hunger. 
The Russian smiles slyly and says, “In my village, I have a neighbor who has a cow. I do not have a cow. I wish that my neighbor’s cow shall sicken and die.”
[Source: William A. Henry, III, In Defense of Elitism, Doubleday, 1994, p. 26.]
Here is another one from Russia: A magical fish offers to grant one wish to a Russian peasant. He is wondering which treasures he should request from the fish. Then, the fish explains that whatever the peasant wishes for and receives himself, his neighbor will receive double. The peasant says, “Ok, then I want you to poke out one of my eyes.”
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