[The Might]

I think the whole problem here is that people are talking about this way too superficially and from a distance, as readers. I mean of course you can do that, who cares how many Hobbits died, they don't even exist! Oh, but they do, at least in our minds, so let's try for just one second to really picture this happening.

A grand total of 19? Here is a little question for you, Morthoron and all others supporting this view - would you, if needed, sacrifice 19 of the people you know, cherish and respect for the sake of common good?
If the answer is yes, than we seem to have very different views on this. If it is no, than it would mean to me at least that you should condemn Gandalf to a certain degree for not coming along to the Shire, but sitting down and enjoying a talk with Tom Bombadil.

Now, you say that this was no longer Gandalf's business, not his errand. But firstly, should we believe that all the goods that he had done previously were only done intentionatly in order to just stop Sauron? Would he not have acted in that way had it not served his purpose? I believe that as an innate good being Gandalf would have and should have helped others, no matter what his errand was. It's not like after the Ring was destroyed he should say, "I'm done here, bye!". Not very much his character.

Furthermore, I agree that the Hobbits had to grow to a new level, to be able to stand alone for themselves, if you read the post I made previously I do not believe I question that anywhere. The thing is, do you always need blood to flow in order to learn your lesson or to change something for the better?

Is there no other path that Gandalf could have lead the Hobbits on? I would like to believe there was a more peaceful way to solve the situation with the ruffians, some kind of passive resistance or maybe simply Gandalf as a charismatic leader showing the ruffians there was more to life than just ruling over others.

Accuse me of idealism if you wish to, but in a world plagued by wars with children, not men, children enrolled by both factions dying for "great ideals", no matter what these ideals are depending on the faction, I'd rather sit down and consider some alternatives, lest we destroy ourselves as a result of the pursuit of such ideals.