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I've never thought of the Osama/Sauron connection... despite your haste in trying to finish it, your essay is very good!
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I think that you were right not to think of the bin Laden/Sauron connection before. I consider it a terrible misinterpretation of both international politics and the character of Tolkien's work to make such a comparison. Sauron is, if anything, the ultimate politician: pure ambition, unalloyed with pity, compassion, guilt or responsibility. He is a master of propaganda, manipulating the truth achieve his ends. Witness his use of the Mithril coat at the Morannon, and his expert manipulation of the people of Númenor, gradually turning them from nobility to wickedness. He can twist the truth in ways that would make even government statisticians jealous.
Basically my point is that Sauron displays character traits that are found in successful leaders in all societies, not just international terrorists. Sauron is different because greed is his only motivation. He doesn't want popularity or progress; he isn't even fighting for a cause. Nor is wealth his aim, although he does covet Mithril. Sauron is greedy for control, and will do anything to get it. I can't think of a single major figure on the world stage that doesn't have that desire somewhere in their character.
Incidentally, I think it prudent to point out that I don't believe we should discuss politics here. Tolkien placed no political allegories into his work, which rather conveniently frees us from the need to use this literary forum to prove how easily an Orwellian hate figure can be produced by a free press.
[ October 20, 2002: Message edited by: Squatter of Amon Rudh ]