This is a translation of a letter that claims to
This is a translation of a letter that claims to be copy of a
letter sent by a young Croatian man to the Croatian Secretary
of Defence to avoid military service.
An extraordinary piece of reasoning, worthy of attention of
anyone interested in logic and related matters.
Dear Minister of Defence,
Please allow me to explain my situation in a hope that you
will be able to resolve my case. I am expecting to get the
call to serve in the Croatian Army.
I am 23 and I married a 47-year-old widow who has a
26-year-old daughter. Her daughter subsequently married my
father. By marrying my wife's daughter, my father became my
son-in-law. In the same time, my wife is a mother-in-law of my
father, and her daughter is now also my stepmother.
In September my wife and I got a son. Clearly this child is a
brother of my father's wife, and thus a brother-in-law of my
father. In the same time, my son is also my uncle because he
is a brother of my stepmother. In October my father's wife got
a son as well. This child is now also my brother because he is
a son of my father. But I am the stepfather of my wife's
daughter and also a brother of her son whose father is also my
father. Thus, my father's son is also my step-grand son
because he is a son of my wife's daughter.
Consequently, I am a brother of my own step-grandson, so I am
also my own step-grand father. However, according to the law,
not more then two consecutive generations of fathers and sons
(grand-father, father, son) can be called for military duty
simultaneously, so I should be relieved from the military
duty.
Thank you for your understanding.
The reply reads as follows:
The applicant is permanently relieved from the military duty
due to possible mental problems and mental instability caused
by the chaotic situation within his family.
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