GRGR(5): note on Katje

[Michael Perez]

Mark wrote:
"I think it is a misunderstanding of the nature of
reality to think that anyone could join the anti-Nazi resistance out of
concern for personal safety.  Katje could have gotten along quite well
on her own, anywhere."

This is a good point.  It was one heck of a gamble if it was.  I'm
still leaning toward the idea that even this may be just a matter of
hedging her bets - my judgment of her is rather harsh - but perhaps she
is stoically "doing what she has to do" for "the greater good."  This
is what Paul writes about in his post:

"I don't know about other p-listers but I reflexively assumed Katje
traded the Jewish lives for other lives the Resistance deemed for the
moment to be more essential to defeating the invaders. That's War.

"Historically, WWII was like that. My own continuation was very
possibly
bought for me with Hiroshima."

I think, though, with a little thought to the time _GR_ was written,
part of the point of the book could have been that the "Good War" had
not been so good after all.  During the time a war was being fought
that was, even while it dragged on, becoming increasingly thought to be
less than noble, comes a book showing the less noble side of what many
have considered the noblest of wars. However, as Paul said:  "That's
war."


Michael
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