We could gather great historians in a room and listen to them debate what might or might not have taken place over the past 233 years had the United States never existed. Would slavery have been abolished sooner or later? How might native-American cultures have fared? What role would the people who occupy this land have played in the 20th century, with all its wars and technological developments? What different outcomes might have resulted? These historians, no doubt, would disagree.

I believe, however, there is one point on which they would agree; overall, the world is a much better place than it otherwise would have been without the "great American experiment" and the "American dream." Contemplating the limitless details of that alternative world would be a mind boggling exercise compared to what Capra did. So let’s stick with George Bailey and Bedford Falls for the moment and take the story beyond where it ended.

Imagine, if you will, Bedford Falls 60 years later. George and old Mr. Potter are both dead. George’s children and their contemporaries are grown up with their own children and grandchildren. Tens of thousands of new families have come to Bedford Falls from places far and wide because it’s a great place to live and raise a family. But it’s grown and changed over the years. As new crises and new leaders have come and gone it’s become a typical mid-sized 21st century American city with all its challenges and problems. The town that George and the Building & Loan built is now a metropolis that dominates commerce and politics throughout the region.

As Bedford Falls grew and became more powerful and influential, the challenges it’s had to face became more complex and the solutions to them more difficult. When hard times came, the suburban communities that grew up around Bedford Falls and depended on it for their prosperity and security now blame it for their problems. They say the city has become too big and its politicians too powerful, and many of its leaders are too intent on preserving old values. It has to change and transform to cope with new realities. The values and principles George Bailey stood for, that made Bedford Falls what it was and is, they argue, are no longer relevant.

Many of Bedford Falls’ residents have come to believe this as well, that the city itself and the attitudes of other residents and leaders are a large part of the problem. These critics have forgotten, if they ever new to begin with, what made Bedford Falls a great place and kept it great. They’ve forgotten George Bailey, what he fought for, and all the good he and his legacy accomplished.

Like residents of the fictional modern-day Bedford Falls, many Americans have come to see America as the bad guy. They’ve forgotten, or choose to ignore, traditional American values and all the great things America has done for Americans and for the world. They listen to America’s critics abroad and blame America’s power and influence for many, if not most, of the world’s problems. They see the United States not as the leader of the free world, but as only one of 192 United Nations member states. It never crosses their minds what the world would be like if America had never existed or if it ceased to be what it is.

Unfortunately, in the real world millions of Clarences aren’t going to come down from Heaven and give them the benefit of seeing what George Bailey saw; and it wasn’t just what Bedford Falls would have been like had he never been born. George Bailey had the opportunity to see what America is all about--possibilities--because "It's a Wonderful Life" is, after all, an American story. In most countries around the world 60 years ago, the Bedford Falls without George Bailey was reality. Even if they'd had a thousand George Baileys, it wouldn’t have made any difference. The possibility of a Bedford Falls with George Bailey didn’t exist.

In America, and countries around the world liberated from the lack of possibilities by Americans like George’s Medal-of-Honor-decorated brother Harry, possibilities make all the difference. It’s not that bad things don't happen, they happen all the time. It’s the wonderful things that can and do happen when the country you live in is all about possibilities and opportunity and the values that allow people to take advantage of them.

America is a wonderful country because it’s full of possibilities and opportunities and people who believe in them, not just for Americans but for everyone. Americans have fought and died and continue to fight and die for that belief like no other people. There is much about America to criticize. It’s a nation of people, and people are flawed. But it’s not just one of 192 other members of the United Nations; it’s the world’s George Bailey. That’s what sets it apart, makes it different. But like George Bailey, Americans are constantly faced with choices. Collectively they make those choices after arguing among themselves as George argued with himself. Fortunately, for Bedford Falls, George’s better instincts won out.