Tolkien Origins: The Story of Kullervo

Tolkien wrote The Story of Kullervo early in his life after discovering the Finnish epic, The Kalevala. Many Tolkien fans will know that he always lamented the absence, in England, of really great myths. For his home, he yearned for its own Odyssey, or Illiad. This inspired the much adored The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. First, however, it caused him to write his own version of the story of a particular character in The Kalevala, Kullervo.

Kullervo is a tragic hero with multiple flaws. He follows the arc of other, familiar, tragic heroes, except Kullervo never claims any real redemption. At least Odysseus returned and freed his household in the end. As in the Finnish original, Tolkien’s tale offers no such redemption. It is a steady march downward–a tragedy in the truest sense. 

The archaic language Tolkien employs in Kullervo will make some details difficult to discover. With this in mind, and for the curious scholar, the editor, Verlyn Flieger, has provided copious notes after the story. Also included are two versions of an essay Tolkien wrote on The Kalevala and another essay by Flieger titled, “Tolkien, Kalevala, and ‘The Story of Kullervo.’” This book will fascinate the Tolkien enthusiast and the scholar alike. Every page holds greater insight into Tolkien’s writing and his love for myth. Those who have only read his more popular writings may be less delighted at this volumes contents. While The Story of Kullervo is connected to Middle Earth (Kullervo inspired later characters and events.), it will only disappoint those who seek more Aragorn and Bilbo.

Verlyn Flieger has made available a valuable work in the Tolkien canon. It offers greater understanding into the development of Tolkien’s writing. As a Tolkien scholar herself, she has offered her own valuable insights on Tolkien and Kullervo. If you are interested in Tolkien as a writer and wish to understand his development as the creator of Middle Earth, this book is a must-read.

Review: Feardom by Connor Boyack

Connor Boyack’s new book, Feardom, is a triumph he can be proud of. While his previous works were more or less epistles to the people of the Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) faith, Feardom engages the entire world in a meaningful, concise discussion from which all can benefit. 

In Feardom, Boyack argues that governments use the fear of those under their influence to maintain and augment their power. His thesis is supported in every chapter with examples, studies, and other relevant data. The process is scientific, but easily understood. Typical of Boyack’s writing, each chapter is followed by thorough documentation of his facts. One is never left wondering if any evidence was fabricated.

Boyack knows his topic well and has clearly read a great deal on the subject. Drawing upon his studies, he constructs a clear argument and delivers it with precision. If you still trust your government, even in the slightest, read this book and you will be cured forever.

The Prayer War in Pima, Arizona

Pima, Arizona, where I grew up, finds itself in an uproar. Sean Rickert, superintendent of Pima High school, has declared that this year’s graduation ceremony will not include a prayer. This decision comes in spite of a unanimous vote by the senior class to keep the prayer as well as many parents’ disappointment. Superintendent Rickert states that his decision is motivated by a desire to protect student’s rights. Whether this is true or not, while a topic of debate, is irrelevant for my purpose.

 

Personally, I favor prayer. As a Christian, I believe that prayer is a wonderful tradition anywhere. However, as this controversy has unfolded I’ve had a hard time getting worked up about it. Whenever these school related controversies come up, I want to respond, “What did you expect?”

We’ve given the most inept and irreligious organization in the country–namely, the government–the power to organize our schools. How can it come as a surprise when government schools operate in ways that displease you? Why the shock when prayer is banned and scores are low? The only thing governments have ever been good at is killing people and tearing down civilization. Now they’re path of destruction has reached the graduation prayer. Surprise!

Forgive me if this story doesn’t move me, but Rickert’s decision should not be a shock to anyone. Parents who send their children to government schools (in my view) forfeit any right to complain when the school operates poorly and doesn’t reflect their personal religious and/or moral values. If you want to decide how your children are taught, teach them yourself, or, move them to a school which reflects your beliefs if one is available. Otherwise, acknowledge that your children’s school is operated with all the logic and finesse of the DMV or Obamacare.

Parents have their own reasons for keeping their children at these schools and that’s fine. The point is this: stop expecting government schools to be something they’re not. They aren’t efficient. They aren’t Christian based or even religious and, most important of all, they don’t have to do what parents ask.

War in Slaughter-House-Five

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great read! Vonnegut begins his story with a promise that his book will not glorify war. He keeps his word! Another hint in this direction is the second title, The Children’s Crusade. This is a fitting title as the childishness of the soldiers is emphasized throughout the book.
Often (very often), Vonnegut will punctuate a story with the words, “So it goes.” This has attracted some criticism from some who say Vonnegut takes a flippant attitude toward tragedy. It is quite the opposite. Vonnegut shows his readers a flippant attitude to further disgust them. It’s quite effective. The story follows childish soldiers who experience horror. Rather than tell us to get angry about it, the author makes us angry about it with a casual, “So it goes.”
Not only is Vonnegut very flippant throughout the book, but he is also very irreverent. This is a mature novel and contains harsh language and mature themes such as scenes including sex and masturbation. It’s exactly what it needs to be as an effective anti-war novel, but it isn’t for youth.

