So, in a book community i joined last year, someone posted that they had read The Fellowship of the Ring. I decided to overlook the missing R in "J.R.R." & look it over. But it was somewhat irksome, because this person mentioned something about the genders not being equal. Now, really, i'm sure that seems like the most obvious thing, but ever since reading essays in The People's Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien, things like this make me roll my eyes. There's a particularly good essay in there on the subject of women in Middle-earth-- written by a woman, if i'm remembering aright-- that basically ends that maybe the men should be annoyed that Tolkien stereotyped them in the roles of wall building & fighting & the like. True, for someone like me, i can't see why Rosie is content to be a traditional role, or why anyone would be content to do that; i've always been of Éowyn's view: Why should i wait here while you go off & do great deeds, & then have to feed you & all that when you get back?

But really, take the entire history of Middle-earth into consideration & you can come up with some very formidable women: Galadriel, Lúthien, Haleth, Aredhel (until Eol the creep, i'd say), Éowyn... and then Arwen doing a bit of what Lúthien did, in willingly giving up her immortality (& thus, everything & everyone she knew, really) to marry Aragorn. In the essay, it's mentioned that you're never given time alone with Arwen, & that to tell her side of things would have slowed the story down considerably. And, in the Extended RotK discs, they mention that Tolkien sides very much with Arwen, & that she is important because she apparently introduces the theme of death. They also mentioned that Tolkien kind of put women on a pedestal; that the death of his wife devastated him. In the essay (as well as the DVD), they mention that on their tombstone, Edith is Lúthien & Tolkien is Beren. The very incident in which Beren stumbles across Lúthien relates back to Tolkien's life, when his wife danced for him. I'm babbling about things everyone who's ever read the books knows about, but i mean, really. Some people.

Thank & the whole "Tolkien was racist!" thing. Mythology for England= England in the past= populated by people with pasty skin. And just because the men of Harad & the Southrons were under the sway of Sauron means nothing; does no one remember Sam's musing in Towers? (They gave it to Faramir in the movie.) Tolkien never says whether they were really evil, &, having been in war himself, he probably wouldn't have made them thus. Maybe they were forced by Sauron, maybe their leaders became like Ar-Pharazon, you never know. But it's war, so it's killed or be killed, & so Faramir & his Rangers would obviously attack people on their way to strengthen Mordor's ranks. But some people are too stupid, too PC driven to see anything clearly. (That essay made another good point: if instead Tolkien had been interested in some other culture's mythology, he would've been accused of being the white colonizer, trying to take away from whatever culture it was.)

Meanwhile, i still don't think i've been officially stamped at hetalia_stamp, though my application is old & has been pushed probably to the tenth page or so... Come on, the majority says Canada, so just go with it.

....and there's this fluffy sheep ornament that i've had hanging here for forever, but now when i look at it, it reminds me of Latvia being eaten by that sheep... Poor Estonia; haha.

Quizzes:

You Are Buttermilk Pancakes

Your prefer traditional, old fashioned foods. You shy away from anything fake, and you like meals with simple ingredients. It's not likely someone would find margarine or diet soda in your kitchen. Instead, someone might find a loaf of homemade bread baking or a soup simmering.

You Are Puzzled Over

You are quirky, complicated, and brilliant. You tend to feel a bit misunderstood by everyone, and that troubles you. It's likely that you will have four or more children... whether you use birth control or not! You are not easily moved. You are very stoic and not though of as an emotional person. You are very detail oriented and tidy. Some may even call you obsessive. You are quite conservative. You are neither a flirter or a flaunter.

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it! You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing. Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities. And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

You Will Sleep With 1 Person

Better get cracking!

You Should Be a Cherry Redhead

Sexy, dramatic, but still sweetly feminine. Perfect for getting out of the hair color doldrums!

You Are Copper

You are provocative and challenging. You help people realize who they really are. You live a very balanced life. You always take time for love and art. You are both a powerful and generous person. You always have time to give back. People find you to be incredibly ethical and loyal.

