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Tolkien's Racist Lies Exposed
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Tolkien's Racist Lies Exposed
(Part 1)

Foreword

The problem with Tolkien's racism is one of the key issues for young orcs going into political activity. For many of them, their first collision with repression is a discotheque doorman telling them to stay out because "you're evil, I read that in Tolkien's books." This booklet attempts to give them some ammunition directly "from the books", that is, Lord of the Rings (LotR) and Silmarillion (Sil.), to prove that Tolkien only made the orcs look bad with one-sided writing, defamation, lies and slander.

Print edition, front cover

Armed with these arguments, our young comrades then can answer to those prejudices. Perhaps not in a discussion with a doorman twice their size, that would be unwise, but with someone weaker.

Comrades are encouraged to read the booklet in electronic format, however, some printed copies should be bought in any case, so they can be put on bookstalls and street info-tables. The price is 2,50 teeth for a single booklet. Party branches can order 10 booklets for 20 teeth, plus shipping costs. Free shipping for orders larger than 1,000,000 booklets.

Orcs and elves: The origin of hate

Are orcs really the ultimate enemies to all the "good" races of Middle-earth? At first glance it seems so. But like always, it is necessary to read the sources carefully. Of course, in the wars of the First Age injustice and harm was inflicted by both sides, including orcs. But when reading the Silmarillion, one should not forget what stood at the beginning of the troubles: an unholy alliance of elves and dwarves:

"Therefore Thingol [King of the Elves of Beleriand] took thought for arms, which before his people had not needed, and these at first the Naugrim [Dwarves] smithed for him; for they were greatly skilled in such work (...) A warlike race of old were all the Naugrim, and they would fight fiercely against whomsoever aggrieved them: servants of Melkor, or Eldar, or Avari, or wild beasts, or not seldom their own kin, Dwarves of other mansions and lordships." (Sil., Of The Sindar)

Aha! How quarrelsome both parts were became clear to everyone a few centuries later - when exactly this King Thingol is murdered by dwarves in his own fortress! Keep in mind that the orcs at this time did not show any aggression:

"And ere long the evil creatures came even to Beleriand (...) and among them were the Orcs, who afterwards wrought ruin in Beleriand: but they were yet few and wary, and did but smell out the ways of the land (...)" (Sil., Of The Sindar)

In every battle after this, that first impression is confirmed. Always the Elves are the ones who exert the greater aggression, the greater fanatism, the greater hatred. Let us just look at the murderous madness of Feanor, the leader of the Noldor, in his first battle against orcs - and that is even after his victory is already clear!

"For Feanor, in his wrath against the Enemy, would not halt, but pressed on behind the remnant of the Orcs (...)" (Sil., Of The Return Of The Noldor)

Does one really have to add that this is the very same Feanor who earlier had slain his own elvish relatives in the battle of Alqualonde? I don't think so. The conclusion is quite clear: The violence which is found throughout the Sil. originated from Thingol's and Feanor's fanatical troops, and the originally peaceful orcs were the tragic victims. To end this vicious circle of mutual hatred, it is therefore necessary to build a socialist mass party.

Sorry, Mr. Fingolfin

The Dagor Bragollach, the Battle of Sudden Flames, ended the century-long siege of Angband by the Noldor in the First Age. As the Silmarillion reports, the war never stopped afterwards until the end of the First Age. In such times, where all actions are intertwined into a greater war, an independent judgement of details is nearly impossible. But there are certain incidents that stand out of this bloody mixture and need to be considered more closely.

Let us take a look, for example, at the famous duel between Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, and Morgoth, the Dark Lord and ultimate power of evil. In the end Fingolfin is overpowered and crushed by Morgoth. A reason for everyone who is loyal to Morgoth to jubilate! His greatest foe east of the ocean, the mightiest Noldo after Feanor's death, has ceased to exist. But how do the Orcs react?

"Thus died Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, most proud and valiant of the Elven-kings of old. The Orcs made no boast of that duel at the gates; neither do the Elves sing of it, for their sorrow is too deep. (Sil., Of The Ruin Of Beleriand)

Now there are two ways to interpret this incident. Either the orcs who witnessed the duel were loyal to Morgoth and glad about his victory - then the fact that they do not boast about it and do not mock Fingolfin is a sign of great fairness and sportsmanship. This is really shocking if counterposed to the unfair behaviour of the elves, even their most famous noblemen. How did, for example, Finrod Felagund, mighty King of Nargothrond, value fairness?

"On an evening of autumn Felagund and Beren set out from Nargothrond with their ten companions; and they journeyed beside Narog to his source in the Falls of Ivrin. Beneath the Shadowy Mountains they came upon a company of Orcs, and slew them all in their camp by night; and they took their gear and their weapons." (Sil., Of Beren and Lúthien)

A sneaky attack at night upon a sleeping foe. There probably is no need to analyze this further.

