Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 21, 1993 TAG: 9312210247
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JENNIFER ULMEN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Come on, do we really believe that Santa Claus, the compassionate care-giver, is really a man?
I'm not talking about all the shopping and baking that men say we just f+iloveo to do! Shopping is great fun, gals - isn't it? - especially when you have to shop for not only your side of the family but his as well. And don't forget his distant Aunt Sophie who always sends the children $10 every year. And then we have to wrap everything twice? Fun! Fun! Fun!
I'm not talking about all the cards we send enclosed with family photographs, including school and soccer photos. I'm not talking about all the holiday parties we give and bake for. And don't forget, we need to remember teachers, baby sitters, brownie leaders ... No, no, no. I'm not talking about all the mechanics of the holiday that, unquestionably, fall into the laps of women.
It's just too much work and the holiday is too blown out of proportion. We all agree. So, we ask for help and what do we get?
``I told you not to send gifts to my side of the family,'' or
``You really do spend too much.''
And then the especially satisfying one-liner: ``I'll do it.''
I'm not arguing that the holiday is too crazy or too unsatisfying. I'm arguing that Santa cannot possibly be a man. Men just don't have the compassion, and compassion is the issue here, folks. They don't get it. Let's face it, men just don't get it!
You know, on second thought: The image we give our children of Santa - the man, sitting in the mall or sitting on top of great red fire engines - isn't too far from the truth.
Sitting - a great and truthful image.
You never see Mrs. Claus. She's too busy breaking her back loading the sled.
Jennifer Ulmen of Roanoke is a part-time artist at the Art Museum with Art Venture.
by CNB