by Michael Cibenko

Created on: June 02, 2008

Like many from my generation, I can vividly recall the first time I read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Beyond intense battle scenes and myriad magical creatures, I remember my fascination with The Shire, home of the Hobbits. As anyone who is familiar with the books or more recent films knows, the Hobbits are a humble race of beings who desire nothing more than the simple and wholesome pleasures that come with honest work, raising a family, and the company of friends and neighbors. The inhabitants of The Shire are contentedly oblivious to the complex politics, corruption, and looming forces of darkness that are rearing their ugly heads elsewhere in Middle Earth.

Perhaps it was in part my childhood affection for The Shire that led me to eventually settle down in Branchville, a small and quaint hamlet in rural Sussex County. Much like The Shire, Branchville has long been a place where for generations folks have led a relatively simple existence that hearkens back to more innocent times. And, like The Shire, Branchville has for the most part remained off the radar of the more hectic and stress-filled world that surrounds it.

But that all seemed to change when Gov. Corzine looked to cut state aid to small towns like mine. When I saw a Star Ledger article featuring my town back in February, it was as if the massive eye of Sauron had fixed itself right upon us and, indeed, The Shire would never again be the same. Corzine's proposal around the same time to close state parks brought to mind the traitorous wizard Saruman who destroyed the lush forests surrounding Isengard in order to provide fuel for the forging of weapons and armor. Likewise, Corzine's fervor to make New Jersey the nation's leader in embryonic stem cell research reminds me of Saruman's mass production of orcs, bred only to be sacrificed in the process of serving an imposed purpose.

Even as I was writing the final words of this letter, I read the news that Corzine has apparently changed his mind about cutting state aid (at least altogether) to small towns and, thankfully, about closing state parks such as High Point. So, we in The Shire can, at least for the moment, breathe a sigh of relief. But the reality remains that the Eye is upon us, and perhaps the quest to destroy the ring of power (the one in Trenton, not Mordor) must go on.

And, indeed, such a quest is already afoot. Former Glen Ridge mayor, Carl Bergmanson, is heading a movement to have Governor Corzine's recall from office placed on the November ballot. Anyone interested in signing the petition or obtaining additional information should visit: http://www.recallcorzinenow.com/petc.html

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