Today we read Il pellerossa nel Presepe, by Gianni Rodari. Gianni Rodari is a celebrated author of children stories and poetry. In this poem he tackles themes of diversity and inclusion in a way that might appear questionable to contemporary sensitivities, but was very much intended in the most ecumenic and liberal way possible. He imagines a statuette of a native american ending up inside a nativity scene, and engages in a discussion with his little readers. At first he says “that’s not your place, go away,” but slowly and surely the doubt is sown. Does he really bother the angels? He came a long way, maybe because he heard the message of acceptance and universal love. (And do keep in mind Rodari was a lifelong proponent of secular education.) What do you say, kids, shall we let him stay here? I’m sure they were happy to have him, in the end. The original: Il pellerossa con le piume in testa
e con l’ascia di guerra in pugno stretta,
come è finito tra le statuine
del presepe, pastori e pecorine,
e l’asinello, e i Magi sul cammello,
le stelle ben disposte,
e la vecchina delle caldarroste?
Non è il tuo posto, via, Toro Seduto:
torna presto da dove sei venuto.
Ma l’indiano non sente.
O fa l’indiano.
Ce lo lasciamo, dite, fa lo stesso?
O darà noia agli angeli di gesso?
Forse è venuto fin qua
ha fatto tanto viaggio,
perché ha sentito il messaggio:
pace agli uomini di buona volontà.\ The music in this episode is Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G minor (Christmas Concerto), Op. 6, No. 8, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra (licensed under Creative Commons).
