Helena's response: Catch-22

[posted and emailed]

In article <DBDKIK.uF@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> dc7v@darwin.clas.Virginia.EDU "Damon Chetson" writes: >
> So we're screwed either way? If we see docs on here, believe them to
> be copyrighted and say they are legitimate docs of the Cult and they turn
> out to be fakes, we're in trouble because of the Lanham Act. If we see
> docs on here, believe them not to be copyrighted and post them again,
> we're screwed because we violate copyright laws. If we see docs on here,
> believe them not to be copyrighted and mail them to Kobrin, we're screwed
> if they turn out to be copyrighted because we've "made a copy" and mailed
> it to her.
>
Helena obviously took my Catch-22 advice to heart. Unfortunately, the practicalities of law are against her. She cannot stop us discussing Xenu and the Marcabs, crazy visits to the zoo (did Simon and Garfunkel read OT-VII?) and beloved/hated picture machines. She cannot stop us quoting excerpts under the law of copyright.

I like this bit, it's better than anything Hubbard could have hoped to write, and it's relevant. Here it is again. Read the whole book. It's the best. "You're wasting your time," Doc Daneeka was forced to tell him. "Can't you ground someone who's crazy?" "Oh sure, I have to. There's a rule saying I have to ground anyone who's crazy." "Then why don't you ground me? I'm crazy. Ask Clevinger." "Clevinger? Where _is_ Clevinger? You find Clevinger and I'll ask him." "Then ask any of the others. They'll tell you how crazy I am." "They're crazy." "Then why don't you ground them?" "Why don't they ask me to ground them?" "Because they're crazy, that's why." "Of course they're crazy," Doc Daneeka replied. "I just told you they're crazy, didn't I? And you can't let crazy people decide whether they're crazy or not, can you?" Yossarian looked at him soberly and tried another approach. "Is Orr crazy?" "He sure is," Doc Daneeka said. "Can you ground him?" "I sure can. But first he has to ask me to. That's part of the rule." "Then why doesn't he ask you to?" "Because he's crazy," Doc Daneeka said. "He has to be crazy to keep flying combat missions after all the close calls he's had. Sure, I can ground Orr. But first he has to ask me to." "That's all he has to do to be grounded?" "That's all. Let him ask me." "And then you can ground him?" Yossarian asked. "No. Then I can't ground him." "You mean there's a catch?" "Sure there's a catch," Doc Daneeka replied. "Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy."

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. 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. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.

"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed. "It's the best there is, " Doc Daneeka agreed.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller.

Copyright Joseph Heller, 1955, 1961.

-- Tony Sidaway SUPPORT DENNIS ERLICH, US CRITIC SUED BY $CIENTOLOGY CULT

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