Rudolph and Me

Speaking for my great-grandmother!

They called him Rudolph, and he had a red nose; and it was plain to see; it labeled him for sure wherever he goes, like you and me. When we heard talk about Rudolph, it made us feel better. Our lives seemed like his, life right to the letter. We were very similar and it was easy to see, we foolishly thought that mercy would visit us the same as it did he. But Rudolph was a hero, and we certainly believed, that if we could only be heroes, we too would be well received.

Rudolph was not like the others, and everyone knew, that before that one stormy Christmas Eve, Rudolph's history was turbulent too. Before Santa's problems on that stormy Christmas night, poor Rudolph was laughed at and called names before every flight.

Rudolph learned an important lesson, and we thought we did too, but on that same Christmas night, our children became gifts for Bobbie Franks and Mary Sue. We heard them speak of this savior that we could not see. He save old Rudolph! Why did'nt he save our children you and me? Many seasons passed and many stories too. The story of Rudolph and Christmas only made us blue.

We have been deceived by the story of Rudolph and it made us appear to be fooled. Our elders and spirits kept telling us these people have no spirits, and are differently schooled.

We talked to our neighbors that have been here many years. They spoke of their treatment and how they shed many tears. Our neighbors said they knew them after centuries but believed nothing they said. They took all of our land, killed all of our buffalo, and now all of our braves are dead.

Some said that they bragged about cruelty and bells that they've rung, words of hate spoken with sharp forked tongues, not realizing that every thing they say, will be etched into our spirits and used yet another day.

There is no reason to know my name. I lived centuries ago. I did not know the story of Rudolph, and I thought you should know. The story of Rudolf was released in 1939. If I said I knew Rudolph, I would be really out of line. Nonethesless, it's plain to see, that it wasn't about Rudolph. It is about you and me.

Just, John