Down With Potterism!

BitPig Online ^ | 2003.12.22 | BitPig [B-Chan]

[B-Chan]

I always had my suspicions that the Baileys were Catholic. Although George Bailey was “touched by an angel” (second class, anyway), the issue of precisely which church the Baileys of Bedford Falls attended was never specified in Frank Capra's 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Still, The Bailey family, and George in particular, exemplify the essence of Catholic social teaching. The Baileys were entrepreneurs with a definite desire to profit from their hard work, yes — but they were ethical in their practice of free enterprise. Their desire to profit from their labor was subordinate to their devotion to the Natural Law, to the divine commandment to “love thy neighbor as thyself” that lies at the basis of the Christian ethic. Unlike the monopolistic Mr. Potter, Peter Bailey and his family did not make a god of the crass accumulation of wealth. Instead, George and his family had an ordered relationship with wealth, always putting the common weal (both of the citizens of Bedford Falls and of the family’s fortunes as a whole) before their own individual gain. Peter Bailey died in the saddle of the Building and Loan he founded for the benefit of others; his son George Bailey sacrificed his health, his own money, and his dreams for the sake of his wife, his family members, and the people of his community; Mary Bailey gave up a life of ease and glamor with suitor Sam Wainwright for the sake of love for him; Harry Bailey put his life on the line as a fighter pilot, gallantly going to the rescue of a helpless troop transport threatened by kamikazes even in the face of two to one odds against himself. The Baileys were heroes, everyday heroes — the kind that you can find in any town anywhere.

Yet both the Baileys and Mr. Potter were capitalists. Both loaned money at interest and pocketed the income derived from same. Why were the Baileys the Good Guys and Potter the Bad Guy? The difference between the ethical capitalism of the Baileys and the amoral capitalism of Potter lies in the way each defined wealth. Mr. Potter defined wealth as power — the ability to control the daily lives of the citizens of Bedford Falls — and in terms of cold cash. This is the definition to which our increasingly “Potterist” society currently holds, and one that dooms its subscribers to a life of bitterness and dissatisfaction. Those who worship wealth and power above all else will in time discover themselves turning into Potters themselves — warped, frustrated old men and women. Thanks to a little heavenly help, however, George Bailey is jarred out of his mistaken belief that money as such has any connection to success; he learns (the hard way!) that real wealth consists not of control (an illusion), money (worthless paper), education (empty status symbol), travel (hedonistic thrill-seeking), or the even the moon (his naive dreams of fame and fortune), but rather of that true wealth which moth and rust doth not corrupt — love. In the end, love of God, of family, and of community is the one thing that truly satisfies, truly lasts — and is the one treasure that the Mr. Potters of this world will never be able to get their greedy hands around.

And that's a Christmas lesson we all should learn.

So as you and your loved ones sit down to watch It’s a Wonderful Life this Christmas season, remember: no man is a failure who has friends. Success lies not in power and money, but in the love you give to others and to God. True charity is the ultimate form of wealth.

Down with Potterism! Long live George Bailey, the richest man in town!

[B-Chan]

LOCAL HERO RETURNS

BEDFORD FALLS, NY / 25 DEC 2003 — George Bailey, retired director emeritus of Bailey Building and Loan International (NYSE: AS2) and local legend, returned to Bedford Falls today from a year-long, round-the-world adventure in the company of his wife, Mary Bailey, and his younger brother, Admiral Harold Bailey, USNR (Ret.). The three were greeted at Bedford Falls station by a crowd of over 30,000 well-wishers led by Bedford Falls mayor Zuzu Bailey, youngest daughter of George and Mary, and by Nicholas Martini III, president of the global Martini’s bar and grill chain headquartered in Bedford Falls.

“Old ‘Mossback‘ Bailey is back!” quipped Bailey to the assembled throng. “It took us long enough, didn't it, Mary?” he continued, to the amusement of the crowd.

This is no ordinary holiday homecoming. Now aged 94, George Bailey of Bedford Falls is returning from his first trip beyond the city limits of his hometown.

And this was no ordinary holiday. The Baileys’ trip began almost a year ago today, as the BB&L corporate jet “Clarence II” lifted off from Bedford Falls regional airport on the first leg of this long-awaited voyage . With Admiral Bailey at the controls, the Baileys made the jump to London in just under six hours, there to be greeted by another Bedford Falls alumnus, Primrose Bick Waynewright, President and CEO of BB&L's newly-acquired Waynewright Chemicals (NYSE: HHAW) division...

