I think I would have liked the original story (in book form) much better than I ever liked the song

[capri0mni]

This may come across as Holiday Heresy to some folks, but I've always hated the song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." I hated being forced to sing it in elementary school holiday concerts, and the one year I was in hospital for surgery around Christmas, I'd be lying in bed and put my fingers in my ears to try and block out the song when they'd pipe it in over the loudspeakers to "cheer up the children."

Supposedly, it's a story about love and acceptance of differences, but it's always come across to me (even at five years old) as the Other Reindeer only embracing Rudolph, in the end, because it was beneficial for them to exploit his difference when they were in crisis.

However, there's a lot more to the original story from which the song and the tv special were derived.

Stupid Snopes.com won't let me copy text for citing a quote, but check out the last paragraph of the article:

1. Rudolph was not imprisoned on Santa's compound, with the other reindeer, but lived on the Outside.


2. Rudolph's parents were proud and supportive of him.


3. Although Rudolph was teased, he was still a productive member of the community, with good self-esteem (see #2).


4. Santa discovered Rudolph by chance, after his deliveries were already started, and he asked Rudolph to volunteer.

I'm just thinking about this because, even though only one person picked the choice in my poll, I'm thinking might be fun to try and compose my new Yule/Winter Solstice carol (Yule for Pagans, Solstice for Astonomers) around a fictional O.C., and make a comical ballad out of it.

...I just need to decide on an O.C....