Letters to the Editor | Dec. 24, 2024

In the Christmas classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey is on the verge of ending his life when an angel-in-training, Clarence, intercedes. Over the course of the movie, Clarence shows George how his friends, family, and town would have been different had he not been born. It’s a message we all need to take to heart. Unfortunately, real life isn’t always like a movie, and if Donald Trump keeps his promise to deport undocumented immigrants, they will not have a wonderful life. But neither will we.

For centuries, we’ve been a nation of immigrants. Many of us have ancestors who arrived at Ellis Island or other ports of entry with little or no obstacles, including Trump’s own grandfather. Against this background, imagine a contemporary update on It’s a Wonderful Life by contemplating a nation where undocumented immigrants no longer live among us. As such, we would become a place where industries and businesses like construction, restaurants, lodging, meatpacking, farming, and many others would suddenly lack many of their employees, thereby becoming increasingly unaffordable or even unrecognizable.

Trump’s position that undocumented individuals “take American jobs” is a myth at best, and a lie at worst. Beyond the economic truths is an emotionally richer truth: The presence of diverse friends and neighbors makes us a better, more interesting, and more empathic country, reflecting the best of who we are. Every major religion calls on us to welcome the stranger, so this holiday season and beyond, let’s work to reject Trump’s divisive policies. Instead, let us build a more wonderful life where we all live our best values, and become our best selves.

Bill Dingfelder, Philadelphia

It’s been 56 years since Eagles fans took out their frustration on a young man dressed as Santa Claus, pelting him with snowballs on a chilly December day at Franklin Field. But before you judge, consider this.

In 35 years of existence, the Eagles had seen some bad seasons before 1968. It took them almost a decade to post a winning campaign and saw their first franchise quarterback, Davey O’Brien, pass on renewing his contract to make $3,500 working for the FBI. (The NFL franchise they replaced in Philadelphia — the Frankford Yellowjackets — saw their Northeast Philly stadium catch fire during the Great Depression. Twice.)

Fans had tolerated a putrid 0-11 start to the 1968 season before the team scraped together two wins — which then eliminated them from the opportunity to have the first draft pick (O.J. Simpson). A blizzard hit Philadelphia the night before the game, making travel downright hazardous, and after two quarters, the Eagles and Bud Grant’s Minnesota Vikings had battled to a 7-7 tie.

As Frank Olivo took the field dressed as Santa during halftime, he did so on foot, as the float he was supposed to ride was stuck in the elements. Olivo himself was stepping in for the regular Santa, who probably looked out his snowy window and decided, “No, thank you.” Thus, a day of infamy was born. But would Philly want it any other way?

Michael Thomas Leibrandt, Abington Township

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