[woofie]

I bought Potter stock and Baily stock and they are both in the tank

[chicagolady]

I thought you were talking about Harry Potterism!!!!!!!!!

[GeronL]

The Baileys were entrepreneurs with a definite desire to profit from their hard work, yes — but they were ethical in their practice of free enterprise.

but of course all those other denominations are bad.

[B-Chan]

“The Baileys were entrepreneurs with a definite desire to profit from their hard work, yes — but they were ethical in their practice of free enterprise.”

but of course all those other denominations are bad.

I never said anything about any denominations being bad. Those are your words, not mine.

[jwh_Denver]

The world's wisdom says wealth equals success. To those who know better are the blessed ones.

[ikka]

Still, The Bailey family, and George in particular, exemplify the essence of Catholic social teaching.

Well, I am glad to hear that. One thinks of the Catholic guy who built and then sold the Domino's Pizza chain in order to focus more on spiritual issues.

Of course, Mennonites have the same values... we just don't go around pointing at good stuff and saying "that was my idea".

[GeronL]

I always had my suspicions that the Baileys were Catholic. Although George Bailey was “touched by an angel” (second class, anyway), the issue of precisely which church the Baileys of Bedford Falls attended was never specified in Frank Capra's 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Still, The Bailey family, and George in particular, exemplify the essence of Catholic social teaching. The Baileys were entrepreneurs with a definite desire to profit from their hard work, yes — but they were ethical in their practice of free enterprise. Their desire to profit from their labor was subordinate to their devotion to the Natural Law, to the divine commandment to “love thy neighbor as thyself” that lies at the basis of the Christian ethic.

Sounds pretty bad.

[kitkat]

BUMP

[Arthur McGowan]

The author of this item ignores the clearest evidence of all: Uncle Billy, with the Irish brogue you could cut with a knife. And he drinks, too. Obviously a good Catholic. No one ever explained WHY Uncle Billy talks like a vaudeville Irishman, while his brother Peter talks like Norman Brokenshire.

[jokar]

He Haww ! He hawww!
I love that line, where the town trollop when complimented on her dress says " this ol thing ?"
" I only wear this when I don't care how I look."
Bump

[B-Chan]

VIOLET BICK: Good afternoon, Mr. Bailey.

GEORGE: Hello, Violet. Hey, you look good. That's some dress you got on there.

VIOLET: Oh, this old thing? Why, I only wear it when I don't care how I look.

CAMERA PANS WITH her as Violet swings on down the sidewalk.

REVERSE SHOT –– cab. As Violet goes by, George and Bert raise their heads above the top of the cab.

MEDIUM SHOT –– on Violet's back as she goes. As she crosses the street, an elderly man turns to look at her and is almost hit by a car that pulls up with screeching brakes.

CLOSE SHOT –– George and Bert at cab. Ernie sticks his head out form the driver's seat.

ERNIE: How would you like . . .

GEORGE (as he enters cab): Yes . . .

ERNIE: Want to come along, Bert? We'll show you the town!

Bert looks at his watch, then takes another look at Violet's retreating figure.

BERT: No, thanks. Think I'll go home and see what the wife's doing.

ERNIE: Family man.

[GOPrincess]

That's cute! :)

[jnarcus]

Actually there is absolutely no reason to conclude that the Baileys were Catholic at all...Every Catholic home that I ever saw even into the 70s had either statuary or pictures of their own favorite person to pray to (Mary,various saints, Jesus) and at least one crucifix...None of these items appear anywhere in the Bailey's home....to the contrary they seem like the average Protestant family household of the era....Not even sure why you felt the need to make it a discussion of Catholic economic attitudes...seeing as how religion isn't really about economics (just ask the Kennedys)

[edwords]

..education (empty status symbol), travel (hedonistic thrill-seeking)...

Really?

[visualops]

Catholic or no, it does not matter. The "lesson" is the same and goes beyond any denomination.

[stopem]

They could have been Lutheran or Episcopalian.
Regardless of their political and religious affiliations, I love that movie.
It's all about hope and seeing the good in others which is Christian in every sense of the word isn't it?

[sinclair]

“(Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)“

Yeah, why'd you leave out irrational religious fanatic?

[B-Chan]

Yeah, why'd you leave out irrational religious fanatic?

Because your mother begged me not to — right after the boys and I paid her off for services rendered down at the truck stop last weekend.

Any further questions? Merry Christmas, then!