Saturday, December 26, 2009

Fair weather reindeer

As many have been bombarded with Christmas songs the past few days, there's been one that has stuck with me, more like bugged me. We sing 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer', but have we analyzed what this song means...

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen.
But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?


At first, this establishes a popularity situation of the named eight reindeer as if they were privileged. If the next reindeer was really as famous as stated, why ask if you can recall it?

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose and if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows

This statement immediately introduces Rudolph with facial deformity as a significant trait rather than mention a positive character trait as normally done in introductions.

All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph play in any reindeer games.

The well-known reindeer mentioned in the first statement and any others in their society were bullies. The story also negatively describes Rudolph's financial situation which inclusively degrades him physically, socially, and financially.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say, "Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Where was Santa earlier during Rudolph's abuse. He only appears when he needed Rudolph. What would Santa have done for Rudolph if it was a clear night?

Then all the reindeer loved him and they shouted out with glee

How could this be real love? Moments earlier he was being ridiculed. The named reindeer must not be in a union and their pay depended on working Christmas Eve. Why else would they be shouting with glee?

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down in history!"

Apparently history is just whatever is documented in a format that is recoverable by future generations. It shouldn't make abuse socially acceptable for all to sing.
 

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