From the desk of Miss Know-All: A catch 22 situation!

(Published on 4 July 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Look around you. The present day scenario reminds one of a ‘Catch-22’ situation! Similar to a ‘damned if I do, damned if I don't’ state of affairs. While all quarters struggle to bring some normalcy into our day to day lives – it unfortunately seems to be a no-win dilemma. But let us switch out of this pessimistic view. For words like pessimism do not exist in the dictionary of a Miss Know-All.

Having said that, do you know what ‘catch 22’ is? Interestingly, the term gained popularity as the title of a 1961 war novel by Joseph Heller, who referred to an Air Force rule whereby no sane pilot would be crazy enough to want to continue flying dangerous missions. The only way a pilot would be grounded is if he were truly crazy, but if he asked to be grounded; he was then considered sane and would not be grounded. Perplexed dahlings? Let us put it in lay man’s language for your benefit. A perfect example of this circumstance occurs when job searching for the first time. You can't get a job without experience, but you can't get experience unless you have a job—it's a Catch-22 situation! Got it?

A Catch-22 situation is a paradoxical situation that has no conclusive ending. It describes a situation in which an individual has to achieve two actions, both of which require that the other one be done first.

In his novel Heller considers the case of a U.S. Army Air Force bombardier who wishes to be excused from combat flight duty. In order to be excused, he must submit an official medical certificate demonstrating that he is unfit because he is insane. However, according to regulations, any sane person would naturally not want to fly combat missions because they are so dangerous. By requesting permission not to fly combat missions, on the grounds of insanity, the bombardier demonstrates that he is in fact sane and therefore fit to fly. On the other hand, any flyer who wished to fly on combat demonstrated that he was insane and was unfit to fly. Naturally, the ‘catch’ would assert itself, short-circuiting any such attempt.

Good lord! Writing this is almost driving me insane! In a Catch-22 problem one is placed into an unfavorable situation no matter what choice one makes. But as per Carol Pearson, heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves. Situations are dealt with in the best possible way that comes to mind at that particular moment. Just remember to let your head rule over your heart at all times – and you would have made the right decision come what may.

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk