I must say the enclosed letter from Rutten and Loening is a bit stiff. Do I suffer this impertinence because of the possession of a German name, or do their lunatic laws require a certificate of 'arisch' origin from all persons of all countries? ... I do not regard the (probable) absence of all Jewish blood as necessarily honourable; and I have many Jewish friends, and should regret giving any colour to the notion that I subscribed to the wholly pernicious and unscientific race-doctrine.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author resents a letter asking for race certificates. He rejects racial theories and notes his Jewish friends.
- In plain terms
- He opposes racial laws and hates racism.
- What can you take from it?
- Reject racism and treat all people as equals.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you respond to injustice?
- Why is racism wrong?
Another view
Personal feelings cannot always stop laws.
More from J. R. R. Tolkien
As for what you say or hint of 'local' conditions: I knew of them. I don't think they have much changed (even for the worse). I used to hear them discussed by …
Permalink to quote #40 I regret that I am not clear as to what you intend by 'arisch'. I am not of Aryan extraction: that is Indo-Iranian; as far as I am aware none of my ancestors s…
Permalink to quote #42 The news today about 'Atomic bombs' is so horrifying one is stunned. The utter folly of these lunatic physicists to consent to do such work for war-purposes: c…
Permalink to quote #39
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