My point exactly. The Shire was not removed from the convulsions of a world and it was only through the determination of 4 Hobbits, and their ability to apply stategies and bravery learned from their experiences that a seed of darkness did not just grow back again. The Scouring of the Shire shows how without local self-determination, the big War of the Ring would have been a Pyrrhic victory at best.
The Shirelings who wanted nothing to do with the bigger world found themselves in Hell because of their insularity. This is why heroes dominate our storytelling and not common people. The sheep have always needed shepherds. Only solution is to stand on two legs. Firmly.
That was my favourite part of the book & of great disappointment that it was not part of the film, on reflection it does seem like it was omitted because it had a "step out" effect from fantasy into reality.
We did see a taster of this last year at the Bundy Ranch with vets standing up to the feds, what percentage of the population being awake & sovereign would amount to four "tooled up" hobbits one wonders ?
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Public and emphatic thanks for your Musings video Rad!
I like much of your presentation, but the main talking point that I wish to emphasize was this one:
"'Are you the anthropos, or are you humanity (monsters)?' [...] Let's be heroes; you know, that's our role, let's be heroes. Let's be the god-beings and let's make it great."
This concept is at the core of my own pursuits, and I couldn't agree more. On the one hand it involves supporting and collaborating with those who identify as (and are identifiable as) the anthropos, on the other it involves developing the means to stimulate and inspire those who identify as (and are identifiable as) humanity (monsters) so that all participants - young and old, neophyte and adept, green and seasoned - become/progress (as) heroes.
Part of the problem of heroes is that - in the modern lexicon - the term 'hero' is tied to the concept of myth/legend, as in either 'fictitious', or 'ancient/antiquated'. There are examples of heroism - and even heroes - in contemporary individuals but they are the vast exception and are paid lip service at best, and are entirely (deliberately) ignored or worse, fabricated and artificial. A hero in the legendary sense was a person who either redefined the paradigm or who set a new precedence of possibility. This involves a level of outstanding emergence and expression that is quite simply suppressed in 'socialized etiquette'; ever hear the phrases "Don't rock the boat" or "Don't make waves"?
I appreciate that you have deliberately begun to stand out; it is literally outstanding, and it is the first step in inspiring the emergence of the anthropos in those who otherwise depict 'humanity'.
Consider this as an example of a hero; the individual depicted is not a 'shining example of goodness or morality' (no that he isn't, I have no idea), but as far as emergence and innovation (or re-introduction) he has definitely begun to redefine the modern perception.
Not to be misconstrued, I refer to this guy as another example of an individual being outstanding in their chosen pursuit. Heroism in this sense is 'going beyond the norm', in an exemplary (i.e. as an example) manner.
Last edited by Shezbeth, 25th January 2015 at 12:24.
Reason: This is better than coffee!
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