Skip to comments.
JRR Tolkien: Ringing in a Liberal or Conservative New Year
Tech Central Station ^
| January 4, 2005
| Joshua Livestro
Posted on 01/04/2005 6:42:27 PM PST by quidnunc
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-78 next last
1
posted on
01/04/2005 6:42:28 PM PST
by
quidnunc
Comment #2 Removed by Moderator
To: quidnunc
Tolkein was a hard-line conservative. I don't know why this question is even up for debate.
3
posted on
01/04/2005 6:47:07 PM PST
by
Betaille
(Harry Potter is a Right-Winger)
Comment #4 Removed by Moderator
To: Betaille
Absolutely - he was a devout Catholic who came of age in Edwardian times. He was no hipster, "modernist" follower of socialism, but a man who was fascinated by ancient notions of honor and valor. At the end of his life, he was bewildered by the way the hippie movement glommed on to his work the way they did.
5
posted on
01/04/2005 6:57:07 PM PST
by
DGray
(http://nicanfhilidh.blogspot.com)
To: quidnunc
6
posted on
01/04/2005 6:57:15 PM PST
by
Tribune7
To: quidnunc
Isn't the more important question - "Was he gay?" /s
7
posted on
01/04/2005 6:58:05 PM PST
by
lizma
To: quidnunc
Theoden sounds like a conservative to me, at least the one in the movies. It's been too long to recall the one in the books.
Any how, his reply to Saruman when Saruman asks for peace, Theoden tells him there will be peace when Saruman is dead, I think that's perfect conservative logic. Perhaps I'm reading too much into that?
I figure a liberal would give Saruman a slap on the wrists, a lit tap is more like it, and then let him go.
To: wolf24
Of course LOTR is liberal
It is very conservative. The only thing about it that appears liberal is an environmental tone. But this is misleading, because environmentalism was a very conservative issue until the issue was hijacked. It was particularly conservative in Tolkien's situation when he was essentially opposing the end of the traditional British way of life due to liberal industrialization.
The current environmental movement is essentially a bunch of people in cities, many of whom have never seen a farm. The real environmentalists live in RED states. The hunters, fishermen, farmers, and rural folk in the south and west are much closer to the land than these liberal enviros. A lot of this is pure liberal guilt since most of the environmental damage comes out of these urban sardine cans in California and the northeast.
Its sad that the liberals have so stolen the environmental issue with their rhetoric that many conservatives forget the traditional conservative value of being close to the land and wanting to protect it, and the traditional values associated with that.
9
posted on
01/04/2005 7:01:32 PM PST
by
Arkinsaw
To: wolf24
I disagree, in a way, most liberals I know weren't fans of LOTR, they much preferred the "Harry Potter" books and movies.
I know it's not dealing with the stories themselves, but in the readers reactions to them, but I tend to think the "art imitates life" theory applies in this case.
10
posted on
01/04/2005 7:01:37 PM PST
by
infidel29
(America is GREAT because she is GOOD, the moment she ceases to be GOOD, she ceases to be GREAT - B.F)
To: Betaille
Tolkein was a hard-line conservative.But keep in mind Gandalf and the hobbits were potheads. The traitorous Saruman even chastises Gandalf a bit over that.. ;)
11
posted on
01/04/2005 7:01:53 PM PST
by
AntiGuv
(™)
To: AntiGuv
But keep in mind Gandalf and the hobbits were potheads. Nowhere in the books can you find an analogue for Gandalf and the hobbits being potheads.
I think you need to put that bong down yourself : )
12
posted on
01/04/2005 7:05:49 PM PST
by
Popman
To: wolf24
The orcs, Sauron, and Saruman had no respect for the environment, If you ever spent time in a communist country, you'd see communist have little concern for the enviroment once they have control. They just use it as an emotional stepping stone on they're rise to power.
13
posted on
01/04/2005 7:08:27 PM PST
by
lizma
To: ecurbh; HairOfTheDog
14
posted on
01/04/2005 7:10:18 PM PST
by
Corin Stormhands
(No tag line to see here. Move along...)
To: AntiGuv
Potheads?
I thought they were catching heck for being evil tobacco smoker!
15
posted on
01/04/2005 7:11:12 PM PST
by
lizma
To: quidnunc
Quite simply, LOTR is conservative.
Good is good. Evil is evil.
Right is right. Wrong is wrong.
And the truth is important.
No way you can spin that into lie'bralism.
16
posted on
01/04/2005 7:11:18 PM PST
by
Corin Stormhands
(No tag line to see here. Move along...)
To: Corin Stormhands
Exaclty. It is the comfortable world of black and white, good and evil.
This does not exist in the liberal mindset.
17
posted on
01/04/2005 7:13:42 PM PST
by
cspackler
(There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.)
To: DGray
Tolkein said that LotR doesn't include political or social commentary. Gandalf is not Jesus, Sauron is not Satan, it's not pro-liberal pro-conservative. It's just a good story. Sit back and read (or watch.)
18
posted on
01/04/2005 7:15:11 PM PST
by
Terpfen
(Gore/Sharpton '08: it's Al-right!)
To: wolf24
Don't forget the obvious homosexual acts by the Hobbits. I was almost convinced that I was going to see some gay Hobbit porn somewhere in that trilogy.
19
posted on
01/04/2005 7:17:20 PM PST
by
Angry Republican
(Screw the Sun! Ehrlich in '06!)
To: lizma; Popman
Oh, please. They're complete stoners! Just look at 'em. Their purpose in life is to drink ale, eat six meals a day (helloo!), and laze about in the meadows smoking their weed. They don't want any 'adventure' and they're dazzled by sparkly lights. They seem to be into cuddling too. Lots and lots of cuddling. LOL
20
posted on
01/04/2005 7:17:24 PM PST
by
AntiGuv
(™)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-78 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson