In his stories, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien wrote about the long defeat – the knowledge that all good things will come to an end, but continuing to fight for them anyway. In a time when the world seems to be making backward progress, I find this theme inspiring. It gives me motivation to keep fighting for that which I value.
The long defeat carries themes of despair, but also of hope – two things that I feel very prominently as a young person in this world. It is discouraging to witness the every day corruption of our governments who exploit citizens, and the acts of hatred and oppression that are occurring around the world. It makes me angry that so many people around me are complicit in these systems of consuming and destroying, who choose convenience and instant gratification, over the health of our species and our planet. All of these things make me feel like I’m fighting the long defeat.
Nonetheless, the fight goes on.
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future” – J.R.R. Tolkien
The Long Defeat 