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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
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To: HairOfTheDog
Window's open. Good night.
61
posted on
01/04/2005 9:48:15 PM PST
by
Angry Republican
(Screw the Sun! Ehrlich in '06!)
To: brewer1516
62
posted on
01/04/2005 10:00:58 PM PST
by
Angry Republican
(Screw the Sun! Ehrlich in '06!)
To: Former Dodger
Thanks for the ping!
Sure is amazing how the anti-industrial edge of the books was taken out of the later movies, isn't it?
63
posted on
01/04/2005 10:23:12 PM PST
by
Gondring
(They can have my Bill of Rights when they pry it from my cold, dead hands!)
To: HairOfTheDog
64
posted on
01/04/2005 10:53:29 PM PST
by
Gondring
(They can have my Bill of Rights when they pry it from my cold, dead hands!)
To: GVgirl
I knew there was a reason why I can't stand Tolkien freaks. We love you too.
65
posted on
01/05/2005 4:49:54 AM PST
by
Samwise
(This day does not belong to one man but to all. --Aragorn)
To: AntiGuv
Don't think potheads can't be conservatives.....
or those with hairy feet, for that matter
To: GatorGirl; cspackler; SuziQ; HairOfTheDog
I would be interested to know your analysis of how Gollum fits into this black/white world. Was he good or evil? In his original state, Gollum/Smeagol was a simple creature, one of the river folk. Jackson got it right even in the brief scene that we see. Smeagol is happy that Deagol has a fish and is concerned when Deagol falls in the water.
It is only when he sees the ring that he turns.
And yes, Frodo was weak at the end.
To put it in a theological context, which Tolkein would have hated...It is a matter that, while God allows man to make choices, in the end His divine purpose will still be accomplished.
67
posted on
01/05/2005 6:06:36 AM PST
by
Corin Stormhands
(No tag line to see here. Move along...)
To: GatorGirl
Smeagol was basically good, Gollum was the evil alter-ego.
I think that Frodo's weakness was a showing of the corruptive influence of absolute power. The old absolute power corrupts absolutely thing.
68
posted on
01/05/2005 6:13:06 AM PST
by
cspackler
(There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.)
To: AntiGuv
Been smoking some
Old Toby yourself, eh? Most photos I've seen of Professor Tolkien show him puffing on a nice briar pipe, so I would think "pipeweed" is tobacco and one of a few anachronistic items mentioned in the story. Another is potatoes, as in the debate between Sam and Gollum about "taters" and rabbit stew.
The extended version of Return of the King, by the way, is a much better film than what appeared in the theaters. Lots of loose ends tied up (including Saruman's fate - no Scouring of the Shire added but the White Wizard meets his allotted end nonetheless) and the story flows much better.
69
posted on
01/05/2005 6:22:59 AM PST
by
katana
To: Terpfen
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.) THANK YOU. I was thinking I was the only person reading this thread who had a bit of common sense and didn't feel the need the claim a treasured work of literature for my own ideology.
70
posted on
01/05/2005 8:38:49 AM PST
by
StoneColdGOP
(Name a shrub after me - something prickly and hard to eradicate.)
To: Melas
Most of the libs in question are early to mid thirties.
71
posted on
01/05/2005 2:53:26 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: infidel29
Damn. I've seen all the Harry Potter movies, but only because I have children. My son has all the books, and is totally enthralled. It's juvenile literature. It just doesn't have as much appeal to me. I don't see how an adult could prefer it to Tolkein.
72
posted on
01/05/2005 3:03:08 PM PST
by
Melas
To: Melas
I've seen them too, and although it was for the reason of children at the time, I would have eventually seen them all anyways, I love mythology, magic, and the medieval. That having been said, I don't see the allure over Tolkien either. Harry Potter is geared toward the teenager.
This makes sense when it comes to liberals though, most of them have juvenile minds as compared conservatives. They still live in the sixties when free love and free everything else ruled the day, Personal responsibility was ignored.
73
posted on
01/05/2005 3:10:45 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: Corin Stormhands; cspackler; SuziQ; HairOfTheDog
Thanks everyone. I guess looking at it that way, none of the characters are inherently good or evil, they are merely operating within the framework of an epic battle of good and evil. Just like the rest of us are, in our "real" world!!!
Perhaps I'll start hanging out at the Hobbit Hole! GG
74
posted on
01/05/2005 5:33:40 PM PST
by
GatorGirl
(Happy New Year!)
To: GatorGirl
Please do, we'll do our best to make you feel welcome!
To: GatorGirl
Perhaps I'll start hanging out at the Hobbit Hole! GGCome on in!
76
posted on
01/05/2005 5:56:17 PM PST
by
SuziQ
(It's the most wonderful time of the year!)
To: GatorGirl; HairOfTheDog; SuziQ
Perhaps I'll start hanging out at the Hobbit Hole! GG We'd love to have you. Just don't let the elves bother you. They tend to be a bit persnickety.
77
posted on
01/05/2005 7:31:08 PM PST
by
Corin Stormhands
(No tag line to see here. Move along...)
To: Corin Stormhands
Nothing they do is as objectionable as the dwarves...
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