Eskimo Santa
An unexpected visitor from the North Pole.31 total reviews
Comment from barkingdog
Merry Christmas to you,too, Andre.
I love this take on Moore's story and definitely see where you were/are coming from with race. We white folks sure mess with facts; that you got right.
Fine choice of names--Angakok--medicine man.
You are so clever. I love how your mind works. You can dish out the truth with a spoonful of sugar, making it more palatable to many.
I loved the skeptical boy with his toy lazer gun determined to catch his dad being Santa.
Best of luck in the contest.
:) e
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Merry Christmas to you,too, Andre.
I love this take on Moore's story and definitely see where you were/are coming from with race. We white folks sure mess with facts; that you got right.
Fine choice of names--Angakok--medicine man.
You are so clever. I love how your mind works. You can dish out the truth with a spoonful of sugar, making it more palatable to many.
I loved the skeptical boy with his toy lazer gun determined to catch his dad being Santa.
Best of luck in the contest.
:) e
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Oh, thank you, barkingdog, for your generous, six star review. No one is more amazed at my cleverness than myself because I wrote this twenty-nine years ago and then stopped writing for twenty-five years. If I had a FanStory back then, I may never had stopped writing. I cannot guilt myself about woulda, coulda, and shoulda, but focus on the task at hand of writing now. I will keep exercising my mind to crank out more stories and poems. thanks again.
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Me, too.
But, it's better late than never.
Here we are. Having fun creating.
:) ellen
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Yes, Ellen, I had a choice to make yesterday. I could either keep this story in my drawer for another twenty-nine years, or I could post it and write new stories. thank you for your encouragement.
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Keep writing as long as you enjoy it. Enjoying it is what's important and oh, yes, stay true to yourself. Your voice, your style, is unique.
Love ya.
: e
Comment from nomi338
I fear that some African Americans might be angered that you did not make the man black. I get that it does not matter his skin color or his point of origin. The only thing that matters is his intent to show loving kindness to all. In this regard you succeeded in a very big way. The only potential problem I can see is that the mostly blind who won't like it are just that, too blind to see.
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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I fear that some African Americans might be angered that you did not make the man black. I get that it does not matter his skin color or his point of origin. The only thing that matters is his intent to show loving kindness to all. In this regard you succeeded in a very big way. The only potential problem I can see is that the mostly blind who won't like it are just that, too blind to see.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Thank you, nomi338, for your review and thoughts. I created the story to reflect the peoples who live closest to the North Pole, but actually I do not care what skin color Jesus or Santa or Angakok has. Their love and kindness are what matters.
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Exactly the point I spoke to. Great Job.
Comment from Lu Saluna
An amazing Christmas story. What you write is true, we are brought up to believe these icons have our own likeness so we will believe in them. The reality is, we have no idea what they looked like, if they are real or if from another reality altogether. Hence the leap of faith.
An excellent contest entry, best of luck to you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Namaste, Lu
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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An amazing Christmas story. What you write is true, we are brought up to believe these icons have our own likeness so we will believe in them. The reality is, we have no idea what they looked like, if they are real or if from another reality altogether. Hence the leap of faith.
An excellent contest entry, best of luck to you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Namaste, Lu
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Thank you, Lu, for your generous review. No, we do not know how our icons looked like. What is important is what they represented and taught. Thanks also for wishing me success in the contest. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too.
Comment from WalkerMan
This is a splendid, well-written variant of Clement Clarke Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" with an important lesson in how stories and characters tend to be adapted to the dominant local culture without consideration of the realities involved. The spirit of giving should not be confined to a character of only one possible appearance; and it is illogical that the real person upon whom the Christian religion is based should be acknowledged as the Middle-Eastern Jew he was in all respects, but falsely pictured as tall and light-haired with blue eyes in order to more easily "sell" the religion to northern Europeans. If a concept is truly beneficial, it should not require some form of lie to make it more acceptable, else a kind of bigotry is built into such acceptance.
Human beings are not look-alike products from some assembly line. Differing appearance characteristics allow us to recognize each other, and many of them (nose size and shape, skin tone, hair and eye color, etc.) are based on how far from the equator (sunlight exposure) one's ancestors lived (lighter to let in more sunlight for Vitamin D production, darker to protect against harmful effects of overexposure to sun, for instance). Relative goodness of personality is totally independent of appearance. Any other view is bigotry, regardless of which "side" it comes from. A lot of unnecessary trouble can be averted if we all just get that straight.
Superb, and well illustrated by the author.
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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This is a splendid, well-written variant of Clement Clarke Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" with an important lesson in how stories and characters tend to be adapted to the dominant local culture without consideration of the realities involved. The spirit of giving should not be confined to a character of only one possible appearance; and it is illogical that the real person upon whom the Christian religion is based should be acknowledged as the Middle-Eastern Jew he was in all respects, but falsely pictured as tall and light-haired with blue eyes in order to more easily "sell" the religion to northern Europeans. If a concept is truly beneficial, it should not require some form of lie to make it more acceptable, else a kind of bigotry is built into such acceptance.
