So are there parallels between the World Wars and War in Middle Earth? I tend to think so, but only on a global scale. It seems to me to be impossible to distance onesself from your environment completely and thus Tolkien's work had to have been influenced at least somewhat by the turmoil around him, much of which was racially based.

anyway, two more cents into the fray.

: : I think Tolkien had definate racial undertones in his stories,
: : but we also have to remember his world and the period he grew
: : up. It's only recently, and I suspect primarily in the USA,
: : that subtle or blatant racism has become unacceptable as a
: : social norm.

: : : In Tolkien's world, the different races are not equal, even
: : : among humans. Nobody seems to care. Numenoreans are a
: : : superior race of humans. We can also scale the others races.
: : : That's not what we were taught? hehehe...
: : : So from which side Tolkien was? Left, center or right?

: I'm not sure the original message isn't a bit trollish, but I'll let it stand as the question of racism in Tolkien is certainly legitimate.

: Tolkien himself was not a racist -- he was quite liberal in his attitudes (even by today's standards) and he was outspoken against racism. He condemned it, and he used it as a tool to show human failing in his stories.

: There are NO "superior" races in Tolkien's world. There are different races, each with its own faults. The Ainur produce Melkor, greatest of all evil creatures, and Sauron, the villain of THE LORD OF THE RINGS. The Elves produce Feanor and his followers, who are basically murderers and thieves and whose pride leads to their own undoing. The Numenoreans hold themselves above all other men and in their final pride and folly attempt to force the Valar to give them eternal life.

: Even after the Downfall of Numenor the Dunedain still have hard lessons to learn. The Dunedain of Gondor nearly destroy themselves in the Kin-strife, which arises out of racial prejudice, and the very mingling the "purists" fear comes all the more quickly because of it. And in the end it is Hobbits who save Middle-earth, and not the Dunedain, the Elves, or the Valar.

: Every time someone points to racism in Tolkien, they overlook the obvious moral lesson Tolkien associates with it: Those who hold themselves above others will be humbled.