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L. Neil Smith's THE LIBERTARIAN ENTERPRISE Number 253, January 4, 2004 Free Hunter!
I Have a Dream
Special to TLE The final chapter of the Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies opened on December 17, and was expected from Day One to break box office records (and it did). I decided to see the movie at an 11:30 a.m. matine�, partly because I wanted to have as much of the day left as possible (the movie runs a very long three and a half hours), but also because Saturday morning isn't exactly prime time for movie goers and I'm not fond of crowded theatres. I congratulated myself for arriving at the theatre by 11:15 a.m., but I'm sorry to say that my self-satisfaction was dashed almost immediately. Imagine my surprise to discover that—in a small town, on a Saturday morning of the last shopping weekend before Christmas, and on a day when the mercury barely reached 20 degrees—there was a line for tickets. A long line. The J.R.R. Tolkien books on which the movies are based are beloved by teenaged boys everywhere. But as I walked to take my place at the end of the line, I took notice of something peculiar. Though the line did have its share of the stereotypical teenaged male nerd, it also boasted adults of all ages and of several apparent economic stratas. Teenaged girls giggled while they waited their turn. Families with children as young as 5 or 6 got to the box office and asked for six tickets, all for the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. And I, for all my planning in advance, had to get a ticket for the 12 o'clock show because the 11:30 show was sold out by the time I got to the head of the line. Certainly, the Lord of the Rings series of movies are very good (in fact, they're some of the best I've ever seen). But fantasy movies, as a rule, don't have an across-the-spectrum appeal, and are more often than not films successful with a niche audience only. So what is it that's bringing in such enthusiastic and diverse crowds to what is widely considered a story that actually defines the fantasy genre? Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy of novels covers a very complex plot involving highly detailed cultures and societies for dwarves, elves, hobbits, and men. But, simplistically speaking, the Lord of the Rings is the story of an evil wizard who gathers an army so that he can defeat the good guys of Middle Earth and run things himself. The good guys, who just want to live their lives without interference, fight back. But the bad guy is incredibly powerful, and his forces are awesome. The good guys have an uphill battle ahead of them, and they're pretty sure that they're going to lose in the end. But they fight anyway because they won't simply lie down and let evil win. One of the more surprising heroes of the Lord of the Rings story is a hobbit named Frodo. Hobbits aren't very big or strong, and they're not unusually intelligent or particularly adventurous. In other words, they're a lot like very ordinary people (only shorter). Frodo doesn't want to be a hero. But when he doesn't have a choice, he surprises everyone including himself by being determined enough— and with the help of some friends—to get the job done. Aragorn is also a reluctant hero. He's a man with a past he'd just as soon forget, and he does a fine job until he's called upon to help Frodo. For honor's sake, he does. Aragorn is a born leader, but one who is willing to listen to others and take their advice. He's charismatic, but humble. And he's willing to die for those he leads. Legolas is an elven prince who, like most of his people, loathes dwarves. But when he must fight alongside the dwarf Gimli, he learns that dwarves have their good points. Gimli, who is at least as leery of Legolas in return, also discovers that elves aren't so bad. These two, who in other times might never have seen eye to eye, fight side by side and become not only comrades in arms but true friends. And Gandalf, the mysterious wizard, is a friend and mentor to them all. Unlike some of the teenaged boys I mentioned earlier, my reading interests are broader than the fantasy or science fiction that I do confess I love. I also read a lot of horror, for example, as well as some contemporary novels such as those by Tom Clancy or John Grisham. And I enjoy American history quite a bit. The latter might explain why, for some years now, my own fantasy resembles the historical events of 1776 much more than it does the fictional battle for Middle Earth. I have dreamed of a modern day Thomas Jefferson who embodies the leadership qualities combined with the intelligence and integrity we need to cut back on the powers of what has become a virtually all powerful state. I have wished for a new Sam (or Samantha!) Adams who would incite the more apathetic members of the public to take constructive political action, again toward dismantling (or at least delaying) the predations of an all powerful state. I have hoped for an updated version of Benjamin Franklin who would work to educate and inspire the masses now as the original did then in an ongoing effort to mitigate the effects of an all powerful state. But there's no record-breaking movie in America today that depicts Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin as heroes who fought against the tyranny of the English King. Instead, there's a fantasy movie that shows Frodo, Aragon, and Gandalf the Wizard working to stop the evil machinations of a dark wizard and his minions. But, fire-breathing dragons and magically enhanced elven swords aside, I don't know that there's all that much of a difference between the two, at least in general terms. Perhaps so many people are caught up in the fate of Middle Earth because they recognize, even if only subconsciously, some kind of a parallel to our own reality. After all, there most certainly is something bad in a not-so-distant place, something that is seeking to curtail more more and more of our freedoms, something that is gaining more power and authority over all of us almost daily. If that power continues to grow apace, and gather more and more agents in its name, we literally do face the end of life as we know it and a new life that will, at best, be far less free. Those aware of the facts know that any fight to mitigate the influence of such a behemoth will be long term and difficult, and that some people will lose their livelihoods, lifestyles, liberty, and possibly even their lives as a result. I still dream of a new Thomas Jefferson, Sam Adams, and Ben Franklin to energize and expand the pro-freedom movement. But I see nothing wrong with those who relate instead to Frodo—an ordinary being with extraordinary courage—or who would willingly follow someone with Aragorn's sense of honor and responsibility. If they relate to Frodo, perhaps they'll become more like him and be willing stand up despite their fears to keep big government and Big Brother at bay. If they admire Aragorn, maybe they'll join a pro-freedom group or organization with a cause and a leader they find they can also respect and follow. In a few very fortunate cases, it could even be that a reluctant leader will at long last recognize himself and stand up to be recognized by the rest of us. Whatever else we think or do, and for whatever reasons, we must make at least some of these things a reality soon. Very soon. I fear that if we don't, my dream will become a nightmare, and freedom itself will be relegated to mere fantasy. That's a scenario too dark for fiction, but sadly, not for history. What we do today will determine how the past looks from tomorrow. Me? I kind of relate to Frodo.
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