[The Might]

Ah good point, Bethberry. And yes, I would even take it as far as that and consider that Tolkien's methods should be considered somewaht outdated.

For him it seemed perhaps normal that Gandalf should act that way, that the Hobbits should fight for their rights, after all he was a war veteran and knew what it meant to sacrifice lives in battle.

So I now realise that this brings the discussion to a different level, debating whether Tolkien himself should be seen as guilty for promovating jingoistic and aggressive tendencies as opposed to more peaceful means.