Niebuhr's book is not overly religious until the end, but all through out I could tell I was reading a book written by a theologian. And that's beautiful and fine, as long as we can admit it. So even as we talk about making the Middle East safe for freedom and democracy, even as we mindlessly claim that the natural destiny of all mankind is freedom, we are blind to our own selfish motives, our own animal interests. Niebuhr's awesome insight that man's attempt to be the director of history, blinds him to his role as actor, says so much about the world. It is patriotism for suckers, analagous to the parent who spoils the child in the name of love. The worst part about insisting America is always "a force for good" in the world is that it overstates our abilities, and understates our limits. And then most powerfully how our own sense of virtue and justness is blinding. The irony of Marxism, allegedly atheist, as a political religion, a kind of Apocalyptic cult. I was struck by a lot of things-The irony of securing freedom for the world through the threat of nuclear annihilation. You know you've read a great book when you can think of all the beautiful things you took away, while still clear that you missed quite a bit. I could only take so muchĪnyway, the book was incredible on many, many counts. Thinking is hard work-when I did reporting for the polling piece, I had to lay down for a minute because the minutiae made my head hurt. On my best days, I think I knocked out twenty or so. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.Has anyone ever taken as long to read 173 pages, as I took to read Reinhold Niebuhr's The Irony of American History? I found myself only able to consume, like, five-ten pages at a time. Understand, Frodo, I would use this Ring from the desire to do good. "Shire"? "Baggins"? But that will lead them here! Take it, Gandalf! Take it!ĭon't. I don't know how long they tortured him, but admist the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum, but the enemy found him first. There is one other who knew Bilbo had the Ring. No one knows it's here do they? Do they, Gandalf? We keep it hidden we never speak of it again. They are one, the Ring and the Dark Lord. Seeking it, all his thought is bent on it, and the Ring yearns above all else to reurn the hand of its Master. Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands in a second darkness. His Orcs have multiplied his fortress of Barad-dûr is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. His life-force is bound to the Ring, and the Ring survived. It's heard its Master's call.īut he was destroyed. For 60 years, the Ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. This is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron, in the fires of Mount Doom, taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.Frodo: But it cannot stay in the Shire!Gandalf: No! No, it can't.Frodo: What must I do? I don't know how long they tortured him, but admist the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words.Frodo: "Shire"? "Baggins"? But that will lead them here! Take it, Gandalf! Take it!Gandalf: No, Frodo.Frodo: You must take it!Gandalf: You cannot offer me this Ring!Frodo: I'm giving it to you!Gandalf: Don't. No one knows it's here do they? Do they, Gandalf?Gandalf: There is one other who knew Bilbo had the Ring. It's heard its Master's call.Frodo: But he was destroyed. Gandalf: This is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron, in the fires of Mount Doom, taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself.Frodo: Bilbo found it.
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