Jimmy Carter's passing and a Christmas holiday film.

Like a lot of DUers, I watch "It's a Wonderful Life" during the holiday season. With Carter's passing and funeral so soon after the holidays, maybe there's a combined example for us from both Carter's life and the film.

Like Carter, George Bailey in the film did what was right even when it was difficult. Both of them gained the respect and love of people for their values and integrity. In the end, it was the respect and love of the community for George Bailey that defeated Mr Potter's devious schemes.

There are times when I am so angry at the MAGA greed, power grabs, and lies that I want to see them attacked more harshly, and viciously defeated, no matter what it takes. I sometimes feel angry at our own leaders who don't stand up to him more strongly. I admire people like AOC, Hakeem Jeffries, Jasmine Crocket, and Jamie Raskin for their outspoken criticism of Trump and the MAGA agenda.

George Bailey also spoke out directly on Mr. Potter's greed and cruelty, and he paid a price for it when it looked like all that Bailey had stood for was lost. Jimmy Carter spoke directly and honestly about his values and acted on them. He paid the price of defeat for a second term.

But, despite the low period of apparent defeat by Mr. Potter, Bailey's values were not defeated. It was not attacks on Mr. Potter, or any charges against him that defeated his schemes. It was the values that Bailey had promoted and the positive response to those values from people who respected and believed in him that kept those values alive and defeated Potter.

When Jimmy Carter lost the 1980 election, his values were not defeated. He went through a low period of accepting political defeat and digging himself out of debts that had accrued when he put his business in escrow during his presidency.

Then, following his values, he established the Carter Centers (yes, plural), and succeeded in eradicating diseases around the world, and improving human rights at home and abroad. Carter's successful accomplishments after leaving political life came from continuing his commitment to values despite obstacles.

There are times to fight. But sometimes, just keeping values alive by living them individually and in networking groups becomes an example and rallying point for the values to grow and defeat the opposition. They remind people of what's worth fighting for.