[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by The Might

Merely to find out what was so different about the Easterlings and the Southrons in your opinion so as to prevent them from becoming virtually viable alliance partners for Gondor and Rohan.

As an example again to the question of culture, what about the Druedain?

A totally different culture, different to all other groups of men, with probably bigger differences between themselves and the Gondorians then Gondorians and the others mentioned above. Still, they coexisted peacefully with the Men of Brethil, then in Númenor and finally helped out the Rohirrim and the Gondorians.

So did the Ents. And even the Dunlendings repented, and they were of the same race of men as the Rohirrim and the everyday Gondorians. But all of this was at the Nth hour, when Sauron was marching his armies out of Mordor.

Suffice it to say that Tolkien wasn't interested in race in the Rings War. He was more interested in culture, I think, and depicted the Haradrim (who were in close proximity to both the Black Numernoreans and Mordor) and the men of Khand (east of Mordor and difficult for the weakened Gondor to treat with) as men of a more primitive culture and susceptible to the divine influence of Sauron.

The Haradrim and Khandites (sp?) had, as far as we know, no previous experience with getting burned by Sauron like the men of Numenor did.

And yes, conflict was inevitable, so I was not accusing Tolkien of violence in general, at least not in the latter posts, but merely excessive use of violence at times, in situations where I rather see discussion as possibility.

Again, I point out that it's fair to assume, because of his background, that Tolkien had a blueprint of ME and humanity which borrowed heavily from this one. Diplomacy, as you see it, is a new invention. The actions of the men of Gondor were in keeping with men of "similar" times, culture, and governance.

Again, from your idea with the Edain I am getting the idea your are clearly drawing a line between some men and other men. Hence my blunt and offensive question above for which I again apologize.

Apology accepted.

You say it is Tolkien depicting them like that, as better than the rest of mankind. They are indeed special in his writings, but I do not believe the Professor ever intended to draw such a line of separation, I doubt it would be his style or his intention.

Tolkien wrote:

The whole idea is Tolkien himself did not see the Southrons and Easterlings as bad, evil, or really that different than the Edain, and I doubt that he wanted his readers to perceive them that way.

I didn't say "better", you did. However, their friendship with the Eldar did result in long life and an island empire (which they threw away after letting themselves be seduced by Sauron, themselves. Not so dissimilar from the men of Khand and Harad were).