[Keneldil the Polka-dot]

I did go check out those threads(thanks for the links [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] ), and while I did appreciate the discussion it didn't take that for me to come to the conclusion Tolkien wasn't a racist. What evidence do you need other than to read Tolkien's work, read about his life, and then judge for yourself? Tolkien wasn't what you'd call politically correct, but he was never a racist.

There are always those people who are going to pick apart something popular for the purpose of advancing an agenda. Where was this Dr. Shapiro before the movies came out? His arguments look like the kind you'd see when a person starts with an idea in their head already, and then just looks for evidence to support their pre-formed conclusions.

BTW.....well said Squatter. I appreciate your even handed comments on how Shapiro may have arrived at his opinions, even if I may be skeptical. If one narrowed their view to only those things he was quoted as saying in that article, then yes I can see where he is coming from. But as Squatter pointed out, there are lots of non-racist themes in Tolkien's work, and nothing to show from his life that would indicate a racist attitude.