Cosmic’s Comments (group member since Jan 17, 2014)

Cosmic’s comments from the Breaking The Code To The Catcher In The Rye group.

Laura wrote:" Re US President's all being related. Maybe something there, but the study deals with eighth cousins. "

I am pretty sure I am not related to the blue bloods. I don't think most people in America are. So i think that statistic is really improbable, unless by design.

Here is another good one on Hitler:
https://vault.fbi.gov/adolf-hitler

Well he escaped going to prison or being executed. I think that's a pretty big deal? How did he get there?

You asked, "In that last quote from The Catcher , who is Holden talking about?"
Stradlater

I think the point from Salinger is that Wall Street makes a lot of money having wars. And so wars are about profits.

You have probably heard "if they didn't have (fill in any evil dictator) they would have to invent them." I think the Catcher speaks to how they invent the theater of war.

Laura wrote: "Cosmic;
You have my head swimming. I'm losing track of where you're going with this as it relates to The Catcher. If you want to make the conversation broader, fine with me. Please just indicate wh..."

Ok you have read the premise of how I am reading the Catcher In The Rye here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Do tonight I added this topic:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

First sentence:

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born,..."

Holden was born here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden

"The Great Depression led to a substantial downturn in production by Holden, from 34,000 units annually in 1930 to just 1,651 units one year later.[11] In 1931 General Motors purchased Holden Motor Body Builders and merged it with General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd to form General Motors-Holden's Ltd (GM-H)."

Old Ackley parked himself in my room, just for a change...he was supposed to have had sexual intercourse with the summer before. He'd already told me about it about a hundred times. Every time he told it, it was different. One minute he'd be giving it to her in his cousin's Buick, the next minute he'd be giving it to her under some boardwalk. It was all a lot of crap,

Buick, formally the Buick Motor Division, is an American automobile division of the American manufacturer General Motors (GM).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick

Ed Banky car

You should see old Ossenburger. He probably just shoves them in a sack and dumps them in the river. Anyway, he gave Pencey a pile of dough, and they named our wing alter him. The first football game of the year, he came up to school in this big goddam Cadillac, and we all had to stand up in the grandstand and give him a locomotive--that's a cheer.

Cadillac formally the Cadillac Motor Car Division, is a division of U.S.-based General Motors (GM) that markets luxury vehicles worldwide.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac

My mother didn't like her too much. I mean my mother always thought Jane and her mother were sort of snubbing her or something when they didn't say hello. My mother saw them in the village a lot, because Jane used to drive to market with her mother in this LaSalle convertible they had. My mother didn't think Jane was pretty, even. I did, though. I just liked the way she looked, that's all.

LaSalle was a brand of automobiles manufactured and marketed by General Motors' Cadillac division from 1927 through 1940. [Probably started producing something else instead]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaSal...

The DUKW (colloquially known as Duck) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2-ton capacity CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military in World War II. Designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation (GMC), the DUKW was used for the transportation of goods and troops over land and water.
The DUKW prototype was built around the GMC AFKWX, a cab-over-engine (COE) version of the GMC CCKW six-wheel-drive military truck, with the addition of a watertight hull and a propeller. The final production design was perfected by a few engineers at Yellow Truck & Coach in Pontiac, Michigan.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DUKW
Within a decade several more companies opened business and taxicabs began to proliferate. The fare was 50 cents a mile, a rate only affordable to the relatively wealthy.[17]

The cab I had was a real old one that smelled like someone'd just tossed his cookies in it. I always get those vomity kind of cabs if I go anywhere late at night. What made it worse, it was so quiet and lonesome out, even though it was Saturday night. ...His name was Horwitz. He was a much better guy than the other driver I'd had. Anyway, I thought maybe he might know about the ducks. "Hey, Horwitz," I said. "You ever pass by the lagoon in Central Park? Down by Central Park South?" "The what?" "The lagoon. That little lake, like, there. Where the ducks are. You know." "Yeah, what about it?" "Well, you know the ducks that swim around in it? In the springtime and all? Do you happen to know where they go in the wintertime, by any chance?"

