[Pookabunny]

Oftentimes, people are just "friends" with each other because they want something from each other. When you really break it down, that's the benefit of all relationships. People have needs and are fulfilled through others - by recieving love, physical contact, validation, esteem, energy, etc. That's the premise of MOST relationships.<P>HOWEVER, there are cases where the intentions are pure and true - like ties with family, finding your true love, and finding our TRUE FRIENDS. In Sam and Frodo's case, their friendship is TRUE. That's why they'll do anything for each other.<P>Society is obsessed with drama and the latest rave. So naturally, society will leap to the conclusion that Sam and Frodo's relationship has some sexual connotation. Society can't handle the kind of relationship that Frodo and Sam have because they don't understand it. They don't HAVE that in their lives. And because they don't have it and/or understand it, they naturally have to condescend it.<P>Tolkien hardly mentions the details of the heterosexual relationships in LOTR, so why in the world would he go so far out of his way to creat a homosexual relationship. PLUS the man was a devout Christian writing in the mid 20th century, so it would be UNHEARD of to have homosexual main characters. I totally disbelieve ANYONE who claims Frodo and Sam's relationship to be any other than that of kinsmen. <P>Man there'd be substantially less drama in the world if people really and truly understood what love REALLY is.