Myth Meets Real Life (Lord of the Rings and the Present Crisis)

Breakpoint ^ | Dec 16, 03 | Charles Colson

[SLB]

Tomorrow, The Return of the King, the final chapter in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, opens in theaters across the country. At the press event earlier this month in Los Angeles, the cast and crew reflected on the experience of making the films: the friendships, camaraderie, and hardships.

The film, of course, has a great message, but one cast member added a powerful—if politically incorrect—perspective of his own. He talked about how the crises and challenges depicted in Tolkien’s mythical world might help us cope with those we confront in our world today.

John Rhys-Davies, who plays Gimli the dwarf, told writers that “the older I get, the more certain I am of the presence of evil” in the world. Such a declaration by itself sets Rhys-Davies apart from many in the entertainment industry. But the British actor didn’t stop there. He said that Tolkien was “basically saying” that there are “times when a generation may be challenged. And if that generation does not rise to meet that challenge, you could lose an entire civilization.”

According to Rhys-Davies, this message has a “huge resonance for today.” For someone who, as he put it, believes in “Judeo-Greek-Christian-Western civilization,” recent developments, especially in Europe, are a “catastrophe.”

The civilization that has given us “democracy, the equality of women, the abolition of slavery . . . and the right to true intellectual dissent” is under assault—specifically, Rhys-Davies noted, under assault by radical Islam. Instead of resisting that assault, parts of the Western world—and here, he’s referring to Europe—are committing cultural suicide.

Rhys-Davies pointed to demographic trends in Europe here, in some cases, the majority of children being born are the children of Muslim immigrants. While it’s politically incorrect to notice this fact, it’s folly to ignore the cultural implications.

The actor also expressed his support for the war in Iraq. He called it “extraordinary” and called Americans “the most optimistic people in the whole . . . world.” He noted that no one believed that you could democratize Germany and Japan after World War II. Now, we’re trying to do the same in the Middle East .

Now, views like these don’t exactly endear Rhys-Davies to many of his fellow actors. As he put it, he takes a “lot of stick” for his views. Still, the benefits of Western civilization are so great that the alternative isn’t some multicultural paradise. It’s darkness. In Tolkien’s language, it’s the Orcs, Uruk-hai, and Sauron.

These are strong, but necessary words. Our culture is hesitant to use the word evil, refusing even to recognize what’s at stake in places like Iraq. Nowhere is this refusal more adamant than in the industry of which Rhys-Davies is a part. Yet, not a single one of Rhys-Davies’s critics—those “giving him stick”—would dream of giving up the benefits of Western civilization. They’re not willing to pay the price for its defense, beginning with the acknowledgment that it’s under attack.

But that price must be paid. As the trailer for The Return of the King tells us, “there is no freedom without sacrifice.” Tolkien understood that, and so does the man who brought his heroic dwarf to life on the big screen.

[AD from SpringBay]

Amen Gimli son of Gloin!

[MrConfettiMan]

Mr. McKellen may understand that being an actor and talking politics on the world stage simply having to do with each other. Don't we wish all actors had the same insight...

[MrConfettiMan]

ping

[OXENinFLA]

PEACE IN MIDDLE EARTH IN OUR TIME MINAS TIRITH (Gondor News Network) -

Thousands of peace activists took to the streets of Minas Tirith and other cities of Middle Earth today to protest what they termed a rush to war with Mordor. "We need more time for diplomacy," said a key member of the Middle-Earth Security Council, Saruman the White. "I am not convinced by the evidence presented by my esteemed colleague, Gandalf the Grey, or that the Dark Lord Sauron presents an imminent danger to the peoples of the West."

Many of the people protesting war in Mordor agreed with Saruman's remarks. "Sauron says he's destroyed his Rings of Mass Destruction (RMD) and that's good enough for me," said one fellow carrying a sign that said "Elrond is a Balrog." Another demonstrator urged, "Give the RMD inspectors more time. There's no reason to rush to any judgment just because Mount Doom is belching lava, the Dark Tower is rebuilt, and Osgiliath has been decimated." A third protester piped up, "I haven't heard a single bit of convincing evidence connecting the Nazgul with Sauron. I think they destroyed Osgiliath on their own initiative without any support from Sauron. Besides, it's understandable they're angry with Gondor. We haven't done nearly as much for the Orcs and Goblins and Easterlings as the Nazgul and Sauron have. It's understandable they throw their support to them. It's our own fault really."