By the 1920s, automobile manufacturers like General Motors and the Ford Motor Company began operating fleets. The most successful manufacturer, however, was the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company. Founded by Morris Markin, Checker Cabs produced large yellow and black taxis that became the most common taxis in New York City.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxic...

Maybe there are more. I couldn't find the name of the car Ed Banky drives. There is one car that is not a GM car that is named. What is the name and maker of that car?

Laura wrote: " If I combine that with the accepted interpretation of that 1939 Renoir movie and some personal experience I get this. Hitler was supported by other non-German interests in Europe, especially the UK. Those interests thought he was fairly stupid and manageable, and would get rid of the Jews for them. The problem arose when he showed a larger ambition.
..."

If be wasn't acting as plan they could have assassinated him (Hitler). Not that difficult.

No according to what i found out through studying the Catcher this was part of the plan. They were tooling up way before Hitler came to power. See:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


I think they always want you to think these leaders are stupid that they put in power. We put Saddam Hussein in power. Our president was friends with Osama bin Laden. And Hitler was supported by one of our president's grandfather.

And every president except one are all related to the British crown.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...


I don't believe anyone can get into power without money interest. Also take a look at this.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/4...

Better read War is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated Soldier

They (US investors) built up the infrastructure in Germany, after WW1, how else could you have a war if you can't have an enemy that poses a threat. But they also made a treaty at the end of WW1 that would ensure that there would be another war.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treat...

When I read this:

"Fascists saw World War I as a revolution that brought massive changes in the nature of war, society, the state, and technology. The advent of total war and total mass mobilization of society had broken down the distinction between civilian and combatant. A "military citizenship" arose in which all citizens were involved with the military in some manner during the war.[5][6"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism

You said: "Regarding the cannon, I can only think of one of the more radical conspiracy theories, to which I don't subscribe, which says that the UK Royal family still owns the US."

Given the flags and the https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First...

And "he who owns the gold makes the rules."

Maybe this is a case where WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

But we dont write the history books someone else does. And we are supposed to memorize the 'facts" not question them.

From the Catcher

Stradlater says "That got him really mad. He shook his big stupid finger in my face. "Holden, God damn it, I'm warning you, now. For the last time. If you don't keep your yap shut, I'm gonna--"
"Why should I?" I (Holden) said--I was practically yelling. "That's just the trouble with all you morons. You never want to discuss anything. That's the way you can always tell a moron. They never want to discuss anything intellig--"

Anyway, it was the Saturday of the football game with Saxon Hall. The game with Saxon Hall was supposed to be a very big deal around Pencey. It was the last game of the year, and you were supposed to commit suicide or something if old Pencey didn't win. I remember around three o'clock that afternoon I was standing way the hell up on top of Thomsen Hill, right next to this crazy cannon that was in the Revolutionary War and all. You could see the whole field from there, and you could see the two teams bashing each other all over the place. You couldn't see the grandstand too hot, but you could hear them all yelling, deep and terrific on the Pencey side, because practically the whole school except me was there, and scrawny and faggy on the Saxon Hall side, because the visiting team hardly ever brought many people with them.

The First flag of the United States says a lot about this Revolutionary War that this 'crazy cannon' was in.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_...

Now look at this flag:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_...

This is the flag of The British East India Company



Look familiar?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_...


And note these three flags:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briti...

Any more thoughts on this? Please comment.

Dave wrote: "Thanks Cosmic, it has been a long time since I read Catcher in the Rye but I find your posts interesting although I haven't seen anything to add or question so far. I can follow your discussion abo..."

Thank you Dave. I am really not an authority on WW1 or WW2, but thanks to Salinger i have learned a lot. I don't think one could have made a book with these many references to war unless it was intentional. Give who he was and what kind of level he achieved in the military it is believable that he knew more than the 'average Joe'.

