Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.10.2018, Síða 11

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. október 2018 • 11
He was the liege lord of many
districts and had to defend his
domains against other powerful
and unruly chieftains.
He was a man of wealth, who
owned and operated many large
farms in various parts of the
country. He was for a number of
years, the Lawman or Speaker of
Alþingi. Despite these manifold
preoccupations he found time
for a deep study of the Old
Norse mythology and history,
and for the writing of books of
enduring scientific and literary
value. A great man he was, but if
one expects to find in him a saint
of some sort, one is doomed to
disappointment for this man,
the greatest of all Icelanders,
has been generally vilified as a
fickle lover, a faithless friend,
a crafty politician, a scheming
capitalist, and indeed as a traitor
to his country.
Perhaps he was not quite
so black, however, for when
men begin to find fault with
their fellows they are prone
to exaggeration. Snorri, as the
rest of mankind, was a victim
of circumstance. He was born
to power and that power he
had to preserve, or to sink
into abject poverty and utter
insignificance in an age of
ruthless individualism. He had
to be wealthy to be powerful
and he had to be powerful to be
wealthy. He was a thinker, not a
warrior, a man of letters, living
in an age of general violence.
Against this violence he was
forced to compete with his
inborn cleverness and craft.
Snorri was furthermore
a man of aristocratic tastes
and habits, being a foster-son
of the knightly and colorful
Jón Loftsson from Oddi, the
noblest and wisest chieftain in
Iceland in his day, and as the
son of Sturla from Hvammur,
who was likewise a rich and
powerful leader. From both of
these Snorri derived and learned
much. He aspired to the fame
and power of the courtly Jón
Loftsson, who was the grandson
of a Norwegian king. Since,
however, he did not possess
all the virtues of his adopted
father he was forced to employ
many of the wiles of his wise
but less scrupulous father, for,
like him, he was ambitious and
avaricious. Like his celebrated
foster-father, Snorri was much
given to women, many of whom
bore him offspring. And, as in
Solomon’s case, women were to
him a source of much vexation,
and his numerous progeny gave
him endless trouble. On the
other hand, he never indulged
in the revolting cruelties
that marred his murderous
times. Furthermore, he can
hardly be accused of having
been a traitor to his country.
... continued on page 12
evening of lights
Tribute Dinner in Honour of
Past Presidents, Directors,
Editors, & Volunteers
of Lögberg-Heimskringla, Inc.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Cocktails: 6:00 p.m. (cash bar)
Dinner and Program: 7:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Winnipeg South
1330 Pembina Highway | Winnipeg, MB
More information inside...Buffet Dinner | Entertainment & Dancing | Prizes & Draws
evening of lights
in Honour of
Past Presidents, Directors, Editors, & Volunteers
of Lögberg-Heimskringla, Inc.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Cocktails: 6:00 p.m. (cash bar)
Dinner and Program: 7:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Winnipeg South
1330 Pembina Highway | Winnipeg, MB
Price: $90 (includes $35 tax receipt)
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Grant Stefanson, President/Vice President
Julianna Bjornson, President/Vice President
Bill Perlmutter, Treasurer
Elva Jonasson, Secretary
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Dr. Allan Johnson, Director
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Dr. Ron Goodman, Director
Ernest Stefanson, Director
Margaret Kernested, Director
Skuli Sigfusson, Director
Vi Hilton Bjarnason, Director
Evelyn Thorvaldson, Director – In Memory
Garry Oddleifson, Director – In Memory
J. S. Laxdal, Director – In Memory
The Honourable Kris Stefanson, Director – In Memory
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Bill Valgardson, Editor
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David Fuller, Editor
Gunnor Isfeld, Editor
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Ragnar Bergman, Director – In Memory
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Buffet Dinner
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Snorri’s Pool at Reyholt and the reconstructed entryway to the hidden passage
to Snorri’s old farmstead.
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