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Who is Santiago?

I finally read The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. After hearing mostly negative reviews, it took a class assignment to get me to pick it up. My conclusion? I need to read more Hemingway.

In case you haven’t read the book, it follows an aged fisherman named Santiago who has hit a bad streak. After a life of successful fishing, he’s hit what many believe to be his final slump. Strangely enough, this seems to distress the other fishermen a lot more than it does Santiago. He goes out farther than usual and catches a fish. There. That’s the setup. That really isn’t the story. The story is what happens when he gets the fish.

Santiago finds that he has hooked a massive animal and it takes everything he has to finally bring it in. The vivid descriptions of his epic struggle with the fish show his expertise, his love of fishing, and his respect for the magnificent fish he has caught. When sharks rob him of his catch, he diligently defends it. When he lands his boat, he has nothing left from his long trip. A massive skeleton hangs lashed to the side of his boat. Again, the people who are most upset by this apparent failure are the onlookers. The old man has broken his bad streak and he goes to bed knowing he’ll catch more the next day.

There is so much texture in this book. It’s a lot like the film The Perfect Storm in that both show the rough and ragged life of the fisherman. Both feature captains out to redeem themselves. Both succeed in hauling in a huge catch, but eventually fail to bring it home. But that’s not my favorite part.

The Old Man and the Sea reveals a man with a tough job that he loves. Throughout the entire story, Hemingway shows us again and again how dedicated to quality Santiago is. He hangs his hooks at very precise depths and then carefully monitors them. He preservers. By the end, his hands are brutally cut up and he’s fought with the fish for a long time and then tore his boat apart to fight the sharks. That’s what I admire about Santiago–his love for doing his job the best he can.

Reading this book is like listening to one of Jeffrey Tucker’s enthusiastic speeches on the people of commerce. He celebrates the employees of McDonalds and Walmart at a time when most conversations about such people are filled with derision. His admiration goes to those who are anxious to serve and do their jobs the best they can. The man is nothing less than the cheerleader for the whole market economy. If you feel like your job doesn’t matter, listen to him and you’ll feel great (unless you work for government in which case you will realize you should quit immediately and apply at McDonalds)!

I believe that Santiago and Jeffrey Tucker would have gotten along great. Mr. Tucker would have admired his devotion to his craft and Santiago would have appreciated the encouragement.

Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea is one of the most encouraging works of literature I’ve read. Read it! Then think about how you can be a little more like Santiago.

(By the way, here’s an extra treat! Listen to Jeffrey Tucker talk about how wonderful productive work is!)

What is a Libertarian?

My friend and I sit down and talk about liberty and the libertarian philosophy. We’re hoping to bring you lots of videos on all kinds of issues, so tell us what you are interested in hearing about and subscribe to our channel. Watching this video, this morning, I realized I need to work on my presence in front of the camera. It’s kind of scary! Practice makes perfect, right?
Comment with any ideas you have. What topic should we tackle next?

Antigone and the Higher Law

I read Antigone for the first time, today. For those of you who are unaware, Antigone is one of Oedipus’ daughters. Her brother is banished and returns with an army to seek revenge against the city. His brother defends the city and both brothers die in battle. Their uncle, Creon, becomes king and declares that no one is allowed to bury the brother who was banished. Apparently, this is not only unpleasant for any living person with a nose, but it traps his spirit in limbo. This makes Antigone irate and she spreads dirt over her brother and performs sacred rites over his body to release his spirit. Her actions enrage the king who tries to starve her to death as her penalty. The somewhat less important, and completely unsurprising, part is that a lot of people die including the king’s son and wife. Duh. Didn’t the king know he was in a Greek tragedy? You have to tread lightly when Sophocles is writing your life.

The point is, this play, aside from being superbly written,  has some great themes! One that libertarians will appreciate is Antigone’s “Don’t tell me what to do!” attitude. Regardless of the law, she follows her conscience, willing to pay the ultimate price. So we have civil disobedience.

Another important theme is Antigone’s dedication to a higher law. She didn’t sprinkle dirt on her brother to make her uncle mad. She did it because her religion and her moral compass indicated that this was the right thing to do. For us, this higher law can be our conscience, our religion, or in a political sense, the Constitution.

Antigone’s story causes readers to ask themselves what they would do in such a position. When faced with a choice between personal beliefs and the law, which will we choose to honor. Much like Thoreau’s essay on civil disobedience (He spent time in jail rather than pay a tax that would support governmental action with which he disagreed.), Antigone calls to those who talk about freedom and ask why they have not chosen to be free. You can make your own decision about the practicality of Antigone and Thoreau’s brands of civil disobedience. You have to choose your battles. The point is that these writings cause us to think. They force us to evaluate ourselves. This is one of the most important purposes of literature, today.