Yes, I understand this diary is pre-mature. Christmas is a full 360 days away. So, writing about Christmas tonight, BeninSC?! WTF?!
I don’t know why this is on my mind tonight, but there it is.
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In researching Rudolph, I found that he first began his entry into our culture in 1939, when he was created by a man named Robert May for a commercial coloring book. He’ll be a part of this world long after we leave.
His story is simple enough. wikipedia tells it like this (info on Robert May also at the same wikipedia link):
The story chronicles the experiences of Rudolph, a youthful reindeer buck (male) who possesses an unusual luminous red nose. Mocked and excluded by his peers because of this trait, Rudolph manages to prove himself one Christmas Eve after Santa Claus catches sight of Rudolph's nose and asks Rudolph to lead his sleigh for the evening. Rudolph agrees and is finally treated better by his fellow reindeer, for his heroism.
I wouldn’t say it exactly that way. We who see discrimination and various forms of out-group bigotry on a daily basis know that Rudolph was outcast for being different. For being unusual, even unique. Nothing he did, nothing he CHOSE, accounted for the difference, but all too often discrimination and the will to ostracize does not care.
Once Rudolph solved an intractable problem, he was accepted. Not, I think, for his heroism, so much as for his unique and generous contribution. If Rudolph were a Republican, of course, he would have told the Reindeer Gamers to stick it. And let the toy deliveries falter. But that isn’t the way it went.
We understand the 'deal' when the story is about Rudolph, the reindeer, of course. As long as it is nothing more than a Christmas parable. Rudolph is indeed member of AN out-group, just not one of OUR (species') out-groups. We can see the entire transaction from an outside, independent, much more objective perspective. So it's easy to see Rudolph's effective value, his worth. And it's easy to see that his physical distinctiveness is precisely what makes him so special!
But what about when the 'deal' is not so obvious? What about when the … distinctiveness is not his nose? And it doesn’t light up? And when he isn’t a reindeer? What about when Rudolph is human? Perhaps a child... Perhaps a female child of color... Perhaps someone who doesn’t speak English... Or who is attracted to other females... But is nonetheless brilliantly and vibrantly unique... Endowed with treasures and gifts society could only dream of tapping... Infinitely MORE special for her marvelous difference! For her uniqueness! What then?
Can SHE guide our sleigh tonight?! Metaphorically speaking?!
PLEASE?!!!!
On to tonight’s comments! Formatted and compiled by brillig!
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From JayRaye:
This by onionjim is funny, but only in a "laugh to keep from crying" kind of way. From xxdr zombiexx's 2 drunk white guys shoot bb guns at a Wal~Mart and live, of course.
From LinSea:
This comment by renzo capetti in Dan Bacher's diary Steelhead Numbers Alarmingly Low at Nimbus Fish Hatchery, for its simply stated Wisdom.
Some comment 'flags:'
Flagged by BoiseBlue, this pictorial comment by annieli strikes an ironic tone!
Flagged by navajo, this comment by smileycreek ALSO strikes an ironic tone! (All in the same thread!)
Double-flagged by tommymet and RiveroftheWest, this diary-length comment by LeftHandedMan covers in depth conservative political strategies.
Top Mojo for yesterday, December 28th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary FAQing Top Mojo.
1) Politicizing a funeral is really, really low by davidkc — 166
2) Thank you for fighting the good fight with song by bkamr — 151
3) When you say: by Mopshell — 131
4) Oh man by otto — 119
5) It's not just politicizing a funeral ... by David Harris Gershon — 119
6) bleeding heart by smokeymonkey — 117
7) When seeking the truth, go to the truth-seekers. by thirty three and a third — 114
8) Yes, she has family at her side by 1864 House — 108
9) I think it's clear he meant by anastasia p — 106
10) Just posted this in Denise's diary by Navy Vet Terp — 106
11) Sending warm energy and thanks for a fighter who by The Marti — 104
12) Well, didn't the widow specifically ask for by dadadata — 104
13) i can answer that question, actually by TrueBlueMajority — 87
14) I'm sorry to hear the sad news by joedemocrat — 80
15) Yes, there is. by expatjourno — 79
16) I hope she is comfortable and feeling loved (n/t) by wader — 78
17) You Are Seeing the Most Powerful Argument Against by Gooserock — 78
18) the NYPD treats the citizens by art ah zen — 77
19) This has an explanation. by ogre — 72
20) There are PLENTY of opportunities to protest... by Notthemayor — 71
21) Pope Frank has already kind of slapped Pell by jasan — 69
22) Sending good thoughts and prayers by Ekaterin — 69
23) Sending good thoughts and by Mnemosyne — 66
24) I remember her diaries about her niece, by operculum — 66
25) This will go down in my history by weezilgirl — 65
26) Shamefully inappropriate and completely by Fishtroller01 — 64
27) An interesting read: by Denise Oliver Velez — 64
28) Oh Hai Whoknu! That's OK, We Know The Real Reason: by leonard145b — 64
29) LOL i love it when fundies by TrueBlueMajority — 62
30) Oh...I Dunno... by leonard145b — 62
31) Can she have visitors? by left rev — 62
Top Pictures for yesterday, December 28th. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment and/or larger picture. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!