"Cruel deeds by dark and light"

[Elmo]

I was just wondering how could the dwarves in the War of the Dwarves and Orcs perform cruel deeds. They were fighting Orcs after all, perhaps this was a time when some Orcs repented like Tolkein said they could do in some HoME quote or another. The wise said the Orcs should then be spared but maybe the Dwarves refused to. Or maybe they didn't distinguish man from orc or something, Any ideas?

[Lord Melkor]

Well, it would seem to me that the cruelty of a deed depends on the deed itself, and not on the person it is inflicted on. If the Dwarves would've slowly tortured captured Orcs to death, or perhaps executed them by setting them on fire, then it is quite obvious that those deeds were cruel, even though the victims were 'just' Orcs. The Dwarves would've done well to remember that they need not stoop to the tactics of the orcs, lest they become as cruel as the orcs themselves.

[Thinlómien]

I completely agree with Lord Melkor.

If you however want to interpret it the way that you can't do anything cruel to evil people because they deserve it all, you could also maybe interpret that quote the way that the dwarves were nasty to each other (rivaling warlords etc.).

[Elmo]

At this point I could say many things about the CIA and Al Qaida suspects but that would be too controversial... :D

[Rhod the Red]

I bet it was stuff like robbery of travellers between the High Pass and Mirkwood, joint assults against human settlements near the House of Beorn.

[mhagain]

As mortals I'd presume that they have the same freedom as Men - to do as they wish beyond the scope of the Music, even if it's evil.

As for the morality element, I think I'll refrain from comment. Too subjective.