I’ll never forget Sociology class in college, especially the day the professor taught the

concept of Mores and Social Relativity. “Mores are rules agreed upon by a social group,

including what people hold to be right and wrong,” she said. She went on to explain that since

ideas, beliefs, and behavior vary according to time and place, nothing is really right or wrong;

instead, each group decides what they think is right or wrong, and for them, it is. Those who

break social mores aren’t doing anything intrinsically wrong or evil, they are just “deviants.”

Furthermore, no social group is allowed to question the mores of another social group,

according to this philosophy.

It was improbable. The plot itself was bizarre. Was it creative or hair-brained? Intriguing or misleading? Realistic or fatalistic? Hopeful or desperate? The critics panned it. They said it was too dark. Especially for Christmas.

This year is its 75th anniversary.

It is the story of a good and decent man who was always helping others - deferring his own dreams - until the day he needed help. Not knowing where to turn, in desperation, on Christmas Eve, he attempted suicide for the life insurance.