In Joseph Heller's Catch-22 John Yossarian is a bombardier who throughout the novel tries to avoid dying in suicidal bomber missions by poisoning his squadron with illness, faking insanity and other means. He is one of the first literary characters to say "no" to an overpowering higher-government and in doing so, changes the scope of his life in the book for both his squad and himself. If I could compare him to a real-life revolutionist, I would definitely choose Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian pioneer for the Indian Independence Movement (or IIM).

Mahatma Gandhi (or Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) born October 2nd, 1869 (died 30 January 1948 [aged 78]) was an important Indian revolutionist during the IIM or Indian Independence Movement of 1915-1945. During this time, the British ruled what is now called India (called British India from 1915 to 1945). During this time, the British seemed like dedicators over the country, wrongly taxing farmers for sugar, salt and fish. When Mahatma Gandhi said "no" he was saying no to following the orders of the British India during WW1. By saying No, he created the Indian Independence Movement and gave India its independence back through a non-violent revolution of protests and meetings.

Mahatma Gandhi created one of the world's largest non-violent revolutions in history, and with it he restored peace to India by helping them gain its independence back from the British. During his revolutionizing campaign he organized protests along with his followers to try and settle agreements with the British. He was very justified in his actions during this time, with the British treating commoners and the poor badly, he just wanted equality in his homeland.

Because of his actions the IIM or Indian Independence Movement was initiated, and India was put under its own control again which he sacrificed little to nothing but time and energy to achieve. For this achievement, I feel people should applaud him for standing up to the government when he had the lowest chances of actually being successful. I feel also that, in addition to his age at which he did this, he should respected in addition to standing up for his rights, but for standing up for his fellow country as well.

Even though he was assassinated I believe Mahatma Gandhi would have still made the same decision today if India was still in the same state it was in 1915.

Just like Yossarian, I believe the two individuals have a few similarities between them. Both men changed their lives (some changed more lives than others [Yossarin really helped himself and a few others while Gandhi helped millions]). Both also stood up to a mutual military/government oppressor with a less than minimal chance of changing anything but still prevailing.

In my opinion, I believe we do not give enough credit to the people who came before us to change things. If people like Mahatma Gandhi never existed, people who changed the world because they felt it was the right thing to do, our world and society would quite possibly be in ruin.