It has been a puzzle that I have been working. I love puzzles like this! I have been trying to find the classic that mirror this type of writing that I found in The Catcher. Reading The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and finding a common style of writing made my day!

I known that Salinger loved puns from reading J.D. Salinger: A Life

Thanks for giving me your thoughtful comment.

What was the trouble?" Mr. Antolini asked me. "How'd you do in English? I'll show you the door in short order if you flunked English, you little ace composition writer."
"Oh, I passed English all right. It was mostly literature, though. I only wrote about two compositions the whole term," I said. "I flunked Oral Expression, though. They had this course you had to take, Oral Expression. That I flunked."
"Why?"
"Oh, I don't know." I didn't feel much like going into It. I was still feeling sort of dizzy or something, and I had a helluva headache all of a sudden. I really did. But you could tell he was interested, so I told him a little bit about it. "It's this course where each boy in class has to get up in class and make a speech. You know. Spontaneous and all. And if the boy digresses at all, you're supposed to yell 'Digression!' at him as fast as you can. It just about drove me crazy. I got an F in it."
"Why?" "Oh, I don't know. That digression business got on my nerves. I don't know. The trouble with me is, I like it when somebody digresses. It's more interesting and all."
You don't care to have somebody stick to the point when he tells you something?"
"Oh, sure! I like somebody to stick to the point and all. But I don't like them to stick too much to the point. I don't know. I guess I don't like it when somebody sticks to the point all the time. The boys that got the best marks in Oral Expression were the ones that stuck to the point all the time--I admit it. But there was this one boy, Richard Kinsella. He didn't stick to the point too much, and they were always yelling 'Digression!' at him. It was terrible, because in the first place, he was a very nervous guy--I mean he was a very nervous guy--and his lips were always shaking whenever it was his time to make a speech, and you could hardly hear him if you were sitting way in the back of the room. When his lips sort of quit shaking a little bit, though, I liked his speeches better than anybody else's. He practically flunked the course, though, too. He got a D plus because they kept yelling 'Digression!' at him all the time. For instance, he made this speech about this farm his father bought in Vermont. They kept yelling 'Digression!' at him the whole time he was making it, and this teacher, >Mr. Vinson, gave him an F on it because he hadn't told what kind of animals and vegetables and stuff grew on the farm and all. What he did was, Richard Kinsella, he'd start telling you all about that stuff--then all of a sudden he'd start telling you about this letter his mother got from his uncle [Sam], and how his uncle got polio http://theholisticworks.com/2012/06/2...] and all when he was forty-two years old, [1942] and how he wouldn't let anybody come to see him in the hospital because he didn't want anybody to see him with a brace on. It didn't have much to do with the farm--I admit it--but it was nice. It's nice when somebody tells you about their uncle. Especially when they start out telling you about their father's farm and then all of a sudden get more interested in their uncle. I mean it's dirty to keep yelling 'Digression!' at him when he's all nice and excited. I don't know. It's hard to explain."
I didn't feel too much like trying, either. For one thing, I had this terrific headache all of a sudden. I wished to God old Mrs. Antolini would come in with the coffee. That's something that annoys hell out of me--I mean if somebody says the coffee's all ready and it isn't. "Holden. . . One short, faintly stuffy, pedagogical question. Don't you think there's a time and place for everything? Don't you think if someone starts out to tell you about his father's farm, he should stick to his guns, then get around to telling you about his uncle's brace? Or, if his uncle's brace is such a provocative subject, shouldn't he have selected it in the first place as his subject--not the farm?"
I didn't feel much like thinking and answering and all. I had a headache and I felt lousy. I even had sort of a stomach-ache, if you want to know the truth. "Yes--I don't know. I guess he should. I mean I guess he should've picked his uncle as a subject, instead of the farm, if that interested him most. But what I mean is, lots of time you don't know what interests you most till you start talking about something that doesn't interest you most. I mean you can't help it sometimes. What I think is, you're supposed to leave somebody alone if he's at least being interesting and he's getting all excited about something. I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It's nice.
You just didn't know this teacher, Mr. Vinson. [https://www.treasury.gov/about/histor...] He could drive you crazy sometimes, him and the goddam class. I mean he'd keep telling you to unify and simplify all the time. Some things you just can't do that to. I mean you can't hardly ever simplify and unify something just because somebody wants you to. You didn't know this guy, Mr. Vinson. I mean he was very intelligent and all, but you could tell he didn't have too much brains."

