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Philosoi are ne\ By Don Fobes Going After Cacclato by Tim O'Brien; Dell; $2.25 This is a story of early American invol Vietnam and the war's implications a through the troubled eyes of a 20-yeai westerner, Paul Berlin. Berlin has only be\ for six months, but he's had enough. Though Going After Cacciato is told in person, Paul Berlin's heart and soul dom theme is simple ? Cacciato, a member of 5 Paul Berlin's squad, goes AWOL intendin 8,600 statute miles to Paris. The unit chase catch up with Cacciato. All this, however, Berlin's fantasy as he stands guard duty in tower in Quang Ngai. In reality, Cacciatc sued for only a short distance before the < abandoned Rerlin's vision of j> manhiini persists, nonetheless. The theme may be simple, but the phi puzzles are never answered. Author O'Brii typical disgruntled vet to judge by his wor like any war," Berlin muses near the end ol "No new messages. Stories that began ? without transition. No developing drama or direction. No order." Going After Cacciato, too, has no transit order. O'Brien skips from flashback to I from July to November and from Vietnam Cacciato himself, is described as some simpleton, a mental midget: "It was a fac day in the rain, during a bad time, th (Cacciato) had packed up and walked aw; kid who wanted to see Paris, no mysterioi or ambitions. A simple kid who ran away." becomes an obsession for Berlin and also t by which the author examines and pin] problems of war on an individual basis survive and trying not to look to the f :?u: t 4i.. n diiiiuiuiiicuudi^ winning ici vt'iiuy uiai inur future, are the soldier's plight in Caccia every war story, we are informed via the in of Paul Berlin. The author gives us insight into the pr I r ^ 1 I* cx rari inci/^vl' 11 r\n*i^"*/"\l /~\i i i iIV-wm |w^uz.z.icro /er answered "Paul Berlin, whose only goal was to live 1< to establish eoals worth livintf fnr still lm high in the tower by the sea, the night soft him, and wondered, not for the first time vement in immense powers of his own imagination." is viewed Although Berlin's imagination is rampai -old Mid- a temporary escape from the horrors c en in Nam despises the war, but recognizes that w cepted army induction, he also acc the third obligation to do his duty ? to fight for his c< inate. The Spec. Four Paul Berlin is no radical, nei >pec. Four hero; he's simply a victim of greater for ig to walk understands that every individual can't shim, and sonal decisions in wartime, but deep dow is merely mirrored by his Cacciato fantasy, Berlin i a seaside would take the first step to Paris, and foil > was pur- step till his destination was reached. chase was Even in his dream, Berlin is unable to t to Paris the call to duty ? living in an apartment w Vietnamese girl, Sarking Aung Wan, Berl losophical her to continue his pursuit of Cacciato. Th en is not a "You yearn for normality ? an average 1 k. "A war average town, a garden, perhaps a wife, the story. to grow old. Realize these things. Gr inH onHoH c : *i u - * n - * > ...x- iruiuess pursuit ui ^acciaio. rorgei mm tension or the dream you have dreamed. See Paris a Be happy. It is possible. It is within reach ion and no decision." fjashback, Life is not that simplistic. Berlin replies toParis. "An idea, when violated, cannot make r thing of a principle cannot refuse to shake my 1 :t that one people can do that. And it is this social e dummy threat of social consequences, that stop ay, a poor making a full and complete break, is motives "Peace of mind is not a simple matter < Cacciato, one's own pleasure; rather, it is inextricab he vehicle the attitudes of other human beings, to points the want, to what they expect. The real issu ;. How to fjn(j felicity within limits. Within the cor uture but obligations toother people." e will be a In other words, "War is Hell," a lamei itn anH in i?? - c a _r i:r_ u i 1 ,v~ ?... uul a iacL llie one can i ignore, n vvouh lagination be abie to turn the grey shades of humai into blacks and whites, but Going Afte otagonist: reminds us forcibly that that just won't wa ulturoJ Series Prese e junction of spiritual it, and artful theatre Friday, march A.AA om Russell House No Admission jug enougn | T ? ] I <ft iger, stood ^ k w i I gj the [MHMfflpi it, it's only [ CHB^iP | M >f war. He k ^ \ ^ hen he acepted the Duntry. ' ther is he a QM|m mm J m w pqv Rorlin I * A (Open Do< nt relevance, psyc 99 2,1979 Ballroom i Charge ' I ? X-.' i'.?. -.-- .'* *:< II IIIIMIIMIIIII l?tT??IH ! ! IIMIlllim?llim ?r j % I :hological ram -phH|| russe? house 1 I