Posted on 01/01/2007 11:32:48 AM PST by grey_whiskers
J.R.R. Tolkien, in his masterpiece The Lord of The Rings, gave the following description of Hobbits as a people:
Nonetheless, ease and peace had left this people still curiously tough. They were, if it came to it, difficult to daunt or to kill; and they were, perhaps, so unwearingly fond of good things not least because they could, when put to it, do without them, and could survive rough handling by grief, foe, or weather in a way that astonished those who did not know them well and looked no further than their bellies and their well-fed faces. Though slow to quarrel, and for sport killing nothing that lived, they were doughty at bay, and at need could still handle arms.
Let us compare this quote to a number of accusations which have been leveled against Americans from many sources.
Mullah Jalaluddin Haqqani, October 2001, about Americans fighting in Afghanistan:
“"We are eagerly awaiting the American troops to land on our soil, where we will deal with them in our own way. I tell you the Soviets were a brave enemy and their soldiers could withstand tough conditions. The Americans are creatures of comfort. They will not be able to sustain the harsh conditions that await them."”(Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,36946,00.html)
Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, the official spokesman of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard: "The mismanagement and the mishandling of the acute psychological problems brought about by Hurricane Katrina clearly showed that others can, at any given time, create a devastated war zone in any part of the U.S." said Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, the official spokesman of the Revolutionary Guard. (Source: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46267 )
Osama bin Laden:” "It has been made clear during our defending and fighting against the American enemy that this enemy's combat strategy is heavily dependent on the psychological aspect of war due to its large and efficient media apparatus and of course its indiscriminate aerial bombing which hides the cowardice and lack of fighting spirit of the American soldier.” (Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060905-7.html)
Al-Zarhawi"This is the fumbling that precedes the defeat. Bush and Blair are hiding the true disaster they are facing in Iraq and Afghanistan. They know better than others that there is no hope in victory. The Vietnam specter is closing every outlet." (Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060905-7.html)
It is clear that our enemies believe, or they wish that everyone believes, that America is really a weak country. A paper tiger if you will. Now, I can see grounds for *some* of their criticisms. The mention of “psychological problems” along with “Vietnam specter” immediately brings to mind…John Kerry. Wormtongues can be found in other houses besides Saruman’s. (Or, since we are discussing hobbits, maybe Ted Sandyman would be a better example.)
But does this mean that Americans as a whole are weak, or are unwilling to fight? Consider the story of Monica Beltran. Continuing to fight with a bone shattered by a bullet? Yes, a real “creature of comfort.” Sometimes, it takes actually facing a peril—as opposed to say, peppering your own rear with rice fragments—to teach you the worth of valour.
As far as the indiscriminate aerial bombing goes, I believe that Al-Zarqawi would have disageed. Before a pair of ‘indiscriminate’ laser guided 500-lb bombs hit his house dead center…Like the hobbits, America has not lost her touch, nor her skill with weapons at need.
And speaking of valour, we would do well to recall one more famous anti-American quote of recent memory:
“Remember the valiant Iraqi peasant and how he shot down an American Apache with an old weapon.”
Do you know who said that?
Saddam Hussein.
Sic semper tyrannis..
If Americans are hobbits, who's Gandalf?
LeBron James.
Cheers!
I'm with you there.
At least its not Regis Philbin.
I'd rather be a Nazgul!
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Americans certainly are descended from the British...and Tolkien based Hobbits on one [particularly appealing] aspect of the British national personality circa the very early 20th century. So a connection is certainly "in the genes".
No, no, and no. Tolkien was addressing the Industrial Revolution and in some ways the walk of a Christian. Quit twisting a timeless piece of literature to justify US foreign policy
Ping
She already beat ya to it...
One does not preclude the other.
I enjoy my comforts. I see little virtue in sleeping on the cold ground when you have the ability to have a warm bed or to eat dry bread and beans when a seven course meal awaits.
Does that mean I am unwilling to fight? Nah! It just means that I take no joy in crushing you to powder. In fact it annoys me because I had other plans involving sitting under my own vine and fig tree with a nice book and maybe some tunes.
But just because I had other plans does not mean that if you push me hard enough that I won't change them.
She does that...
Cheers!
I'm a hobbit!
AND!
I'm now the same age as Frodo and Bilbo when they started thier adventures!
50! :o)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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