The Strength of Community

Last updated on August 20, 2020

Remember, let’s be polite; let’s be respectful, but most of all, let’s be outspoken.

Over the last holiday season, I watched the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Although I have watched it numerous times, I always get emotional at the end. It is a well-produced movie with one of the best plots I have ever seen. I encourage anyone to watch it, especially with family.

For people who do not care about spoilers, the movie focuses on a man named George Bailey. At a young age, he was exuberant and filled with the zest life. When he and his friends were playing in the snow, his younger brother fell into the ice. George selflessly threw himself in the lake and saved his brother from drowning. As a result, he became deaf in one of his ears.

As the movie progresses, George is seen as a teenager in the roaring 1920s having the aspiration to travel the world. However, his father’s building and loans company was about to be bought by a cynical old man named Harry Potter. If that were to happen, then George’s home town would be subjected to Potter’s greedy grip.

So instead of perusing his dream of seeing the world, he stayed behind to run his father’s company. He later married his high school sweetheart, had four kids, and built his home from scratch. For the next few years, his company successfully fought Potter. Then, George’s uncle misplaced 8,000 dollars. By misplacing the money, Geroge and his uncle could be charged with fraud. As a result, his mounting stress led George to drink excessively, yell at his family, and consider suicide.

He drove his car into a tree and stumbled to a nearby bridge. Right before he jumped, his guardian angel prevented him from committing suicide. In order for George to appreciate his life, his guardian angel allowed him to see his life as if he was never born.

George was horrified by what he saw. His hometown became a dystopia, his wife was a lonely librarian, his old boss became a drug addict, and Potter took over the building and loans company. But most importantly, his younger brother died because George was not there to save him.

Seeing this, George begged his angel to go back to his life. He pleaded, “I want to live again.” In the final scene of the movie, he rejoiced with his family and friends. All his friends banned together and donated tremendous amounts of money to George.

Through the virtue of charity, he was able to pay off his debt. My favorite line in the movie was when George’s younger brother said, “A toast to my big brother George: the richest man in town.” Not in money, but compassion.

The true strength of a community comes from its member’s dedication and inclination. Through shared beliefs and principles, they symbiotically coexist. Whether those beliefs are derived from religion or self-established laws, they stand together.

They do not exercise unnecessary force upon the common man because they believe in voluntary transactions and consent. Their will is forged from the desire to help the poor and aid the sick. They act at the behest of the needy by exemplifying selflessness. For there is no greater equivalence for strength then sacrifice.

Remember, let’s be polite; let’s be respectful, but most of all, let’s be outspoken.