Was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Bullied?

[benji]

YES, ABSOLUTELY:

Most people think of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" as a cute little story about a cute little reindeer with a cute shiny nose and a happy ending.

Think again, says George Giuliani, a special ed professor at Long Island University in New York, who has written an alternative to the Christmas classic called "No More Bullies at the North Pole."

He recently went on "Fox & Friends" to discuss the issue and says the treatment Rudolph receives from jolly St. Nick and his merry band of reindeer is tantamount to bullying.

For example, when Comet, the team coach, discovers Rudolph's nose glows, he banishes him from the team and tells the other reindeer to never let him join in any reindeer games.

"What a terrible message to send to children," Giuliani told ABCNews.com.

...

But Rudolph has a happy ending, you may say. Santa realizes the reindeer's glowing red nose can actually guide his sleigh through a Christmas night snowstorm. Everyone applauds. End of story, right?

Not so fast, says Giuliani. "The message to disabled children is we will not accept you as you are, but only if you can do something extraordinary," he said.

Herbert Nieburg, a Connecticut psychologist and bullying expert, said Rudolph's story is absolutely a case of bullying, specifically "ostracism and exclusion."

...

For parents who grew up with these classic Christmas cartoons, it's no longer enough to sit and enjoy them with your children.

"Parents should have a conversation with their kids," Nieburg said, "the main one being about difference. How do we work with people who are different? It's not just having a red nose, it's being gay, smart, athletic. Parents should talk constantly with kids about how we treat other people."

Giuliani invites parents to read his book with their kids after watching Rudolph. The book, which can be downloaded at his website learningaboutbullying.com is about 10 of Santa's policies that Mrs. Claus shows him are unfair or hurtful. It's a book that reflects the times we live in.

[Andrew]

For some reason, this came to mind:

phpBB [video]

Anyway, my immediate reaction is to say it's going overboard, like changing the lyrics from "Baa Baa Black Sheep" to "Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep" on the premise that the latter is racist, even though there actually black sheep and it's an alliterative choice that works better for the nursery rhyme. I can kind of see where he's coming from, though I would never have interpreted Rudolph's glowing noise as an allegory for disabilities, it's presented as a magical power rather than a handicap. To me, the theme of the story has more to do with acceptance and not judging a book by its cover, I feel he's reading a bit too far into it.

That's not to say the other reindeer in the story aren't bullying Rudolph but that's the whole point of the tale (and other stories like The Ugly Duckling); they're portraying that kind of behaviour as folly. I'm all for addressing the issue of bullying and I think his intentions are good, but it seems to me he's misinterpreting the tone and message of the story.

[Houndy]

What the hell....

[Oznogrd]

oh fuck this guy. You know what I got from rudolph as a kid with no fucking legs? Its ok to not fit in because most of the time you're more badass than the normal people. Fuck the bullies. The bullies dont get to hang out with awesome gay dentists, bear prospectors, and their boyfriend abominable snowmen.

[shadowgrin]

I wonder if that jerk will sell more books with the way he's doing it.

[benji]

Its ok to not fit in because most of the time you're more badass than the normal people.

Wow are you insensitive to those with difficulties:

Not so fast, says Giuliani. "The message to disabled children is we will not accept you as you are, but only if you can do something extraordinary," he said.

Bonus video with some comedian:

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

The bullies dont get to hang out with awesome gay dentists, bear prospectors, and their boyfriend abominable snowmen.

Now that's a progressive version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

It does seem that this guy has good intentions and a noble cause, his methods are just a little misguided. Of all the ways to tackle this issue, a twisting of an old Christmas fairly tale doesn't seem the best or most logical approach.

[Kenny]

He gets asked to guide the sleigh doesn't he? Essentially asking Rudolph to be the lead reindeer?

I thought the moral of the story was not to pick on people because they might end up being your boss.

[adv1s5]

god i hate people

[Andrew]

I thought the moral of the story was not to pick on people because they might end up being your boss.

Kind of, come to think of it.

[Dan's Brain]

I thought the moral of the story was not to pick on people because they might end up being your boss.

Kind of, come to think of it.

Would Rudolph have hiring and firing privileges? You'd hope so.

[Andrew]

Not officially, but he's got Santa's ear so he might as well have.

[Patr1ck]

Please. Rudolph was a damn cocaine addict. All that snow and a big red nose. Of course he was outcast and his father scolded by Santa.