Slaughterhouse-Five: Connections

"From this moment on, He will punish horribly anybody who torments a bum who has no connections!"  (Slaughterhouse-Five p. 110)

This novel is written as an antiwar novel; however, it also contains other criticisms dealing with hypocrisy.  Religion is the most prominent example of human hypocrisy.  Christians everywhere claim to be "servants to the community," but how many people actually follow through with this commitment?  In the novel, the aliens tell the story of Jesus' crucifixion from their eyes.  To them, Jesus is killed because he does not have connections.  Connections could relate to many things, but I believe this is referring to a connection with authority.  Since Jesus did not associate with the Sanhedrin, the people condemned him to death.  Not one person stood up for what they believed in to save him.  In the modern world, connections with authority always help to create materialistic success; therefore, if the president and monetary leaders believe war is best for the world, everyone else goes along with it.  Not one person dares to stray from the norm in order to fit in with society.  Humans are too passive when dealing with the issues.  Instead of relying on connections, people should try to be an individual.  

Although the Tralfamadorians do not experience Earth, the are still able to make truthful generalizations about the human population.  Pretty sad...