[Folwren]

Your honor, if I may...thank you.

However, since you seem to choose to disregard the evidence of His Excellency, the Steward of Gondor, I would like to point out that the actions of Faramir in dealing with the One Ring does, in fact, smack of stupidity. As you note, he doesn't even ask to see the Ring, but sends it off with Frodo. Those of us with 20/20 hindsight can see that this was ultimately the wise thing to do, but even Gandalf admits that the course of Denethor- the course that Faramir was bound to follow as an officer of the Gondorian army- was the prudent course. Faramir was stupidly disobeying his orders, and doing so for stupid reasons: "The Hobbits said that Gandalf said it was better."

Faramir was wise beyond your comprehension, evidently.

When he first met Frodo, he took him captive because he didn't have time to decide then and there. They talked about it some after the battle before going to his cave. During that short talk, he realized that Frodo's quest was something more than a hobbit's walking party and this was serious. He made a promise to Frodo somehwere in that time period (I can't remember if it was during the questioning or their walk) that he would not pick up the thing even if lay by the road side.
Later, when Sam let it slip that it was the Ring, Faramir realized just how powerful this thing that Frodo bore was. He'd heard the old tales and understood. What is more, Sam had pretty much told him what happened to Boromir. Knowing Boromir, Faramir knew immediately what he had fallen into with all the envy and lust for the thing. He had no desire to see it because he knew it wouldn't do any good for him, and it would only cause a lot of harm.

And he did not take the Hobbits back to Gondor because if he did, his father would get his nasty hands on the Ring and then everybody would fall. He knew his father, and he knew his pride. If he had taken the hobbits back to Minas Tirith, Middle-Earth would have been doomed. You know that as a fact! Faramir had no other choice than to do what he did! It was a difficult decision to make, and he made the best that he possibly could.

Faramir was most definitely lazy. As his actions during the War of the Ring will show, he allowed his brother, the much needed Captain-General of Gondor, to make the 100-day journey to Rivendell while he remained in a three day radius of the White City. Next, we present as evidence his reluctance at taking command of the men in Osgiliath, when he was, as Denethor noted, the most logical choice for command. Finally, although we have no EVIDENCE of a dereliction of duty, one will note that he was conspicuous among the prominent commanders of the Western alliance in his absence at both the Field of Pelennor and the Black Gate.

Oh, look it up! That's worse than your first accusation against him! He DID offer to go to Rivendel...he wanted to! But Boromir said he wanted to, and we all know which of the sons Denethor liked better! Faramir offered himself...he understood the dreams best, he should have gone! And then the Fellowship might not have split!

Also, he was quite unable to go onto the Field of Pelennor or to the Black Gate considering that he was on death's doorstep. He got wounded at the very beginning of battle, if you'll recall.

Worthless is a subjective term, and isn't one that can be made based so much on one person's decisions, but on the decisions of others concerning him. But take note of those who knew him well:

Boromir, although Faramir claims he was close to him, makes not a mention of him from Rivendell to his death, although he mentions his father several times. Denethor, as already noted, DOES indeed think him worthless. His wife-to-be, Eowyn, only accepts him as a second-best choice. Aragorn is so unconcerned with him, that he does not dispense with his chief rival, but goes so far as to make him prince, and his steward to boot. If he were concerned at all about him, he'd have the sense to make a less well-connected man, like Hurin of the Keys, his steward.

How many warriors of that time do you know that mentioned their brothers and/or sisters on journeys like that? Sam only mentioned one of his sisters, and he had several. Aragorn didn't talk about his people very much. He mentioned his Father because his Father just happened to be the head person in Minas Tirith at the time. I'll warrant you that if his father was just some random Captain of the Guard, then he wouldn't have been mentioned too many times.

Eowyn accepts him because she realizes that she was loving a shadow and a dream. She didn't really love Aragorn...she loved the Kingship and the Glory. Faramir was an awesome man...strong, smart, calm, patient, gentle, though also a warrior. How could any woman not fall in love with him?

Aragorn chose him as his Steward because that was his rightful place, having been the son of the former Steward. (Therefore showing that he isn't worthless.)

Clearly, his is anything but lazy, stupid, and worthless. Faramir had better stay.

Faramir makes dull viewing. Plain and simple. And he's not as pure as you would wish him to be. He has now hired two lawyers in a blatant attempt to influence the voting. A clear breach of the rules of the game. He is most undeserving of the prize. That would send out all the wrong kinds of messages.

I can't help but laugh at you, Saucey. Don't you know? Only the best people have two lawyers!!

-- Folwren