Ok, here's a "wtf" moment:

You Are Mostly Secure

In general, you feel confident and together. But the wrong thing can happen, and all of a sudden, you're not feeling so secure. Luckily, your insecurities don't last long... at least, not usually. So the next time you're feeling insecure, try to snap out of it - and remember the confident woman you are!

You Lack Confidence

You're not so sure of yourself - and it shows more than you think Your lack of confidence affects your friendships, career, and romantic life People know that they can take advantage of you, because you won't stand up to them Start realizing that you're great the way you are, and almost everything in your life will improve

You Are the Superego

While some people may think first and act later... you often don't act at all. You rather be safe than sorry, and you take ethics pretty seriously. Like everyone, you have some pretty crazy desires. But unlike everyone, you restrain yourself. You have high standards for your own behavior. And you happily exceed them.

You Are Bold When it Counts

You don't make a big fuss about getting what you want... unless it's really important to you. Then you're as bold as you want to be. You just go for it! You're often up for a little excitement and adventure. Well, as long as the cost isn't too great. You enjoy risk, but not for it's own sake. Let's just say you've learned a few lessons about risk in your life.

You Are 51% Non Conformist

You definitely have your freak flag out, and from time to time, you wave it. You have some pretty strong opinions, and you're not afraid to express them.

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

You Are 35% Kissable

Believe it or not, you are generally not very kissable. Someone who loves you may be able to kiss you anyway, but it could be more enjoyable. Make sure you have the freshest breath and whitest teeth possible. And relax a little! If you seem confident and healthy, you will get kissed a lot more.

Your Favorite Color Says You're Elegant

Timeless --- Stylish --- Sophisticated Overpowering --- Intimidating --- Dominant Perfectionist --- Controlling --- Competent

Your Favorite Color Says You're Tender

Emotional --- Affected --- Sensitive Peaceful --- Tranquil --- Connected Spiritual --- Experimental --- Deep

You Are 22% Open

You are open at times, but generally you don't let many people into your inner world. It's possible that you have a friend or two that knows you well. But to most people, you are a total mystery.

You Are 35% Hyper

You aren't exactly hyper, but no one would accuse you of being lazy either. You have enough drive to get everything done - with energy to spare. You don't get overly worked up or rushed. You'll happily take your time. And you definitely enjoy your down time. You can only be hyper for so long. Unlike more hyper types, you don't have a ton of interests and friends. You prefer concentrating on what matters to spreading yourself too thin.

You Are a Drama Princess (or Prince)

You're not over the top dramatic, but you have your moments. You know how to steal the spotlight... And how to act out to get your way. People around you know that you're good for a laugh. But at times, your drama gets a bit too much for everyone. Tone it down a tad, and you'll still be the center of attention.

You Are 48% Selfish

You are quite balanced. You are able to compromise when it's in the best interests of those involved. But you're no pushover. If something is important to you, you'll get it!

You Are 48% Cynical

Yes, you are cynical, but more than anything, you're a realist. You see what's screwed up in the world, but you also take time to remember what's right.

You Live Your Life Silently

You seem to be straight forward, but you keep a lot inside. You tend to avoid confrontation and stay away from sticky situations. You prefer a variety of friends and tend to change friends quickly. Some of your past dreams have disappointed you, but you don't let it get you down.

You Are a Hat With Flaps

You are fun loving, cheerful, and even pretty cute most of the time. You use fashion to play. You never take style all that seriously. You're the type most likely to wear a funny t-shirt or goofy hat. But when it comes time to clean up, you clean up nicely.

Your Inner Child Is Sad

You're a very sensitive soul. You haven't grown that thick skin that most adults have. Easily hurt, you tend to retreat to your comfort zone. You don't let many people in - unless you've trusted them for a long time.

12:06 a.m. | January 12, 2009

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