[davem]

Of course, it must be remembered that there are racist/neo-Nazi groups out there who are happy to claim LotR as a 'racist' work, & would take offence at such a claim being challenged or mocked.

Some 'condemn' LotR as 'racist', some praise it as 'racist'. Of course, neither group is right (imo, of course).

We are, as is not unusual, on difficult ground. If it can be argued that while Tolkien did not write LotR as a Christian work, his Christianity came through in it, one could, I suppose, argue that he was 'unconsciously' racist due to the culture he grew up in being 'institutionally racist', & while he didn't write a 'consciously' racist work there is an underlying 'racist' subtext. This is the problem we face when we start arguing for this or that 'subtext' to the work. People rarely approach such a 'search' objectively. They usually have an agenda, something to prove, & will use all kinds of convoluted arguments to get you to where they wish you to end up.

The writer of the article that started all this wanted to convince people that LotR is a racist work, & attempted to steer them in that way. Others in various books & articles have attempted to convince their readers its a 'Christian' book, or a humanist book, or an environmentalist book. Lots of individuals & groups want to claim the work for themselves or foist it on others or reject it altogether.

Quick addendum.

I suppose that what I'm saying is that just as for some readers the presence of themes such as mercy, pity, self sacrifice, One God are enough to make LotR a 'Christian' work while others demand the presence of more specific Christian themes & symbols, so the presence of 'Black' Riders, dark or sallow skinned enemies, predominantly white skinned heroes, is enough to make it a 'racist' work.

Because of this it is not simply a matter of convincing a critic that the work is not 'racist' - it would actually require us to change their whole conception of what racism is & the form it takes in literature - which would probably also require us to change their political stance, & possibly their entire worldview.