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CountJohn — 12 years ago(December 13, 2013 08:50 PM)
I think the point is that they needed someone who was different, or else Christmas would have been ruined (i.e "what makes us different makes us great"). The point of the story is that if the whole will be stronger if it accepts differences and doesn't insist on total conformity. It was definitely a timely message with it first being aired in the 60's, with a lot of people worried about the potential affects of the growing counter-cultural movements.
HO, HO, HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!! -
maryj482 — 11 years ago(December 09, 2014 03:22 PM)
I don't know why I am replying to this 3 year old post, but it seems that it has stayed active and I will throw my 2 cents in for what it's worth. This made me laugh a bit as it basically goes through the whole Rudolph song, yet misses the take-home lesson. The movie is pretty much the literal events of the song made into a clay-mation narrative (though the Island of misfit toys is a bit extra, as well as the abominable snowman).
Rudolph had a shiny nose (you might even say it glows). Rudolph is made fun of and ostracized. Santa and Co realize Rudolph is useful as a headlight, Rudolph is accepted and celebrated. Per Wikipedia, the character of Rudolph and the song pre-date the Xmas special by about 25 years. The movie was telling a pre-existing tale of Rudolph that is overall, a tale of acceptance.
My point is that the show does NOT offer a terrible lesson to kids. The lesson is the lesson of the song. Differences can be hard to live with, but can also help you be stronger and can be unexpectedly beneficial. People/Society are judgy and not perfect, but they also generally accept differences after awhile though it may take some getting used to.
I agree the people around Rudolph seem very closed-minded and are often jerks in a way that is too un-PC for an XMas special made today, but I think the overall message is effective. I don't think anyone took the credit for Rudolph's hard work. Everyone felt bad for treating him poorly in the end and gave him full credit for saving Xmas. -
cygnusxjg — 11 years ago(December 10, 2014 07:40 AM)
They start their journey from the North Pole on the evening of 12/24. I can't imagine this was the first ever snow storm they have ever experienced. So, when Santa met Rudolph for the first time and saw that nose and how much it glowed, the first thing in his mind should have been how much he could use him when the weather is bad.
Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand. -
hasheart — 10 years ago(December 01, 2015 07:20 PM)
This is exactly how I feel. I saw it once when I was 5 and vowed not only never to see it again, but wouldn't let my kids see it either. I think it was so horrible how Rudolph was treated. I remember crying to my bio Dad and asked why are they so mean to Rudolph. It wasn't his fault for being different, and even if it was, being mean isn't the answer. My bio Dad then hugged me and said that he agreed with me, and even in real life animals and people are this way. He told me about chickens and the expression "the pecking order" and what it meant. I was horrified. I was teased a lot from the age of 5-college, but I remembered that being being mean to another is not the answer.