I'd be the last colonel in the world to order you to go to that U.S.O. show and have a good time, but I want every one of you who isn't sick enough to be in a hospital to go to that U.S.O. show right now and have a good time, and that's an order!
In Joseph Heller's Catch-22, a colonel addresses his troops with a blend of irony and authority. He emphasizes that he is not mandating them to attend the U.S.O. show for their enjoyment, yet he insists that everyone who is not hospitalized should go and have a good time. This statement reflects the absurdity of military orders, highlighting the contradictions that define the soldiers' experiences during wartime.
The colonel's conflicting message illustrates...