The other possible interpretation of the orcish silence after the duel is that they were really not as loyal to Morgoth as Tolkien implied. Perhaps they were even ready to switch sides, once they saw even the slightest chance for a lasting victory of the "good" side? (They knew, of course, Angband's real strength, and who can blame them for not boarding the sinking Noldorin ship at this time?) Fingolfin's defeat crushed that chance, and the orcs were at least not overjoyed about that.

Of course, in the next war, when Sauron started to rise, the orcs chose his side again. But that just shows how urgently we must build a better choice for them for the next confrontation, that is, a socialist mass party.

Dirty Feet

Felagund is not the only example that the Elvish behaviour towards Orcs is seldom fair and always bloody. Indeed, total annihilation seems to be the only tactic the Elves know. And this is nothing that just happens in battle rage. No, they plan it from the beginning, as this quote proves:

"Orophin has now gone in haste back to our dwellings to warn our people. None of the Orcs will ever return out of Lórien." (LotR, Lothlórien)

Yes, the Elves' disgust against the Orcs is so excessive that it seems just ridiculous. Or how could one really justify that they do not even let Orcs touch the water of rivers they claim as their own?

"A strong company of Orcs has passed. They crossed the Nimrodel - curse their foul feet in its clean water!" (LotR, Lothlórien)

Please! As if some dozen orcs, how smelly their feet may be, could pollute a flowing river with its ever-renewing water! But the fact that this is even perceived as a problem proves the need to build an organization that fights to redistribute society's wealth, so that even the poorest orc can afford lavender-scented soap for his feet - that is, a socialist mass party.

The Amlach Conspiracy

Aside from the wars with the elves, Tolkien also describes multiple atrocities and massacres in the battles between humans and orcs. But was that really inevitable from the beginning, or do we not rather see the influence of a few millennia of Elvish propaganda here? In the Silmarillion we find a staggering passage that gives a hint how peaceful coexistence could have been reached between the two races very early. It was one of the first humans, Amlach, who commented the Elvish propaganda in this way:

" 'All this is but Elvish lore, tales to beguile newcomers that are unwary. (...) Let the Orcs have the realm that is theirs, and we will have ours. There is room in the world, if the Eldar will let us be!' " (Sil., Of The Coming Of Men Into The West)

But alas, there was already too much hatred and lies sown among Men, and Amlach had to give in to the pressure and revoke his words:

"But afterwards Amlach returned among them, and denied that he had been present at the debate or had spoken such words as they reported; and there was doubt and bewilderment among Men." (Sil., Of The Coming Of Men Into The West)

An excuse that sounds more than meager. Did Amlach have a substitute? Was he too drunk at this debate to remember his words later? Please. The only answer that makes sense is: here indeed opened up a chance of historical dimension, but fear and pressure from all sides forced Amlach to take back his words and even deny ever having said them. One could suppose that after such a lie he felt ashamed and did not dare to ever dwell among his kindred again. And indeed, Tolkien writes that Amlach alone went to the north and entered the service of Maedhros.

This clearly shows the need for a new organization which adheres to democratic principles, so that nobody needs to be this afraid to share his opinion anymore - that is, a socialist mass party.

The Bloodthirst of Aragorn Elf-Friend

Now it is no longer surprising that the elf-friends of Númenor and their descendants were the ones who accepted the elvish racism fastest and with the least criticism. A crucial moment in the Lord of the Rings is Aragorn's decision not to follow Frodo at the breaking of the Fellowship. After Boromir's death Frodo and Sam alone head off to Mordor, the most dangerous place in Middle-earth. They hold the One Ring and thus the fate of the whole world into their hands. And what does Aragorn do? He decides to go on a little orc-hunt!

Let's leave apart the fate of the orcs for the moment - this decision is strategic balderdash. Aragorn lets Frodo and Sam run into their ruin alone. He cannot have decided this on reasons of rationality. Even he himself admits that:

" 'With him [Frodo] lies the true Quest. Ours is but a small matter in the great deeds of this time. A vain pursuit from its beginning, maybe, which no choice of mine can mar or mend. Well, I have chosen.' " (LotR, The Riders Of Rohan)

But why then does Aragorn follow the orcs? Maybe it is just hatred, an irrational feeling in his heart?

" 'My [Aragorn's] heart speaks clearly at last.' " (LotR, The Departure of Boromir)

Aha! It is clear now that Aragorn is blindly following the racist trails of the elves and dwarves. Apropos: Who accompanies him on this hunt? An elf and a dwarf. Coincidence?

Aragorn is also responsible for one of the worst crimes in the late history of Middle-earth: the Massacre of Mazarbul. We have to take a closer look at this, because it is the most detailed account of ruthless murder that Tolkien gives us. PS: It is still necessary to build a socialist mass party.

Part 2