‘Catch-22’: A Paradox Turns 50 And Still Rings True
There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. [Bomber pilot] Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. … Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.
One of my favorites, even if I didn’t “get” some of it the first time I read it back when I was a teenager.
War:
“Find out who they are.
Kill them all.
Kill their wives.
Kill their children.
Kill their parents.
Kill their friends.
Kill their neighbors.
Kill their animals.
Salt the earth where they lived.
Mount their heads on pikes on the steps of the Capitol.”
– Ted Morris, 12 September 2001
If those are not the issued orders, start killing lieutenants to get the donkey’s attention. (Army management is miffed if you kill REMFs.)