Posted by
EWRoss on Monday, September 28, 2009 7:00:00 AM
Capraesque movies that promote the social effects of individual acts of courage are passé these days. Hollywood prefers blockbuster action movies that extol superheroes' acts of courage with boilerplate social commentary on the side. Movies packed with serious social commentary tend to promote the "progressive" values that Hollywood prefers. Still, every Christmas, millions of American families tune into It's a Wonderful Life on broadcast or cable television and watch it with their families. Its enduring message is one they still believe in.
The question many people ask themselves when they watch movies like this is do they still represent what America is about today or only what it once was? As Michael Medved points out in his September, 16, 2009, column,
"The Real Political Divide: Attitudes about America," the great issue between the two political communities (liberals and conservatives) is how they feel about the nature of American society.
According to Medved, "what liberals mostly see when they look at this country is injustice and oppression of every kind." What conservatives see is "a nation shaped by a complex of traditions, principles and institutions that has afforded more freedom and, even factoring in periodic economic downturns, more prosperity to more of its citizens than in any society in history."
Was George Bailey a liberal or a conservative? He saw injustice and oppression and worked against them; but he certainly fought for conservative values. Whatever he was, as far as I'm concerned he's still a pretty good role model.
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