July 24, 2002

Why Visible?
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Brett C, I had to laugh when I read ".. give them a sporting chance" but personnaly I believe that Sauron was proud, perhaps a tad arrogant about his own strength, power and terror. He felt that being visible the entire last Alliance army could see doom approaching and tremble. This was not just a duel between the Great One Sauron, the elven thief Gil-Galad and the brigand king of Arnor, Elendil, it was a final crunch battle. Unlike the Ringwraiths being more frightning unclad (but non-localised terror), Sauron would have been able to exert more terror over more individuals visible. Plus it would have been an ego thing as well, "See how easy I crush these two bugs!". Elbereth, you are extremely defensive about the old fool Gandalf. The bottom line, no matter how you cut it is Gandalf was wrong Sauron was right and only blind luck saved the west. The reason Sauron paniced at the end was because he may have misjudged a little and realised how close it was to destruction. However Sauron was right, the desire for the ring was greater than the desire to do good. Gandalf was wrong when he laid his plans to destroy it, thinking the desire to do good would outweigh the desire of the ring. Sauron - Right, Gandalf - Wrong (but annoyingly lucky). No amount of arguing will change the minds of the Elven-collaborators. Victors write the histories and the defeated enemy is always painted "evil". The fact that if middle-earth had been united under Sauron there would have been no more ruinous wars between rival kingdoms. Peace and harmony reigns. No one remembers the slave pits of Eregion where thousands of humans died, men, women, aye and children were forced by their Elven masters to delve for gems. Or indeed Lothlorien where the witch Galadriel experimented on unlucky human travelers. Alas this is forgotten and Sauron is painted the devil. See you all later :)