Enter the word of satire and wit. In Slaughter House Five, each page brings a laugh and, sometimes, a rather confused look. When I first thought about my question I had difficulty answering it because of the jumbled nature of the novel.
Yet, I think that Vonnegut, in his way, does answer the question. At the end of the novel he states, "If what Billy Pilgrim learned from the Tralfamadorians is true... I am not overjoyed"(211). We are not meant to look at just the pleasant, not just within life, but within ourselves. This life is not the time, or place, to just view the positive and beautiful moments. It's only life if we look at both.
In the same manner, we have to look at both sides of our nature. It is not enough to say, "well, I'm a horrible person, can't change it, so it goes". The way to live is to acknowledge that yes, there is war, and pain, and things won't make sense. Children will always be sent off to war, everyone's lives are touched by that, mine in particular. It's heart-wrentching to watch your brother go off to boot camp and possibly, over seas. Yet, this will never change. Instead of looking at the hurt, pain, and corruption humans create, view the good. Focus on the relationships, change things like Billy was so unwilling to do, do not float along and simply "close [your] eyes" and drift to another time. Use the immense potentials that humans have for good to make a difference and be present in the moment. Because, right here, right now, that's all you can do.
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