I have been reading the book The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_L...

This is a story that cant be told straight. He is always digressing. He says this a number of times which makes me believe that this is a literary reference in the Catcher In The Rye.

" Probably Sterne's most enduring work, it purports to be a biography of the eponymous character. Its style is marked by digression, double entendre, and striking graphic devices."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digre...
Digressions can be used intentionally as a stylistic or rhetorical device.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubl...

is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to be understood in either of two ways, having a double meaning. Typically one of the meanings is obvious, given the context whereas the other may require more thought.

A double entendre may exploit puns to convey the second meaning. Double entendres generally rely on multiple meanings of words, or different interpretations of the same primary meaning. They often exploit ambiguity and may be used to introduce it deliberately in a text. Sometimes a homophone (i.e., another word which sounds the same) can be used as a pun. When three or more meanings have been constructed, this is known as a "triple entendre", etc.

This is a signpost here that The Catcher can be read one way given the context, and also be read as a history of WW2. AND THIS WAS SALINGER'S INTENT. BUT IT WOULD TAKE TIME AND WASN'T AUTOMATIC. YOU HAD TO THINK!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figur...
A figure of speech or rhetorical figure[1] is figurative language in the form of a single word or phrase. It can be a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words. There are mainly five figures of speech: simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification and synecdoche. Figures of speech often provide emphasis, freshness of expression, or clarity. However, clarity may also suffer from their use, as any figure of speech introduces an ambiguity between literal and figurative interpretation.

Laura wrote: "This is a very interesting question for me as TCITR is my favorite book and I've been doing some writing which is quite on topic. While I would complicate your two offered choices of SoC or IM, I t..."

I have to admit that i don't feel educated enough to give an opinion.
The reason have been questioning his style was because I started finding many ideas impregnated into his text. I didn't think he was the first to do this, so i decided to read authors that inspire him and the ones that inspired those authors. Hemingway was named some where ...and he actually got his name in the book TCITR.

To make a long story short I read an amazing book called Decadence: And Other Essays on the Culture of Ideas. Then I started reading Ulysses. I actually started reading him because some one in another group challenged me. I like a challenge (because secretly I am trying to undo what school did by "grading me" average and I am trying to level up). I noticed that Ulysses was writing in a similar style. Really it was saying things with symbols or juxtaposed with other references to say whatever you wish to read into it...so it could have more than one meaning.

But I got interested in Ulysses style because Virginia Woolf said that she was disappointed that she had not been able to do this first or as good as Ulysses. (I don't remember where I read that)

I think you are right about ut taking a skilled writer to do this. But what would improve your skills but to rewrite the same story over and over for ten years?

Somebody asked David Foster Wallace what his process was to writing a book. He answered that he first wrote a draft by hand. He then wrote that draft by hand three more times. Then he typed it three times. His goal was to feel the characters come to life.

This gave me a whole new appreciation to what makes a book great.

Salinger is quoted as saying:
(The one that I wanted and couldn't find was something like: Have something you feel passionate about, that is what you should write about.)

But here are some other good ones that I found.
The true poet has no choice of material. The material plainly chooses him, not he it.

There’s no more to Holden Caulfield. Read the book again. It’s all there. Holden Caulfield is only a frozen moment in time.

J. D. SALINGER, New York Times, Aug. 14, 2009


Read more at http://www.notable-quotes.com/s/salin...

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2012/01/2...

I wanted to write this sooner but i am just going to tell you something new that i had not noticed before.

Jane is
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane%...

