Happy holidays everybody!
This has been such a great year, I can't wait to start 2012! All this cheer has really gotten my spirits high. I love the holidays.
But once again, something has really got me thinking.
I don't know if you've heard about this, but there is a man who thinks the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer should be banned. That's right. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - the holiday favorite. Now in case you're not familiar with the story, let me give you a brief summary.
So basically, Rudolph lives at the North Pole with Santa Claus. But there's something special about Rudolph. His nose shines like a light bulb, only red. All the other reindeer would laugh at him and call him names. They wouldn't even let him play in their reindeer games. But then, one year, Christmas Eve was awfully foggy. So Santa went ahead and put Rudolph at the front of all the reindeer so he could guide the way! Then all the reindeer loved him and they lived happily ever after because Rudolph saved Christmas.
Well, a man named Professor George Giuliani says that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer promotes bullying and should be banned.
Now here's how I see it.
So Rudolph is born special. He has a special gift and is super amazing. But not all the reindeer see that. So the reindeer choose that the only way to handle something like that is to reject it. They laugh at Rudolph and hurt his feelings. Now this is the first part of the story where Rudolph makes the right choice: no violence. You don't see Rudolph go get some toys from the workshop and throw them at the other reindeer. Rudolph isn't like that. Good role model? I think so.
So in the story, Rudolph's father tries to cover up Rudolph's nose with dirt. But in the end Rudolph just can't hide it. And isn't that something we should all learn? I mean, we all have our own "red nose". We all have insecurities and masking them doesn't help. If Rudolph had been able to cover up his nose, Christmas would have been a disaster and millions of little children around the world would be disappointed. Do you want that, Professor Giuliani? Do you want millions of upset children? I didn't think so. Rudolph accepts who he is. Good role model? I think so.
Then in the end, it turns out that Rudolph saves Christmas! Now let me just point this out: Rudolph didn't have to help Santa.
He could have said, "Sorry, but you guys have been total jerks to me, so this must just be karma." But he didn't. Rudolph was the better person - err, reindeer. Good role model? I think so.
The thing that made all the other reindeer dislike him actually saved all the reindeers' jobs. And when they got back from spreading joy and happiness across the world, all the reindeer suddenly loved Rudolph and all wanted to be best friends with him. The way I see it, Rudolph could have been a complete jerk about it. He totally could have rubbed it in all the reindeers' faces and made them feel bad. But he didn't. He was very gracious about the whole thing. He forgave all the reindeer for being mean and he was then allowed into their reindeer games. Good role model? I think so.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is arguably the best Christmas story out there, not to mention one of the greatest life lessons: We can't control the behavior of the other reindeer, but we do have the choice to embrace our red noses and lead the way! Go Rudolph!