Last year, I posted a list of my requisite holiday viewing to my LiveJournal. In the interest of full dsclosure, I should admit that I forewent seeing "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in 2005. My holiday was just that much more deficient in cheer as a result. For -- and please, allow me to echo a sentiment that's far from new -- "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is the best holiday special ever.

Troubled by the prospect of indulging in this piece of nostalgia for two consecutive years, I popped in the DVD yesterday to accompany my gift wrapping. I didn't get very far with the wrapping; I was enthralled.

What impressed me most was something I'd never really noticed before. I feel a little foolish for missing it in the past, but often growing up with something can keep you from reexamining its meaning. Much is made of the boldness of Linus's speech (Luke 2:8-14), ending with "on earth peace, good will toward men." (Personally, I take comfort in knowing that Mr. Charles M. Schulz would eventually come to describe himself as a secular humanist.) Regardless of your religious views, "on earth peace, good will toward men" sounds nice (right, Ahmadinejad? Bin-Laden? Bush?).

However, what struck me as the highlight of the program was the intense humanism exhibited. This is, of course, all topped off by the blatant and beautiful metaphor of Charlie Brown's pathetic, frail tree that is saved when the kids observe that all it needs is "a little love." It's a simple analogy. But it's fantastic.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been as floored by this as I have been. But my heart was warmed. Seriously. As if it were in a pot on a stove. I found myself transported to that magical, impossible world where I give the awful dictators and leaders of the world a copy of this. They watch it come to a close, tears barely held back, and then give me a giant bear hug. "Aww," they'd sigh. Poof! No more genocide. No more poverty. No impending climate crisis.

So I place "A Charlie Brown Christmas" at the top of my holiday special pantheon. For reasons new to me.

Naturally, I can't finish this write-up in good conscience without at least a minor rave about Vince Guaraldi's score. It's phenomenal. One of the best albums I own. Period.

Labels: babbling about films