Human beings are not look-alike products from some assembly line. Differing appearance characteristics allow us to recognize each other, and many of them (nose size and shape, skin tone, hair and eye color, etc.) are based on how far from the equator (sunlight exposure) one's ancestors lived (lighter to let in more sunlight for Vitamin D production, darker to protect against harmful effects of overexposure to sun, for instance). Relative goodness of personality is totally independent of appearance. Any other view is bigotry, regardless of which "side" it comes from. A lot of unnecessary trouble can be averted if we all just get that straight.
Superb, and well illustrated by the author.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Thank you, WalkerMan, for your generous, six star review and analysis about "how stories and characters tend to be adapted to the dominant local culture without consideration of the realities involved." I am even more amazed that I thought and illustrated this twenty-nine years ago! Thanks again for your thoughtful, encouraging review.
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You are welcome, my friend. You were both wise and right almost three decades ago, and you still are. It is sad that humanity seems to have learned little regarding these important points in the interval. There can be no real peace on Earth until children no longer are taught myths based on divisive concepts. Some children learn the lies at home, but far more are indoctrinated at school with illogical pseudo-science, false history, and the notion that contrary opinions must be suppressed. The obvious goal is to cause children to grow up to be obedient robots, unable to think for themselves. All this started long ago with John D. Rockefeller, who "charitably" donated money to public schools, libraries, and colleges -- provided they did things his way thereafter. The purpose was to produce mindless but loyal workers for industry -- not, as he said, statesmen, scientists, musicians, artists, or poets. It was the same elitist mentality that we see today in the New World Order banksters and their cronies in the pharmaceutical, medical, and food conglomerates. Children today certainly need to hear your 'Eskimo Santa' story to learn the truth and therefore to question other supposed "facts" they hear. -- Mike
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Thank you, Mike, for your supportive analysis. I will submit this story for publication next year.
Andre
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That sounds good, Andre. You should have little trouble getting it accepted. -- Mike
Comment from Ulla
Hi Andre, a wonderful little story and quite different from the usual Santa Claus tale. A real input. Funny enough, in most of Scandinavia they believe he comes from Lapland, but in Denmark most believe he comes from Greenland near the north pole, hence an inuit. Liked your story a lot. All the best. Ulla:))
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Hi Andre, a wonderful little story and quite different from the usual Santa Claus tale. A real input. Funny enough, in most of Scandinavia they believe he comes from Lapland, but in Denmark most believe he comes from Greenland near the north pole, hence an inuit. Liked your story a lot. All the best. Ulla:))
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Thank you very much, Ulla, I am amazed that I dreamed this creative twenty-nine years ago. I would like to add more fantasy to my repertoire of non-fiction stories. Thank you for your encouraging review.
Comment from Heidi M
What a delightful blend of Moore's poem with your creative tale to tell the story of your picture. I like your inclusion of race and Jesus' birthday. Your descriptions brought Angakok and his huskies alive. Very clever contest entry.
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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What a delightful blend of Moore's poem with your creative tale to tell the story of your picture. I like your inclusion of race and Jesus' birthday. Your descriptions brought Angakok and his huskies alive. Very clever contest entry.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Thank you, Heidi for your encouraging review. I am amazed that I wrote this creative tale twenty-nine years ago. I vow to write more, Thank you for wishing me the best with my clever contest entry.
Comment from Heather Knight
This is so beautiful, Andre.
I've loved every word of it. I found it to be very imaginative. And your drawing is great too. Why do you say you can't draw anymore?
Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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This is so beautiful, Andre.
I've loved every word of it. I found it to be very imaginative. And your drawing is great too. Why do you say you can't draw anymore?
Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Thank you, Maria, for your generous, six star review of both my fantasy story and drawing. I haven't done either in nearly thirty years. Perhaps I should resume. Thanks again for your review of my imaginative story.
Comment from winnona
a well-written contest entry. I liked it better than a lot of the Christmas stories iI have read this year. The story showed imagination and creativity. I enjoyed reading it.
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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a well-written contest entry. I liked it better than a lot of the Christmas stories iI have read this year. The story showed imagination and creativity. I enjoyed reading it.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Thank you, Winnona, for your encouraging review of my imaginative and creative story written twenty-nine years ago. I am just getting restarted now. Thank you also for wishing me contest well wishes.
Comment from lancellot
The story is well written and considering the implanted racial elements, i think you will either win on this site. Or place highly. I was a bit disappointed it went there but not really surprised.
Congratulations.
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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The story is well written and considering the implanted racial elements, i think you will either win on this site. Or place highly. I was a bit disappointed it went there but not really surprised.
Congratulations.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Thank you, Lancellot, for your review and for wishing me success in the contest. I am glad I wrote this twenty-nine years ago and posted it today.
Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca
Oh my dear friend it is as if written today. Very well done and quite a different take on the story of Santa Clause. I am glad you included the birthday as many children today don't know whose birthday this is.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Oh my dear friend it is as if written today. Very well done and quite a different take on the story of Santa Clause. I am glad you included the birthday as many children today don't know whose birthday this is.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 25-Dec-2016
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Yes, Barb, I am impressed that my story still resonates today and is funny. Thank you for your review.
