Well it now seems that the 1964 Animated Movie Classic, “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” is met with “political incorrectness” since all the other reindeer seem to be bullying him in the movie.  The movie just aired again on CBS this week and was watched by 8.14 Million viewers.

Not all viewers, apparently, enjoyed the movie.  This is what one had to say:

“#RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer teaching kids since 1964 that your peers will only accept your differences if you can provide them with some kind of service,” went one tweet.

You can read the whole story here from Inside Edition’s website.

The story also says that “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is also under the microscope.  It seems the only black character in the holiday special sits by himself, across from everyone else.  This proves, according to one tweeter, that Charlie Brown and his cohorts are racist.

A Cleveland Radio Station as also pulled the song “Baby It’s Cold Outside” due to the ‘MeToo’ Movement.   The song is featured in a 1949 film “Neptune’s Daughter,” when a man encourages a woman to stay with him, even though she wants to leave.

Folks, I ask you … where are we going in this country with all this political correctness BS?

No, I don’t believe in bullying either … and I assure you I believe bullies need to be dealt with.  However, name-calling being called bullying, is a disgrace to real bullying.  And, how do we deal with the bullies.  If you pop them upside the head someone is going to accuse the popper of being politically incorrect and probably would charge him with assault and battery.

Psychologist will tell you that name calling makes the person being called names feel insecure and victimized.  I have taught my children all their lives that being called a name only makes them a “victim” if they choose to let it.  Hopefully, I have taught them to walk away from anyone slinging names at them with the understanding it is the name caller’s problem and not theirs.  On the other hand, I have also taught them that if anyone tries to bully them with bodily harm by attacking them, they have two responses … flight or fight … and the choice is theirs to live with – but that name calling was not necessarily bullying.

You see, not only must we deal with the real bullies in life … we also need to deal with those that feel victimized over a simple spell of name calling.  My parents taught me as I am sure yours taught you that “Sticks and Stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.”  Now psychologists are trying to turn that around to “Sticks and Stones will break my bones and names will cut me deeply.”  I say “Bull-crap” to that.

After coming home from Vietnam and my so-called friends finding out I’d married a Vietnamese girl, many of them not only shamed me for going to Vietnam … but also tried to shame me for being a “Gook Lover.”  I didn’t let it bother me.  Naturally, they are no longer friends … but were they ever?

My kids grew up with me calling them “half-breed gooks” which many in the family disagreed with … but guess what … they are stronger for it and really understood that I never stopped loving them.  I called them names so that they could get used to “name calling” and discrimination.

My brother and I grew up on the southside of Chicago.  During our youth we would hear young African Americans playing a game called “The Dozens.”  In this game one person would start insulting another with words and this would continue until one person could not think of a comeback insult and give up or get mad and start fighting.  The winner, of course, was the one that would throw out the last insult. One example of this is … “Yo momma so ugly the neighbors chipped in to buy her curtains.” Or, “Well, yo momma so fat she wears a telephone booth for a beeper.”  Those are some of the cleaner ones I was able to find on the internet.

The history of this game is what is important (you can do your own research by Googling “Playing the Dozens.”)

I found this in the Baltimore Sun online:

Richard Majors and Janet Mancini Billson, in their book, “Cool Pose: The Dilemmas of Black Manhood in America,” wrote that playing the dozens prepares black men “for socio- economic problems they may later face and facilitates their search for masculinity, pride, status, social competence and expressive sexuality.” However, there is some debate over whether playing the game is necessary today.

Ossie Guffy, in her 1971 autobiography, recounted her grandfather’s lecture: He told her that the slaves played the dozens but that it wasn’t for fun.

“They was playing to teach themselves and their sons how to stay alive,” she wrote, quoting her grandfather. “The whole idea was to learn to take whatever the master said to you without answering back or hitting him ’cause that was the way a slave had to be, so’s he could go on living. It maybe was a bad game, but it was necessary. It ain’t necessary now.”

