I am looking forward to the release of The Hobbit on December 14th. Its author, J.R.R. Tolkien, was essentially an anarchist. He once stated: “My political opinions lean more and more to Anarchy (philosophically understood, meaning the abolition of control not whiskered men with bombs) – or to ‘unconstitutional’ Monarchy. I would arrest anybody who uses the word State (in any sense other than the inaminate real of England and its inhabitants, a thing that has neither power, rights nor mind); and after a chance of recantation, execute them if they remained obstinate! If we could go back to personal names, it would do a lot of good.
Government is an abstract noun meaning the art and process of governing and it should be an offence to write it with a capital G or so to refer to people … The most improper job of any many, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity …"
The entire story of the Lord of the Rings centers around the ring of power... otherwise known as the state. The journey begins in a anarchic place where the people are happy, no policemen, no king (or one that was thought long forgotten). There is apparently a mayor but he does nothing as the locals frolick, sing, dance, play with fireworks, drink and smoke pipe weed. Soon, however, the ring wraiths, driven by the lust of power come to ruin it all.
The Hobbit was the first real book I ever read and it drew me into the fantastic world that John Ronald Reuel Tolkien created. That halloween I dressed up as Bilbo Baggins and even used it as my alias on Bulletin Boards (pre-internet communications throughout the 1980s). Soon after, at around 13 years of age I read the Lord of the Rings and was even more amazed. I read the trilogy countless times.
It makes me wonder if it didn't shape some of my views – as I'm sure it did – but it wasn't until decades later that it dawned on me the true message of the ring! I'm sure millions don't catch the allegory either, unfortunately. It's too bad that Tolkien didn't forgo fantasy somewhat and call Mordor, Washington DC. Obama would have made a great Sauron, had he been president when Tolkein was writing. The ring wraiths, Rockefeller, Rothchild and other likes who lust for power over others from behind the scenes.
When I first heard that a new adaption was going to be released in 2001 I was hesitant. I even went so far as to say that it would be impossible to truly adapt that massive anthology on screen. As I sat there in the cinema I realized I was wrong. Peter Jackson had created a genius masterpiece. I can't believe it's been nearly 10 years since the third film has been released... but that might be because I make sure to watch it at least twice a year.
And with baited breath I now await The Hobbit. Although, I do have some reservations. The Hobbit was more of a children's story, contrasted to the dark Lord of the Rings (LOTR)... and The Hobbit, also, was almost like a pamphlet in size compared to the massive LOTR texts. Yet, Peter Jackson is trying to turn it into a film trilogy as well. I don't know how we will do it... but then again, I didn't know how he could do LOTR either and he did. So I give him the benefit of the doubt.
In any case, if you haven't read LOTR or seen the films, they are an absolute must see. I just wish we could bring back JRR Tolkien to see it in all its glory. He's on my top five list of people to bring back from the dead to see what became of their legacy (both bad and good), including Jesus and Thomas Jefferson. I think all three of them would be shocked to see what became of their work! Jesus would be flabergasted to see what the Roman Catholic church has twisted his words around for profit. And Thomas Jefferson would be reaching for his musket in a moment to tear down this terrible tyranic organization that has grown into the world's most dangerous, freedom-destroying, killing machines!
If only Thomas Jefferson had read LOTR he may have understood that no government, no matter how small, can resist the corruptive ability of the ring of power! Not even Frodo.
As Mithrandir said, "I would use this ring from a desire to do good, but through me it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine."