This is a translation of a letter which claims to be copy of a letter
sent by a young Croatian man to the Croatian Secretary of Defense to
avoid military service. An extraordinary piece of reasoning, worthy of
attention of anyone interested in logic and related matters.
Dear Minister of Defense,
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 step-mother.
In September my wife and I had 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 step-mother.
In October my father’s wife had a son as well. This child is now also my
brother because he is a son of my father. But I am the step-father 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-grandfather.
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 of the Croatian Ministry of Defense was sent only two weeks
later, and it read: 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.