One of the best and perennial favorite Christmas movies for Americans is “It’s a Wonderful Life”. This iconic and heroic story is about a home-town boy who had big dreams but kept sacrificing for his family and community. It spoke to the American dream and belief in our tremendous capacity to build a great nation. George Bailey’s nemesis, Mr. Potter, is a Scrooge-like character who has more money than God but is frustrated that he can’t own the last financial business in town, Bailey Savings and Loan. Frank Capra used every emotional cue he could to show us that most people are good and caring and compassionate, and that when we band together, we can overcome the greedy and hateful among us. America had just sacrificed so much in WWII, as every nation involved in that fight against the Nazis had, and the world had to reckon with the cost of fear and loathing.
One of the scenes that always struck me was the one in which Mr. Potter tries to convince George to come work for him. Potter can help George become rich; he tempts him like the Devil tempted Jesus, and George says no. One of the accusations Potter throws at George is that George wastes too much time helping those “garlic-eaters” to own homes rather than rent Potter’s rat-trap tenements. Potter is referring, of course, to Italian immigrants who have settled in predominantly white Bedford Falls, NY. Potter’s fear and loathing of these hard-working immigrants should make us shudder, and the theological center of the movie shows us that God cares for the people who care for others. The funny part is that, as much as God cares about this situation, God still sends the inept angel Clarence to help save the day. His character adds much needed humor to a very serious topic.
America has always had a problem with immigration. The problem is multi-faceted and complicated, and every generation finds reason to fear and loath the immigrants of their day. Too many Americans forget that almost all of us have ancestors who came to this country to seek a better life; that usually meant that they were running from persecution or starvation or war – or all of the above. You don’t pack up all your stuff and leave your generational home because life is good, or you want a change of scenery. You leave because life has become too dangerous for you to stay. You dream of seeing the Statue of Liberty and the promise of freedom she holds fades away when you find out that a lot of people in this country don’t want you here. They hate your skin color, your religion, your inability to speak English; they are afraid you will take their job or live in their neighborhood. And no (for the umpteenth time), we should not have open borders. And yes, we should make sure that criminals can’t come here. But I am curious – when did we stop siding with justice and start rooting for the Mr. Potters of the world? When did we give up on the American dream?
For all the boasting some people do about being a nation based on God’s word and the bluster about being the greatest nation ever, we sure are afraid of a lot of things. We loath difference. We are suspicious of that which we don’t understand. We want immigration, but only if those immigrants are like us. And too many of us side with the Mr. Potters of the world. You know who doesn’t? God. God helps George, not the rich, scary, lonely, pathetic guy. Biblically, God is on the side of the immigrant, not the oppressor. You want to live with fear and loathing of immigrants, go right ahead. Just don’t expect God to agree with you.
Prayer – Holy God, we know that there is no sin in doing well in life. We also need to do good. Help us find balance, so that those who are in need may find welcome and hope. Amen.
Today’s art is “Greed” by James Todd’s “The Seven Deadly Sins” collection.
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