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To: sourcery
[whew] What a read! - Made me hungry! - Can I interest you in a seed cake and some ale while we discuss it? What did you think of it?
3 posted on 05/19/2002 1:36:50 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog
Tolkien never labeled himself a member of one party or another in England, though he seems to have favored the conservatives more than labour. He did, however, reveal his own politics rather forcefully. "My political opinions lean more and more to Anarchy (philosophically understood, meaning abolition of control not whiskered men with bombs)-or to 'unconstitutional' Monarchy," Tolkien wrote to his son Christopher. "I would arrest anybody who uses the word State (in any sense other than the inanimate realm 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!"

Monarchy and anarchy would seem to be diametrically opposed, so it's strange that someone could reconcile a preference for either one or the other.

And the irony of his statist desire to arrest statists is either amusing, or alarming--take your pick.

7 posted on 05/19/2002 5:48:54 PM PDT by sourcery
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