On the division of Middle Earth

It seems life imitates art.

In the big screen adaptation of the seminal Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien there is a scene where a council of the various inhabitants of Middle Earth — elves, dwarves, men and hobbits — are debating what to do with the troublesome One Ring of Power.

Meanwhile, a former ally, the powerful White Wizard Saruman, has jumped ship and taken up with the evil Dark Lord Sauron, who is intent upon getting his ring back, taking over Middle Earth and plunging it into darkness.

The council debates the ring’s fate as it sits innocuously on a dais in their midst. Sud...