Hellers Paradox

"The chaplain had sinned, and it was good...The chaplain had mastered, in a moment of divine intuition, the handy technique of protective rationalization, and he was exhilarated by his discovery. It was miraculous. It was almost no trick at all, he saw, to turn vice into virtue and slander into truth, impotence into abstinence, arrogance into humility, plunder into philanthropy, thievery into honor, blasphemy into wisdom, brutality into patriotism, and sadism into justice. Anybody could do it; it required no brains at all. It merely required no character."

Is this what we are reduced to then? Our government, our generation, our world? Me, me me?

Why have character? Heller, makes the point, why? Who benefits, why we do, if we have a soul!

Dead Man

James! What dead man is in Yossarians tent? When he complains to superiors he is ignored? Is there really a dead man? Is is a delusion? Is he crazy? Do you know what I mean?

Has War Driven Them Sane?

In Catch-22 by Joseph Heller I am often left dumbfounded by his language. Some of my favorite quotes.
"There's no patriotism, that's what it is. And no matriotism, either."

"THe Texan turned out to be good-natured, generous and likable. In three days no one could stand him."

"I am Captain Yossarian....of the fighting 256th Squadron...that's two to the fighting eighths power....if you're thinking of writing a symbolic poem about our squadron."

LOL

I believe the remark about being in love with the chaplain simply must be a foreshadowing of Yossarians death. what do you think James? On to chapter two?