tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post3909182437720692397..comments2023-10-21T03:54:12.029-04:00Comments on A Gift Universe: Tolkien, because fair's fairSheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-67621453970490573322020-09-14T17:02:11.039-04:002020-09-14T17:02:11.039-04:00I often think that, but there's no convenient ...I often think that, but there's no convenient way to split it. The edges get along better than the middle, but even every state is divided to some degree within itself.<br /><br />And there's something to be said, if we could only act like a nation, to having the resources to help out when there's a disaster in one part of the country that spares the rest. We would just have to....you know, actually do that. And have a functioning federal government to administer it.Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-44035348892584796632020-09-14T16:59:36.108-04:002020-09-14T16:59:36.108-04:00An opinion piece in the NY Times argued that maybe...An opinion piece in the NY Times argued that maybe the USA is just too big and too disparate to succeed at this point as one nation. I.e. maybe it should split up. I am not all against that. Why should a state w/ declining population like Wyoming have two senators and Washington DC has a greater population and no senators? Etcficino4mlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00805116221735364590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-36632176972331975832020-09-14T16:00:37.411-04:002020-09-14T16:00:37.411-04:00Actually this gets me thinking.... I've heard ...Actually this gets me thinking.... I've heard nationalism suggested as a force which makes citizens feel a bond to their neighbors and some responsibility for the success of the nation as a whole. But America has lots of nationalism and no solidarity to speak of. NYC was racked with plague and that was their problem; the Midwest flooded and that was their problem; now the West is on fire and people are saying that's only their problem. Are we even a nation anymore? Or just a collection of competing interests, with flag pins stuck on?Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-3825592898357161062020-09-14T15:57:46.280-04:002020-09-14T15:57:46.280-04:00I have no idea when it happened. It doesn't ma...I have no idea when it happened. It doesn't make sense that it should happen here at all, where white people ALL know there's no relationship between our blood and our soil. But perhaps the lack of it just makes the desire for it, and the irrational denial of counterevidence, all the stronger. Plus, as you point out, our failure to do anything else.Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-45537637421928802722020-09-14T14:10:49.297-04:002020-09-14T14:10:49.297-04:00Sheila, you wrote "The whole concept of a rom...Sheila, you wrote "The whole concept of a romanticized ideal of a nation, with a founding mythos and so on, is a counter-Enlightenment concept which has led to fascism more than once, in more than one country. Instead of saying "we love our country because it has a good government and is fair to everyone," these myths teach us to say, "I love my country because I am English and we are special."<br /><br />For years I puzzled over the idea of creating a founding mythos for America."<br /><br />I think this is very true about the changes I feel I'm seeing now. Instead of Americans' being united because we decide to share in a common enterprise for everyone's good (which was the story I grew up with), it seems as though big parts of the electorate now want to lay claim to a concept of nation rooted in sacred ties of blood and soil - ties that are not shared by groups they anathematize. I get the impression they hate libtards (and other groups) for literally not being real Americans or for being what they consider traitors to the blood and soil conception of America.<br /><br />Has all this happened because for the last 40 years or so now, working people have more and more been shut out of the room in which those who direct the "common enterprise" direct it? Yes, I suppose so.ficino4mlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00805116221735364590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-77816254520294518082020-09-07T14:15:54.278-04:002020-09-07T14:15:54.278-04:00You do know that we live in a republic where both ...You do know that we live in a republic where both presidential candidates exemplify Dunning-Kruger to a degree so absurd that if one didn't know any better, it would almost be a Chekov play? Also, Hitler, ascended into office by democratic vote. Your criticism of monarchy still holds true, of course, but majoritarian rule in and of itself is no defense against tyranny and misrule.<br /><br />I'm not sure where you get the idea that Aragorn being Dunedain was by itself what made him worthy of Arwen. If he had just "sat around" being Chieftain of the Dunedain, Elrond never would have consented to the marriage. He had to prove himself; he learned how to fight, volunteered to be a grunt in two armies, worked his way to the top, learned the arts of leadership and statecraft through hard work and lots of on-the-job training, and had to get his kingdom back and liberated before he could be allowed to do so. And it took him 69 years to accomplish this. Don't like blood-line monarchy? I get that. But do not blind yourself to Aragorn's very real achievements and hard work.<br /><br />I also wouldn't say the Rangers were doing nothing in Arnor; if I'm being cheeky, one could say they were the #Resistance of their day, engaging in low-level insurgency to keep the Shire and the rest of the Northern Realms somewhat safe to live in, spying on Sauron and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Charlemagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935899105940585444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-10552016683645041682020-09-06T17:30:30.577-04:002020-09-06T17:30:30.577-04:00Even the "familial determinism" re: Arag...Even the "familial determinism" re: Aragorn is VERY thinly veiled racial determinism. The kings of Gondor are special, magical, handsome, etc. because they have elf blood.Megan Snoreply@blogger.com