Regarding All the Other Reindeer
Rarely, if ever, has the behavior of Santa’s reindeer prior to Rudolph’s first big Christmas Eve leadership role been unapologetically subjected to cultural criticism. Indeed, the whole matter has been routinely sugar-coated. I call foul.
In a time when old character flaws are pulled from the back of dusty closets and placed on public windowsills for airing and judging, I don’t see why these hoofed scoundrels, mad magical athleticism notwithstanding, should get a pass. It behooves us, if you will, to take a fresh look at this tale.
In brief, Santa, it seems, had this small herd of flying reindeer and one of them, a little fellow, had a red nose that glowed in the dark, about which no credible environmental or physiological determination has ever been published. Such a peer-reviewed paper certainly would be welcomed, though I imagine the inevitable dissension and finger-pointing would be quite contrary to the spirit of the season and perhaps best, for all involved, approached in mid-summer.
Written and oral tradition agree that Santa’s reindeer unafflicted by glowing snoots heartlessly bullied Rudolph, verbally if not physically, and excluded him from their games because they considered him unfit for service. Not until the mission-critical benefit of the red nose became apparent to management did the other reindeer get on board with a policy of inclusion. They needed poor Rudolph after all.
Rudolph could have, and maybe should have, told them all to pound snow. But we all know the story of a damaged soul who inspired a myth of selflessness and transcendence that brings perpetual joy to children young and old.
Christmas won in this particular case study, and continues to succeed well enough globally, but all of the other reindeer need to understand; it’s still not OK what you did.
Guy D. Johnson is a writer and marketing communications professional. Previously an animation studio owner, daily newspaper editor, reporter and photographer, volunteer fireman, railroad bridge gang helper, FM radio station underling and cave guide. He has lived on farmland trusted to the sun and rain; atop a wooded hill; beside great rivers; upon an arid, high plateau; and at the subtropical coast of the Gulf of Mexico. For 20 years, he worked and wrote in New Orleans.