Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you stay on TV tonight?

the chiropractor that lives on my street has a giant house with a driveway (huge) and a big open-air porch. in an effort to get the entire neighborhood into the christmas spirit, this chiropractor has placed a life-sized animatrontic santa claus on his porch, which does nothing but stand there and wave at all the passers-by. i go back and forth on thinking it is festive and cute or just plain creepy.

anyway. i was standing in front of this waving santa, talking to my mother when she brought something rather strange to my attention. "I was watching Fox News this morning- (the be-all and end all with my rabid conservative parents), and there was some crazy old man who had published a book bashing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer."

ummm----do what now??

my mother elaborated on the story---obviously this man was a deranged liberal, and thank GOD there was a conservative genius there to point out the error of his ways--

and i guess i won't even touch that part of it. to me this isn't so much about political parties as it is about a beloved Christmas character.

HERE is the story, you can make up your own mind. Everybody has a right to their own opinion, and if the bullying in the story frosts your sugarplums, then that's that. But here are my two cents:

1) yeah, Rudolph IS bullied by the other reindeer AND by his teacher. he is different and they are uncomfortable with that. HOWEVER, isn't this whole story about realizing everybody's differences and celebrating them?? doesn't rudolph meet a bunch of misfit toys that were once rejected and find homes for all of them? and DOESN'T Rudolph end up guiding the freaking sleigh and "going down in history?" all of those that once made fun ate their words. he overcame everything!!

and

2) by that token, if you are going to put a ban on Rudolph for the bullying portrayed there, why don't you put a ban on the story of Lady Gaga, who overcame bullying and is now one of the most well-known musical icons anywhere? or (as much as it pains me say it) Robert Pattinson, who was bullied for his interest in performing arts as a child? Or better yet, why not tell President Obama that his stories of being bullied when he was younger are not something to be discussed-even though he is now the President, his past might be upsetting.

look, i'm not saying that bullying is right, or that it should be tolerated-ever, because it isn't, and it shouldn't be. it is NEVER okay to make another person-particularly a child- feel bad about themselves. however, i think if Rudolph were not a fictional talking reindeer, he would be a part of the "it gets better" campaign, telling kids that even though you might feel bad now, you can rise above the hardships and really make a good life for yourself. Rudolph would join the ranks of people like President Obama, Lady Gaga, and that wonderful guy from 2nd City that does the Sassy Gay Friend skits to encourage children to be brave in the face of bullying, and teach other children that bullying is wrong and should be stopped. I also think that Rudolph would encourage everybody to embrace what makes them different and special, which is a lesson that everybody needs- not just at Christmas, but all the time.

So let's not put a ban on the movie!!

Also, my favorite Christmas song is at the end--- let's give that a listen. OH and make sure to look for the elf wearing sunglasses as he hooks Rudolph up to the sleigh. I love that part.