[Kirkwood]

Boy, you sure missed the message.

[discostu]

I understand the message they THOUGHT they had. But that’s not the message. The actual message that the story actually puts forth is: it’s OK to be a freak so long as you’re useful, and once you have powerful friends you’ll be accepted.

Here’s a longer slightly profane explanation:
http://www.cracked.com/article_18601_4-bad-lessons-rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer-teaches-kids.html