As the protesters continued their march through the city, they chanted, "No blood for Mount Doom," voicing a common sentiment that the leaders of the Western peoples are really seeking to get their hands on the powerful Mount Doom, where the One Ring of Power was allegedly forged. Gandalf the Grey was unavailable for comment. A spokesman said he was in an undisclosed underground location, which sources have revealed is codenamed: Moria.

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Found this on FR back in Feb.

[Donaeus]

John Rhys-Davies gets it.

John Rhys-Davies, who plays Gimli the dwarf, told writers that “the older I get, the more certain I am of the presence of evil” in the world. Such a declaration by itself sets Rhys-Davies apart from many in the entertainment industry. But the British actor didn’t stop there. He said that Tolkien was “basically saying” that there are “times when a generation may be challenged. And if that generation does not rise to meet that challenge, you could lose an entire civilization.”

Kinda puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

[af_vet_1981]

ROFL

[Pippin]

I'll say! :O)

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

There and Back Again: The Journeys of Flat Frodo

Anyone wishing to be added to or removed from the Ring-Ping list, please don't hesitate to let me know.

[discostu]

Notice that niether Vigo nor Ian were on the commentary for the second movie. Notice also that Sean did aknowledge there are things worth fighting for, he just wants to avoid fighting with war, and that's not such a bad thing war is a good thing to avoid when possible.

[discostu]

Don't. The Ian thing is about 5 minutes (spread out) on one of 4 commentary tracks for a 3 hour and 40 minute movie. The war discussion (more of a discussion because Rhys-Davies politely disagrees with Sean Astin) takes about 10 minutes on one of 4 commentary tracks for the other 3 hour and 40 minute movie. So out of close to 30 hours of commentary (just the commentary, not including the 20 hours of OTHER extras... these box sets are really over the top) about 15 minutes are liberal pukes.

[HairOfTheDog]

Funny how Colson didn't mention the drivel coming out of Viggo Mortenson's mouth at the CANSWER rallies, or the long and uncalled for anti-war rant on the latest box set, nor about how the guy that played Gandalf thought Sam and Frodo's relationship was a good thing for "gay rights."

Colson and John Rhys-Davies are trying to ~answer~ that.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

LOL!

[SpookBrat]

Wow! What a powerful thing to share. Thanks for pinging me.

As a fervent Catholic, a veteran of the Somme, and a genuine scholar of Nordic cultures, Tolkien was not blind to these events. In 1938, Tolkien denounced the Nazis’ "wholly pernicious and unscientific race-doctrine." When German publishers Rütten and Loening wished to translate The Hobbit from English, they wrote him, inquiring whether his name was of "Aryan" origin. Tolkien’s reply dripped scorn:

I regret that I am not clear as to what you intend by arisch. I am not of Aryan extraction: that is, Indo-Iranian; as far as I am aware none of my ancestors spoke Hindustani, Persian, Gypsy, or any related dialects. But if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.

As he would write his son, Michael, in 1941 (then a cadet training for the British army):

...I have in this War a burning private grudge—which would probably make me a better soldier at 49 than I was at 22: against that ruddy little ignoramus Adolf Hitler... Ruining, perverting, misapplying, and making for ever accursed, that noble, northern spirit, a supreme contribution to Europe, which I have ever loved, and tried to present in its true light. Nowhere, incidentally, was it nobler than in England, nor ever more early sanctified and Christianized.

[Donaeus]

You're welcome! I thought this was too important to miss. I've always been very impressed with Tolkien and after reading your historical note I'm even more impressed.

Isn't it amazing how honor and integrity bears out in the actions and attitudes of one's characters when it truly emmanates from the author?

[Rummyfan]

Bump for John Rhys-Davies.... he offsets Viggo the Ido and Gandalf the Radical Gay.

I'm still planning on seeing the flick though - probaly on Wednesday.

[Dead Dog]

Apparently each race in Tolken's books represents earthly nations.

I figure the Hobits are english..I'm not sure of the rest.

[sweetliberty]

BRAVO! But I thought we were supposed to boycott ROTK because Viggo Mortensen is an ideological idiot against the war. < /sarcasm >

"In Tolkien’s language, it’s the Orcs, Uruk-hai, and Sauron."

.

[sweetliberty]

"Hillary makes a great Grima Wormtongue"

I see Hillary as Sauroman and Wormtongue as any one of her flunkees.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

How about Donna Shilela?

ewww!

[sweetliberty]

Ping!