Holden is
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden

Which is a
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gener...

That made
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DUKW
The DUKW (colloquially known as Duck)

Now Holden knew Jane before Stradlater
http://www.thestrad.com/

Holden gjves a metaphor of love making is like playing a violin.

Stradlater is an athlete. Why wasn't he down at the game. Why wasn't he in the game being pounded? Good question.

He borrowed Ed Bank-y car. It is a Buick a Buick is made by
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick

Buick, formally the Buick Motor Division /ˈbjuːᵻk/, is an American automobile division of the American manufacturer General Motors (GM).

Now after Holden kisses her allover. Feeling really sorry for her. She goes in and changes her clothes.

This is the part that i had notice before.

Can anyone tell me the description of her dress?

And what it reminds you of? I will be honest that it reminds me of two things and that one of those things explains why Holden calls the Revolutionary War cannon "that crazy cannon."

And what or who do you think Stadlater represents?
He is wearing Holdens jacket. What kind of jacket was it again?

Stream of Consciousness deals more with sensory input whereas interior monologue focuses on the processing of ideas. Any good soliloquy (Hamlet . . . etc) could be held up as an example of interior monologue but stream of consciousness(SoC) doesn't handle morality or problemsolving. SoC lives inside the moment and does not consider the past or future. Interior monologue considers the moment with reflection and planning.

What style of writing do you think Salinger employed?

Mercury dime:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercu...

The ax on the back:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercu...


An 11th-century homily called De Falsis Deis tells us that Mercury or Odin were honored on crossroads.

The modern English text gives: "There was also a man called Mercury, he was very crafty and deceitful in deed and trickeries, though his speech was fully plausible. The heathens made him a renowned god for themselves; at crossroads they offered sacrifices to him frequently and they often erringly brought praise-offerings to hilltops, all through the devil’s teaching. This false god was honored among the heathens in that day, and he is also called by the name Odin in the Danish manner."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie...

But I joined a group that is going to read Ulysses, and listened to a very good lecture on James Joyce books.

I have links to this here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It is called Wings of Art by Joseph Campbell

In the first lecture he explains or acts out the first chapter of Ulysses. It is a shaving scene.

I was reading Ulysses and rendered that James Joyce works were introduced to Salinger by Hemingway. I thought there must be a reference to Joyce in there somewhere. I think it is the shaving scene, is the literary reference to Ulysses.


Wiki:
"During the campaign from Normandy into Germany, Salinger arranged to meet with Ernest Hemingway, a writer who had influenced him and was then working as a war correspondent in Paris.[32] Salinger was impressed with Hemingway's friendliness and modesty, finding him more "soft" than his gruff public persona.[33] Hemingway was impressed by Salinger's writing and remarked: "Jesus, he has a helluva talent."[2] The two writers began corresponding; Salinger wrote Hemingway in July 1946 that their talks were among his few positive memories of the war.[33] Salinger added that he was working on a play about Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of his story "Slight Rebellion off Madison", and hoped to play the part himself."

And wiki Hemingway:
"Carlos Baker, Hemingway's first biographer, believes that while Anderson suggested Paris because "the monetary exchange rate" made it an inexpensive place to live, more importantly it was where "the most interesting people in the world" lived. In Paris, Hemingway met writers such as Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, and Ezra Pound who "could help a young writer up the rungs of a career"."

So in a way Stadlater is the Usurper.

Because life is a game that you play according to the rules. But remember that Stradlater borrows Holden's coat. Holden is worried that he will stretch it in the bicep area because Stradlater belongs to the ...hmm he's not playing football...what kind of athlete was Stradlater?

From The Mythology of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome

Zeus came up with a contest for Poseidon and Athena. Who ever could come up with the most beautiful and useful thing would win. Poseidon hit the ground with his trident and up came an animal with a black mane, pawing the ground. It was strong fast and editable, it was in fact the first horse.

The gods thought the contest was over but Athena smiled.

