XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: jon.lennart.beck.its.my.name@mail.its.in.danmark   
      
   "tony"  skrev i meddelelsen   
   news:BISdnRLPEOtdRJ_PnZ2dnUVZ_jOdnZ2d@giganews.com...   
      
   > I recall that the Mouth of Sauron described Frodo and Sam's presence in   
   > Mordor as a "conspiracy":  a word implying that Frodo and Sam had engaged   
   > in an illegal act.  However, if Sauron believed in a "might makes right"   
   > philosophy, there would be no need for him to appeal to mere legalities   
   > when describing the actions of people contesting his will.  This seems to   
   > imply that Sauron viewed himself as the rightful and legitimate ruler or   
   > Middle Earth.  This raises the question, What was the source of his claim   
   > to the throne of Middle Earth?   
      
      Self-delusion from wishful thinking.  Sauron was not without virtue - as   
   an abstract concept.  He was one of God's created spirits, having once sung   
   before God with the other Ainur.  He had not tossed his old virtue away, as   
   much as twisted it to his own ends.  He believed in Right, all right.  He   
   just conveniently adjusted Right to his ambitions instead of vice versa.  To   
   the virtuous Right is a shackle that they freely accept.  To the likes of   
   Sauron a crown - and a whip.   
      Morgoth's conversation with Húrin indicates that he too believed in his   
   right to dominate.  Their evil was horribly corrupted good, not good's   
   absence.  For whatever the distinction was worth to their victims.   
      
   Corvus.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)