Ok, I realize it was just a movie, but in watching "It's a Wonderful Life" so many times over the years I have noticed some profound things that George did that I admire and wish more people could do. I'm not sure where Frank Capra got this idea, but here are the main ones:
1- George took action when action was needed. When his brother Harry fell through the ice George didn't flinch. He ran out and saved his brother while ruining his own hearing. What would most of us had done in the same situation? I'd like to think I'd do the same, especially for a close relative, and I'd certainly like others to take action if I were in peril. The golden rule again.
2- George did not judge. We all know that Violet Bick was somewhat of a loose lady. That much was implied. George never judged her but he saw right through her. Rather than judge her he slipped her some money to help her get on her feet even though he might not have agreed with her actions. His kindness could have turned her life around knowing that someone decent still cared about her. In the alternate world, Violet is a hooker. What kind of people around us are lost and looking for guidance? How can we help them without judging them?
3- George was interested in others and compassionate to their problems. He saved Mr Gower because he knew that his sone had just died. He empathized with him and watched him like a guardian angel. When Mr Gower almost made a fatal mistake, George stepped in and corrected him, saving a two lives with one conscious action. If most of us would see somebody do something really stupid, do we sit and judge, or do we try and understand where the carelessness came from? Especially in moments of crisis, few of us are able to think straight, and that is when we most need our guardian angels.
4- George kept his cool. When the banks started to fail George was calm and reassuring to his panicked customers. He singlehandedly talked them off the ledge and got them through a crisis. Here is where a big difference can really be made. In times of true crisis and chaos we need people who are strong, resiliant, and also looking at the big picture- not panicking nor taking advantage of other's weaknesses. No matter what happens in my life I look to George as a symbol of strength and wisdom in trying times.
5- George took responsibility. When Uncle Billy lost all of the money, George took ownership of the situation and immediately tried to rectify it, rather than raking poor Uncle Billy over the coals. Some would say Uncle Billy should have never been trusted with such large amounts of cash and George was stupid to let him loose with it. Others would say that George went way overboard about the money, driving himself to the brink of suicide about it. But the one thing that I admired was how he took responsiblity in so many areas of his life.
6-- George was unselfish. This is perhaps one of the most subversive messages of IAWL. George was presented as a bright, ambitious young man who wanted to see the world. Yet choice after choice, George gave up on his dream because of responsiblities to his family, his community and his job. So many of us have been brought up that being ambitious and striving for the best is the American way, yet Capra sees things differently. The whole point of the movie seems to point to the love and friendship that George picked up along the way was much more important than any of the material things that Mr Potter or Sam Wainwright could have offerred him. It is very hard to be unselfish, especially in a world that can see that as a weakness. But to find the perfect balance between unselfish acts of love and necessary acts of self preservation- that is the trick!
7- He stood up to bullies like Mr Potter. Bullies are a fact of life and they can be found in all areas. Standing up to them takes a certain amount of courage and willingness to risk harm, and George Bailey did exactly that to foil greedy plans that Potter had drummed up. Though the movie greatly exaggerates the difference between the Potter dominated world and non-Potter dominated world, it goes without saying that bullies with unchecked powers get in way over their heads and bring misery upon themselves and those around them. The Potters of this world are not quite as obvious as in a movie, but they are out there and they need to experience checks and balances lest they get an exaggerated view of their own importance.
8- George was a Socialist. Not the bad, commie, pinko kind, but the nice American, FDR version that championed the working class. Frank Capra movies are great in how they celebrate the average man and his struggles. The Bailey Building and Loan in a way was a socialist scheme, in which people loaned each other money in order to build houses. Bailey's business methods were a bit naive, but it would be nice to imagine banks that worked like BBL did, rather than the greedy bastards at Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Bear Stearns that ruined our economy. Could you imagine your banker coming to your house and giving you a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine and welcoming you? Me neither.
9- He was a great husband to Mary. Sure, we know that she wouldn't have been a librarian spinster were it not for George, but he obviously made a big difference in her life and in all those who knew her. This is how we can all make a difference- through family and friends- kind words, loving deeds and selfless acts. It is Mary who comes through for George in his darkest hour, and for very good reason.
10- He was a great parent. This is probably the number one way each of us can make a difference, and that is to touch the lives of the next generation. Long after we are gone and our possessions have been sold or distributed, the only thing left of us will be the memories and lessons learned by our children and those we reached out to who are still around. In his darkest hour, George managed to put on a brave face for Zsu Zsu, fixing her flower for her and helping her to feel better. This one act of kindness proved that he still had it in him, and those kids would grow up to feel for George the pride and love that George felt for his own father's noble causes.
