Is there a place for gentleness, and tender dreaming left in this world ?
There are dark shadows even in the beautiful and simple light of the Shire. I see it all around me: this rejection of softness. The gentle round shapes we Hobbits are so fond of, are slowly been replaced by stark and minimalist lines of the tall folk. Cosiness is no longer valued. Gentleness is something to be mocked.
I have been thinking a lot lately about all the issues that are important to me. There are plenty. The fragility of nature, the disintegration of good old simple values, poverty, and all the rumors of war in the East. So I've decided finally that the issue I want to focus on most is the protection of gentleness and gentle Hobbit values. I believe it is when humankind devalues gentleness that we see so many awful troubles.
I also believe that for a very long time women were the keepers of gentleness, and I shall take it as my very own quest to be a custodian of gentleness. Ideally, all should be, regardless of gender or race or believes. I don't see how it will come about, though in this mad world. I see humanity striding purposefully into a cold dark shadow. But the least I can do is speak gentleness myself, try to be gentleness, honor it and promote it whenever I can, this I shall do.
Kindness and Gentleness are the most precious mathoms that I will defend and care for....always.
