It occured to me the other day that perhaps one of the most incitefull people of the last century when it comes to the poor may have been Elvis Presly.
While this is not a candidate diary, poverty today is certainly a campaign issue, as it surely should be. What would Elvis do? Follow me below the fold.
In 1969 Elvis entered the American Sound Studio in Memphis and recorded a song by Mac Davis. There were concerns about the political nature of the recording, but Elvis liked the song, and I'd like to think, believed in the message.
I remember this song. I remember the times. I remember Elvis. Unfortunately not a lot has changed, and I'd like to remind everyone what one man had to say that day in Memphis.
These are the lyrics to "In the Ghetto".
Well the world turns
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto
And his hunger burns
So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal
And he learns how to fight
In the ghetto
Then one night in desperation
A young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car,
Tries to run, but he dont get far
And his mama cries
As a crowd gathers round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto
As her young man dies,
On a cold and gray chicago mornin,
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto
While I think poverty has been a constant struggle, and an important topic in this country, I know we can do better. I know we can do more. We must.
One man, 39 years ago put it perfectly.