Wonderful? Sorry, George, It’s a Pitiful, Dreadful Life

The New York Slimes ^ | December 18, 2008 | WENDELL JAMIESON

[7thson]

Lots of people love this movie of course. But I’m convinced it’s for the wrong reasons. Because to me “It’s a Wonderful Life” is anything but a cheery holiday tale. Sitting in that dark public high school classroom, I shuddered as the projector whirred and George Bailey’s life unspooled.

[ArrogantBustard]

See #57.

[weegee]

If all of us lived in Potterville, swing dancing the night away, we’d have to buy our manufactured goods from China where George’s kids would die of lead poisoning from the paints used.

[Sherman Logan]

Pottersville might be an interesting place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. It would be a horrible place to raise children.

[stinkerpot65]

Christians believe in freedom from debauchery and narcissism.

Liberals believe that debauchery and narcissism is freedom.

[7thson]

What was the equivalent to a PC back during the Great Depression? Back during the mid and late 70's - which I thought were depressing times? It seems you at least have a PC to access FreeRepublic and post replies.

Are you saying you have no home, no car, no money, no food and one dependent? If not, than what exactly do you mean? Please spell it out. Are you going through hard times now? In the past? Know someone close who did or is going through hard times now?

I don't think gridlock is saying no one has been through hard times but when compared to 30's and 40's - or even the 70's - does it compare? How many people going through what is called hard times today have a color tv? A car? A place to sleep? A cell phone? A PC? Internet service? Cable? And if they are poor and have little or no food, than why do they have that stuff? Why not stop getting that stuff and put their priorities right?

[ArrogantBustard]

Please read what I wrote. It is abundantly clear. Please note my use of the Past Perfect Tense. Please review your Fifth Grade grammar lessons, the better to restore your prior knowledge of the meaning of the Past Perfect Tense.

Thank you.

[gridlock]

There has been wealth and there has been opportunity.

Anybody who worked hard and applied themselves over the past thirty years succeeded. This time has been remarkable, in this regard. It has been free of the kind of economic cataclysms thay wipe out the hardworking and idle alike.

Of course there are a heck of a lot of people who did not work hard and apply themselves, which is why we have the poor. Universal opportunity does not equal universal wealth.

[r9etb]

writer sees Bedford Falls as dull and oppressing but sees Pottersville as exciting and lively.

I think there are quite a few libertarians, and a whole lot of Randians, who would agree with this.... Which just shows the fundamental moral poverty of looking at the world through an economic lens.

[ArrogantBustard]

Anybody who worked hard and applied themselves over the past thirty years succeeded.

Eventually. Most of the time.

At "Every turn"????

BS. That claim was utterly false, and nonsensical.

[gridlock]

OK. Opportunity at every turn. Wealth only if they took advantage of that opportunity.

[Sherman Logan]

Luck has something to do with. Many who become rich do so at least partially because they are in the right place at the right time.

Others, equally hard-working and dedicated, never really get ahead because of their own circumstances.

I must admit, however, that in this country over the last few decades few who are competent and willing to work hard have been mired in severe poverty. They may not have gotten rich, but they’ve done ok.

[ArrogantBustard]

Do you believe that everyone who is not wealthy (whatever that may mean) is so because he "screwed up"?

At this point, I'm not sure we're talking about the same planet. And you have given no clue as to what you consider "hardship" ... so we may not be even in the same Solar System.

[thesearethetimes...]

Wow. There are just so many great posts, and the thoughts therein to bump, and/or expand upon, but for the moment, here are my two cents to offer.

The author, quite simply, has never grown beyond his 15 year old perspective of the world. As the mom of a 20, and a 23 year old, (who where always pretty durn savvy for their ages, and are still growing wiser by the minute ;), I find Wendell’s arrested adolescence, unspeakably sad, and frightening.

Great, great thread. Thank you!
Merry Christmas to all!
Tatt

Tatt

[7thson]

Are you too arrogant to answer to specific questions? Are you so arrogant that you must be curt and short with everyone? Are you so impatient with others that only rudeness suffices in your answers to others?

[7thson]

Interesting you are asking for specifics in the term ‘hardship’ when you are too arrogant to answer specifics asked of you. Have a Merry Christmas/

[ArrogantBustard]

few who are competent and willing to work hard have been mired in severe poverty

That is an important point, that seems to be getting lost here.

[ArrogantBustard]

May you have a lovely day, an even lovelier week, a very Merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and the abundance of all of God’s blessings.

[gridlock]

I was not talking about Sam Wainright rich, or even George Bailey rich. I was talking more like Ernie the cab driver, with a little house in Bailey Park rich.

[7thson]

Arrogant and sarcastic. A lovely combination.

[Aquinasfan]

Dale Ahlquist, the President of the Chesterton Society, has a show at 9 P.M. every Sunday night on EWTN, called The Apostle of Common Sense. It's one of the few shows that I make a point of watching every week.

It sounds stuffy, but it's not. Dale has a great sense of humor.