Easter Bunny and tooth fairy are 'essential workers,' New Zealand prime minister says

[riversedge]

Source: usatoday




Governments around the world have shuttered businesses and asked workers who aren't considered "essential" to stay home because of the rapid spread of coronavirus.

Essential workers include doctors, nurses, grocery store clerks, ride-share drivers and police officers – and in New Zealand, the list just got longer. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked at a news briefing whether she had considered an exemption for the Easter Bunny, and Ardern confirmed she had.
...........................

She noted that it may be more difficult for them to visit every home this year because they may be "potentially quite busy at home with their family."


Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/04/06/new-zealand-pm-says-easter-bunny-and-tooth-fairy-essential/2953971001/

---

I think this is National-International news--it is all about trying to make kids and families happy and giving them a sense of normalcy during these difficult times. maybe our president will get the message??

Link to tweet

?s=20

Link to tweet

?s=20

[wcmagumba]

1. Makes more sense than our "Red States" keeping churches open...

[riversedge]

2. my thought as I posted this--and in the US we are fighting over keeping churches open on

Easter--damn.

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. I know I will be in the minority on this

but I don't believe in lying to children on issues such as this. Once you have lied about this and "Santa Claus", why should a child ever believe you?

Abject skepticism will serve you far better than blind faith 99.99% of the time.

[flibbitygiblets]

5. That was actually my first thought too. But kids get a kick out of this stuff.

Part of being a child is that magical belief in things like Santa. And I don't remember not trusting my parents when I figured it out. If anything I'd be pissed if they'd cheated me out of the cool stuff other kids got to do.

By the way, Icelanders (even most adults) believe in fairies in one form or another--and look what an amazing, almost utopian society they have.

[Miguelito Loveless]

10. Yes, but I have also watched

Parents play what I see as cruel manipulative games to coerce behavior.

Also, “harmless” superstitions or supernatural beliefs are all fun and games until they aren’t. Religions prove this daily. Especially right now.

[flibbitygiblets]

18. Agree 100% on the religion point

[customerserviceguy]

6. I understand where you're coming from

but as long as this is all done with a wink, it's no more harmful than NORAD "tracking" Santa Claus. The best thing to do with children is to explain to them when they hit elementary school age that these are legends that often give joy and pleasure to people of all ages.

When I lived in the Pacific Northwest, we use to speak of Bigfoot as if he were real, but everybody knew that it was all purely for entertainment.

[Miguelito Loveless]

12. I just find it unsettling to lie to people

While I think folklore like Sasquatch interesting, I don’t see any reason to tell children, or gullible adults, that it’s real. Gullibility is a trait which has landed us where we are today. I oppose any attempt to foster it. Fox News makes bank on it. As does entire sectors of our economy.

[LisaM]

7. I think kids should be encouraged to expand their imaginations as much as possible.

Would you be against a kid having any kind of imaginary friend?

Life is mysterious to begin with; I don't see what's wrong with a little extra sprinkle of magic.

[Miguelito Loveless]

9. I have zero problem with kids expanding their imagination

I just have a problem with lying and manipulating children. And I have yet to run into a parent playing the Santa game who didn’t use it to manipulate children by threats of “Santa not coming” if they failed to behave.

[IcyPeas]

11. oh puleeeeease

[Miguelito Loveless]

13. I don't see why you find it hard to believe

The entire Heaven/Hell dogma is a variation of the Santa Claus fairy tale. Omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent entity (god), who rewards/punishes his believers based on their adherence to a set of rules based on folklore with contradictory tenants.

[RhodeIslandOne]

23. If they don't buy their children gifts after behaving badly....

...then Santa didn't come.

[sir pball]

19. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES.

"So we can believe the big ones?"

YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.

"They're not the same at all!"

YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET—Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED.

"Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what's the point—"

MY POINT EXACTLY.


Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

[Miguelito Loveless]

20. Yes, I am a fan.

And aware that the passage contradicts my view.

Of course, it is spoken by the physical incarnation of Death, who exists in that reality, but not ours.

Also, there is the problem of who is telling the "little lies", what they are, and why they are told.

The importance of that passage is that while abstract concepts such as mercy and justice are arbitrary and intangible, Pratchett does acknowledge "truth" and "lies" as consequential absolutes. Are we talking about TRUE justice and TRUE mercy, or are we talking about a self-serving interpretation of the concepts. The death penalty may be just in some people's opinion, but it is not merciful.

And because the scene in the TV version was so faithful to the book, and the acting stellar:

If you have never watched the movie or read the book, by all means do.

[sir pball]

21. I just finished Hogfather last night...

...for the 8th(?) time. Figured quarantine was a good time to start with Colour of Magic and do the entire series in order for the fourth time - bit lighter than The History of Middle-Earth. The HF adaptation was good, but IMO Going Postal absolutely blows its doors off in every way, even if it is a little looser with the story. I still can't get past the rubber-suit Death and Mr. Pump though, the BBC can do Dr. Who and Peaky Blinders but a freakin' skeleton and golem are beyond them..

Pratchett's philosophy aside, "lying" about Santa is a much more relatable and digestible way to demonstrate the idealistic values of "the season" to a child, as opposed to having an abstract discussion about generosity, kindness and giving - save that for when they're old enough to process it. Think "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus".

Mighty bold of you to say that DEATH doesn't exist in our reality though - by the time you know for sure, it's too late to tell the rest of us

[Miguelito Loveless]

22. Pratchett's Death would be a welcome fellow

Pratchett's views on the Afterlife where more Karmic in nature, and again, if there were such a place, it would certainly be a fairer one that what I was taught growing up.

The worst curse I can bestow on someone who revels in smug knowledge that I am to be judged in the end is, "May you be judged strictly according to your own rules, and punished to the limits of your own mercy."

I agree with you about Going Postal, and would love to see Making Money and Raising Steam with the same cast.

Pratchett is my current respite from the insanity that is TrumpWorld.

[flibbitygiblets]

4. It's the little things, the little acts of kindness and humanity

that gives me hope.

Couldn't love the NZ PM more (or be any more jelly of kiwis).

[BigOleDummy]

8. Agreed

I agree with you 100%. Ms. Ardern is the epitome of real leadership. I see LEADERS like her and Ms. Merkel standing tall among world heads of state and then.......... I look at OUR chump in chief and realize we stand humiliated in front of the world.

[flibbitygiblets]

17. As my spouse puts it: tRump tied America's hands and pulled down our pants

and is showing our bare ass to the world.

We're a lot weaker than we like to think in many ways, and this proves it. tRump's real boss must be so pleased.

[Yeehah]

14. She's great.

God, how I wish I lived in New Zealand instead of the crumbling empire of the USA.

[treestar]

15. Omg how sweet!

If it had been that time of year, it would be Santa. You can imagine kiddies asking about that!

[niyad]

16. Awwwwwww, that is sweet. Of course they are essential! How else am I going to get my

chocolate this Easter.??????

[littlemissmartypants]

24. Suspended disbelief aka magic. Whatever it takes to keep magic alive.

Thanks for sharing this, riversedge.

❤ lmsp