Through My Eyes

Ron Davis

Some people go through life viewing the glass as half empty.

Consistent with that approach, I just heard part of a discussion

regarding the value of Santa Claus. Apparently, ‘tis the season to

question the big fella, and some folks want to get rid of him. They argue

that Santa’s image is almost godlike because he purports to know who has

been bad or good.

They also assert that Santa’s suggestion to impressionable children --

that those who have been good will be rewarded by Santa, and those who

haven’t been as good may suffer a deprivation -- sends the wrong message

to children whose families don’t have the means to satisfy their

children’s wish-list desires.

Moreover, they assert, when some children compare what Santa brings them

with what Santa brings others, kids may be prompted to ask why they are

deserving of less and conclude that they must have been bad.

Because of this, the glass-half-empty component of society suggests it’s

time to dispense with the myth and not merely eject Santa from his sleigh

and our chimneys, but boot him out of our lives completely.

I agree with some of those observations, but not with the conclusion.

Santa is, in fact, godlike. And impressionable children who receive

material gifts that don’t fulfill their expectations, for whatever

reason, may very well come to an inaccurate conclusion. But concluding

that the solution is to get rid of Santa as an icon, image or myth is

utter and complete nonsense.

Worse yet, it symbolizes a prevalent attitude among some members of

society that anything that could possibly have a narrow, negative effect

ought to be eliminated -- an approach that never balances the positive

and the negative, and comes to a conclusion based solely on part of the

whole, rather than an examination of the whole itself.

I don’t see a Santa who’s overweight, hangs out 364 days a year with a

bunch of elves and reindeer, doesn’t shave, wears the same suit all the

time, and worst of all, doesn’t grant all of the children’s wishes. I see

a Santa who challenges us all to discuss with these same impressionable

children the very nature of life, the value of living a positive life,

the relative value of material gifts, why people aren’t always treated

the same way, and why, in life, we may not always get what we want when

we want it.

Those who want to get rid of Santa do so because Santa prompts these

difficult and sometimes uncomfortable discussions. To some, it seems

easier to avoid the discussion by eliminating the cause of the

discussion, Santa -- a discussion that will be a precursor to a necessary

discussion about sex, drugs and other aspects of society and won’t be

eliminated by wishful thinking, but will have to be dealt with through

conversation and communication.

After we’ve removed the boxes and bows from under the tree, examined the

shirts, blouses and jackets, and beamed at the toys, take another look

under the tree. Perhaps some of us will see the gifts that are incapable

of being boxed, wrapped or stuffed in a sack. Maybe we’ll see the gifts

of communication, compassion, understanding, reflection, appreciation and

love, which Santa also brings -- gifts, given equally and without regard

to age, race or economic condition.

The challenge of Santa Claus is that we put whatever negatives we may see

in him in the context of his positives, and that we confront and discuss

with our kids and one another whatever imperfections we may see in life,

rather than hide from them or wish they’d go away.

Get rid of Santa? No way! I’ll leave out my plate of chocolate-chip

cookies and a glass of milk by the fireplace, as I always do. I’ll also

try and remind myself that Santa doesn’t want to go to the North Pole for

364 days out of the year, but many of us send him packing.

* RON DAVIS is a private attorney who lives in Huntington Beach. He can

be reached by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .