Post by Joanna on Nov 30, 2018 21:24:09 GMT -5
Rudolph's Sexist, Charlie Brown's Racist, Song Promotes Rape
A few holiday classics – ranging from films to songs – have sparked an uproar in recent days, with some critics making claims of racism, sexism.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The Huffington Post alleges the Christmas classic is a “bigoted” film featuring bullying and sexism. “Viewers are noticing the tale may not be so jolly after all,” the outlet’s video stated. “And they’re sharing their observations online.” The video aggregated online responses, citing one person who claimed the movie presents racist and homophobic components. The video also claims Rudolph’s father, Donner, verbally abused his son and made a sexist comment to Rudolph’s mother by forbidding her to search for their son, saying, “No, this is man’s work.”
But many people who viewed the video disagreed, insisting the HuffyPost missed the mark:
“Rudolph was about a reindeer who showed others that being different is a good thing. It showed viewers that just because you may be different doesn't mean you can't overcome difficult obstacles in life,” one person argued.
“This 54yr old children’s movie teaches lessons of acceptance, equality, forgiveness, perseverance. It teaches people not to be judgmental, it teaches it’s ok to be & to accept those different from yourself. All lessons people could still learn today. That’s hardly problematic [in my opinion],” another wrote.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. This year, the ABC presentation has also been the subject of complaints, with critics slamming the classic film as racist, citing the portrayal of the film’s sole black character, Franklin. During the holiday feast scene, Franklin is seen sitting alone on one side of the table while many of the film’s white characters are seated together on the other side. Franklin also appears to be sitting in an unstable lawn chair, which causes him to topple over at one point. The other characters are seated in sturdier-looking chairs.
“Why is Franklin in Charlie Brown Thanksgiving sitting all by himself at the table. Man. Things that I did not notice as a child,” one person wrote on Twitter following the 1973 film’s airing the day before the holiday this year.
“They give our friend the busted chair and won’t even sit on the same side of the table, more proof that Charlie Brown and his cohorts are RACIST,” wrote another.
But as one Twitter user noted, “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz was a “trailblazer” who “bucked racism.”
“Seriously please get some historical context. Charles M. Schulz was a trailblazer and bucked racism in those days by adding Franklin to reflect the issue… and challenging what was then going on in society,” Mark Larson, a radio show host in California, tweeted.
‘Baby It’s Cold Outside.’ A radio station in Ohio has pulled “Baby It’s Cold Outside” from its lineup after a listener expressed concern over the holiday song’s lyrics. WDOK Christmas 102.1 removed the tune after one woman called the radio station, claiming the song promotes rape culture and suggested it isn’t appropriate to play the 1940s classic in 2018.
“It wasn’t really our decision,” host Desiray said. “It’s the decision of our listeners. People might say, ‘Oh, enough with that #MeToo,’ but if you really put that aside and listen to the lyrics, it’s not something I would want my daughter to be in that kind of a situation,” she continued, explaining “the tune might be catchy, but let’s maybe not promote that sort of an idea.”
According to Fox 8, the Cleveland radio station claimed it conducted a poll on its website with the majority voting in favor of removing the song. However, the results were not visible online.
A separate poll on the station’s Facebook page did show results and they were quite different: 92 percent out of more than 600 voters were in favor of playing the song while only 8 percent considered it inappropriate.
The 1944 song, written by Frank Loesser, features a female singing: “I really can’t stay,” to which a man responds: “But baby, it’s cold outside.”
Here are the lyrics. Decide for yourself.
Baby It’s Cold Outside
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) (Why thank you)
I ought to say no, no, no sir (Mind if move in closer?)
At least I’m gonna say that I tried (What’s the sense of hurtin’ my pride?)
I really can’t stay (Baby don’t hold out)
Baby it’s cold outside.
Ah, you’re very pushy you know?
I like to think of it as opportunistic.
I simply must go (Baby it’s cold outside)
The answer is no (But baby it’s cold outside)
The welcome has been (How lucky that you dropped in)
So nice and warm (Look out the window at that storm)
My sister will be suspicious (Gosh your lips look delicious!)
My brother will be there at the door (Waves upon a tropical shore)
My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious (Gosh your lips are delicious!)
Well maybe just a cigarette more (Never such a blizzard before) (And I don’t even smoke)
I’ve got to get home (Baby you’ll freeze out there)
Say lend me a coat? (It’s up to your knees out there!)
You’ve really been grand, (I feel when I touch your hand)
But 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 old out)
Baby it’s cold
Baby it’s cold outside
Okay fine, just another drink then
That took a lot of convincing!
Listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rhvtzzmq-Y
Sources: Madeline Farber, Fox News, November 30, 2018, and Frank Carnevale, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 30, 2018.