Up from the ground there rose a plant with gray greenish leaves and a round fruit called an olive. Athena explained that the olive provided fruit for humans and oil to be burned sacrifices for the gods.

The tree would be hearty even in barren ground and would be green all year round. what was more important was that the Olive tree represents peace where the horse represents war.

------------------------------------------------

So horses represents WAR.

MASTERS OF WAR

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know I can see through your masks.

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly.
Like Judas of old You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain.
You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion'
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud.
You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins.
How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do.
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul.
And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.------- Bob Dylan 1963

MASTERS OF WAR

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know I can see through your masks.

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly.
Like Judas of old You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain.
You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion'
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud.
You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins.
How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do.
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul.
And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.------- Bob Dylan 1963

From The Decline of the West

"For it will become manifest that, from this moment on, all great conflicts of world-outlook, of politics, of art, of science, of feeling will be under the influence of this one opposition. What is the hall-mark of a politic of Civilization to-day, in contrast to a politic of Culture yesterday? It is, for the Classical rhetoric, and for the Western journalism, both serving that abstract which represents the power of Civilization — money?"

To me this says that politics is either built on culture or civilization. If it is culture it wants to be remembered for them it creates art, science is important. But if it is civilization them money and power and conquest are important. This will be evident in war! The opposite of culture.

Was Salinger's intention of writing the Catcher in the Rye to high highlight mental illness? Was this something that the medical industries wanted to push? By highlighting Holden's seemingly anti-social behaviour, perhaps they could make people more accepting of taking another pill for that.

This is what i am taking about:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/art...
The growing use of drugs to treat extreme shyness has alarmed some experts who say pharmaceutical companies and doctors are ‘medicalising’ normal human behaviour.

The concept of ‘social anxiety disorder’ or ‘social phobia’ has entered mainstream medicine in the last couple of decades after the drugs industry began to promote it.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the amount of money spent on social anxiety drugs doubled, while in the last decade around £1.5billion has been spent on the condition.

In J.D. Salinger: A Life the author says that Salinger was offended when a publisher asked if Holden Caulfield was crazy. Salinger requested his book back from that publisher. Obviously they just didn't get it.

In my opinion it is the people that Holden comes in contact with that are mentally ill, because they are treating life as a game rather than living authentically. We see Holden also having to "play the game" but making snide remarks about how foolish he thinks they are.

On the other hand could Salinger be trying to highlight PTSD for those like himself that had suffered from serving in the military?

What do you think?

I was looking for something and came across this:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kryptos
The name Kryptos comes from the Greek word for "hidden", and the theme of the sculpture is "intelligence gathering." The most prominent feature is a large vertical s-shaped copper screen resembling a scroll, or piece of paper emerging from a computer printer, half of which consists of encrypted text. The characters are all found within the 26 letters of the standard Latin alphabet, along with question marks, and are cut out of the copper. The main sculpture contains four separate enigmatic messages, three of which have been deciphered.[1]

Do you find codes fascinating? Have you read about any code breakers or Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII

In the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson he talks about vampires verses humans.
At the beginning of chapter three he says:
"The strength of the vampire is that one will believe in them."

He says are they (vampirers) worst than a parent that drains a childs spirit.
Or a parent that raises a neurotic child that becomes a politician
Or a industrialist who sets up a foundation on that money that he made making and selling arms to suicidal nationalist.

handing guns and bombs he made to suicidal nationalist
is he worst than the distilled who gave bastardized brain juice to stultify further the brains of those who sober were incapable of a progressive thought.
is he worst than the publisher that fill ubiquitous racks with lust and death wishes?
Really now. Search your soul lovey, is the vampire so bad?
All he does is drink blood.
....


Richard Matheson served in WW2. He wrote the novel The Beardless Warriors: A Novel of World War II. I have not read this book yet but would like to in 2016.

I decided to read this after reading With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. This is a fantastic account of a marine. He talks about an image that haunted him, and it reminded me of this book. I highly recommend With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa.