Words of Wisdom from Sonny the Capo

With the propensity of people to fight, argue and stop speaking with their families and friends over political candidates, we think it is wise to recall the words of Sonny the Capo to little Calogero in the play and the movie 'A Bronx Tale'.  In case you didn't see the play or the movie it's about a kid, Calogero, growing up in the Bronx in the 1960's.  

The kid befriends the local Mafia Caporegime Sonny and Sonny in turn takes an interest in him.  One day Sonny can see the kid is all upset and asks why.  Little ten year old Calogero tells him that the Yankees just lost the World Series and he read in the paper that his hero Mickey Mantle, was so upset, he cried.  Sonny looks at the kid and bestows this wisdom.  "If you father can't pay the rent and you ask Mickey Mantle for the rent what is he going to say to you?  Mickey Mantle doesn't care about you.  Mickey Mantle doesn't know you're alive."

We imagine two scenarios where the modern day candidates spring into the political arena.  The first is a young actor/actress whose agent first sends them out to audition for movie roles.  When that doesn't pan out, the agent sends them for TV shows, first dramatic and then sit-coms.  When that doesn't work, the agent sends them to auditions for Reality shows and when that doesn't work, he tries for slots as a contestant on game shows.  When all of this doesn't work out, the agent turns to the young ingenue and says.  "Politics?"

In the second scenario a young lawyer who did very well in law school, hooks a position in a big, prestigious law firm.  After a few years, this young lawyer wonders if they'll make partner.  This is a big law firm with a lot of talented attorneys and only a few make partner.  Then again, this young lawyer begins to wonder even if they make partner...  Will it be enough?  Slowly but surely their mind begins to turn and the light blub clicks on and they think... Politics!

Of course there are other scenarios but the one where the candidate tells you or implies that they've been called to public service  because they care about you and they want to serve their country well...  You can believe that if you want to.  But walking around in three thousand dollar suits with your hair perfectly coiffed and mouthing pious platitudes written by someone else (We think the last guy to write his own speeches was Teddy Roosevelt.) and becoming a multi-millionaire in the process, is not serving your country.  It's called riding the gravy train.

The people who serve this country, are in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Coast Guard and the United States Marine Corps.

So the next time you're on the verge of no longer speaking to someone close to you over some political hack, try to recall the wisdom of Sonny the Capo.  You can fill in the blank with whoever it applies to.  "If your father can't pay the rent and you ask ________ for the rent what is he/she going to say to you?  ________ doesn't care about you.  ________ doesn't know you're alive."

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