So, it seems that this game was originated in the days of slavery to teach the young men to toughen up and remain cool when the white man called him names that were insulting.  Now I was not around during the days of slavery, thank God, but according to this intellectual person …

However, as a ritualized verbal contest, the dozens (also known as mama talky, joning, capping, woffing or signifying) is part of the rich African oral tradition in which tribal history was passed along.  “The dozens, capping, are forms of survival,” said Cecil Brown, a professor at the University of California. “Being able to keep cool and not take insults personally are things that allow black people to be so effective.”

I say, “Being able to keep cool and not take insults personally are things that allow ALL people to be more effective and successful, regardless of skin color.”

So, let’s get real.  Is “name calling” really “bullying” or simply “insulting.”  I contend it is only the latter and will not make you a victim of bullying unless you choose to be.  Afterall, I am certain Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer did not like being called a “fire snout” and was insulted, but he sucked it up and took it and eventually Santa Clause made him a leader of all the reindeer.

Leaders, you see, are not born … they are simply ones who can succeed even when insults are thrown at them by less intelligent beings (animals and humans).

As for the black character in the “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” sitting alone on one side of the table – I didn’t draw the scene – but perhaps the other side of the table was simply full when the scene was drawn and he was the last one added.  I don’t know … but to call a cartoon character a Racist is totally STUPID.  Remember the tweeter (who had to be a liberal) said that Charlie Brown and his cohorts are racist – he/she did not say the writer of Charlie Brown …

And when you think about the song, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” it was about two lovers and one (the male) trying to do a “sales job” on the other (the female) by telling her the benefit of staying with him was that it was cold outside and she may get sick.  Good salespeople always sell benefits and not features.  You can tell by the lyrics that the writers of the song were looking for something that would fit the movie.  They were not insinuating anything other than two people in love should be together regardless of what other “may think.”

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

I really can’t stay – Baby it’s cold outside

I’ve got to go away – Baby it’s cold outside

This evening has been – Been hoping that you’d drop in

So very nice – I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice

 

My mother will start to worry – Beautiful, what’s your hurry?

Father will be pacing the floor – Listen to the fireplace roar

So really I’d better scurry – Beautiful, please don’t hurry

Maybe just a half a drink more – Put some records on while I pour

 

The neighbors might think – Baby, it’s bad out there

Say, what’s in this drink? – No cabs to be had out there

I wish I knew how – Your eyes are like starlight now

To break this spell – I’ll take your hat, your hair looks swell

 

I ought to say no, no, no – Mind if I move in closer?

At least I’m gonna say that I tried – What’s the sense in hurting my pride?

I really can’t stay – Baby don’t hold out

Ah, but it’s cold outside

 

I’ve got to get home – Oh, baby, you’ll freeze out there

Say, lend me your coat – It’s up to your knees out there

You’ve really been grand – Thrill when you touch my hand

Why don’t you see – How can you do this thing to me?

 

There’s bound to be talk tomorrow – Think of my life long sorrow

At least there will be plenty implied – If you caught pneumonia and died

I really can’t stay – Get over that hold out

Ah, but it’s cold outside

Oh, baby, it’s cold outside

Oh, baby, it’s cold outside

Keep in mind, he was selling … not forcing … she was trying not to consent but eventually did.  Isn’t that the way most “love relationships” are built?

Now days a young man in high school cannot even attempt to get a girl to like him for fear that she or her parents or teachers will want to call it something other than it really is … an interest in her.  God, I would be in so much trouble if high school back in the 60’s was as politically correct as they attempt to be today.  And, if I would have taken “No” for an answer … I’d not be married to the wonderful woman I am today … because she said “No” about 10 times before I could get her to say “Yes.”

That’s all I have for this one … I like to read/hear your comments if you have any.

Have a wonderful Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer Christmas while remembering it is still really all about the Birth of Jesus Christ.

Jerry Nix