Quote for 2008, On War

"War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend..."

  Faramir, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Comments

[susan]

Nice. You are one of the few who enjoys the war of literary and game device, yet understands the real world as its base. Too many folk like to believe they are against war (aren't we all--if there was a better way?) yet jump with glee at the blood shed subliminally through fantasy.

[Josh]

I don't think a quote could better sum up a Christian conservative's approach to war. As you say, war for war's sake (fiction or non) is not agreeable; and there is a hypocrisy when I hear the lib working at the video game store lambasting President Bush and Iraq, then eagerly puts over Call of Duty 2 or Clancy's SOCOM in his next breath. That's why I cannot stand the "anti-war" label--it is completely misleading, for isn't every decent human being anti-war?

The only part of that quote that makes me wince due to today's culture is the "warrior" phrase when combined with the last sentence (and I stopped the quote there because it referenced Minas Tirith specifically thereafter). I can see many people intepreting that to fit their anti-U.S. military/anti-war agenda.

I may not love the warrior for his glory, but I do love the warrior for his self-sacrifice to defend. Faramir (and his bretheren) may feel a bit differently since war was likely to be his/their destiny from birth; I think of the same thing when I see anti-war veterans from Vietnam. But today the U.S. enjoys the luxury of a well-trained volunteer Armed Forces, and thus the warrior should be loved--and supported at home AND in his mission abroad--at the least for his selfless choice.

[Josh]

BTW, the full quote for those wondering:

"War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Númenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom. Not feared, save as men may fear the dignity of a man, old and wise."

[Thomas]

Funny thing. I was just watching Return of the King last night and I seriously wondered if we were at the deep breath before the plunge...

In watching the Two Towers years ago in the theater, when Eomer trumpeted, "To the KING!" on the slope leading down to Helms Deep, the movie crowd roared. The faithful general of Rohan, who was previously exiled, returned to defend the King and Rohan. This has obvious echoes in Lancelot returning to defend King Arthur in that final battle with Mordred and it speaks to the core of us as a people.

Outside that movie, in our real lives, we were, and still are, at war. Our "King", President Bush, stood alone then as he stands alone now. For seven years he has withstood relentless accusations, undermining, and treason within his own ranks-- much like Rohan and later Gondor in the Lord of the Rings.

We cheered and roared in the movie as the Rohirrim rallied to the king while in real life, many of us, the American people, didn't rally to the "king". The American people shrugged off most of the accusations in 2004 and re-elected President Bush, but it's been a long silence from his defenders since then. I don't agree with all his policies, particularly his domestic policies, but against foreign enemies in time of war, we should be one company in the goal of victory.

And now in the waning months of his Presidency, it looks like this might be the year our enemies move against us. We have overt treason within our country that would make Benedict Arnold's treachery look like child's play. As Gandalf said, the pieces are set, and they are ready to move, but the curious thing about it all is that it could be this year or it could be 20 years off. This level of crisis can stay in a holding pattern for quite a while before all the cards fall down.

[Josh]

Excellent points all, Master Thomas :-)