While it is fair to say that the words of songs written during that period meant little to our fertile minds, some parents (particularly conservative ones) were really quite concerned about the influence they might have on our impressionable generation.
However my guess is that, for people like my Dad, the “King’s” gyrations on stage and the associated dress sense at weekend events were just a bit too much.
I recall waiting until we got a couple of kilometres down the road on the way to the “Top Hat” in Napier (the recognised place where young people could dance to the top rock and roll bands in Hawke’s Bay at the time) before changing into sox and tie sporting the ming blue, burnt orange or nipple pink colours that were a licence of entry.
Readers must understand that, for teenagers growing up in households like ours, it would have been considered a hangable offence to be seen dressed in this rebellious garb before exiting the property - hence the need to change on the way to our chosen place of demon worship. If caught my punishment was usually a week of chipping thistles on the farm after school on top of why normal weekend quota.
But there is another side to this story which reflects far more favourably on Elvis, if not on parents like my Dad who was just trying to shield his wayward son from becoming a deciple of the Devil incarnate.
Love him as l always did and still do, had he stopped long enough to read the script of some of the more famous songs, he would have realised that Elvis or his songwriter were actually unrecognised philosophers of note operating before their time.
As such, they left us with words of wisdom that are and will be equally applicable to today’s and future generations looking for guidance in a troubled world.
To save column space, let’s just concentrate on the opening line in one of my favourite Elvis songs - “ Can’t help falling in love”.
It is the beginning of a slow balad that fits well in environments jam packed with uncertainty and reads as follows:
“Wise men say, only fools rush in”
How apt in today’s world, especially here in New Zealand where decent people searching for answers to our problems are too often being led by those prone to taking precipitate action, voicing opinions or making judgements based on prejudice that are quickly seen to be premature or, on reflection - unwise.
I see this destructive response regularly in modern society - particularly in this remote part of the country where I live and work where the people most in need are being held to ransom by self interested decisions often made by racially motivated activists who claim to be working only with their constituents’ best interests in mind.
These radicals have an exaggerated opinion of their own self worth yet have managed to convince Local and Central Government authorities that they alone hold the key to future prosperity. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I am currently working on community projects that have the capacity to change the economic outlook of this low decile region from one that is threatened by climate change more than others and, as such, looking for ways to develop our unused natural resources to a level that would put us in the top three regional economies (per head of population) in the country.
Who would not want to be part of that seemingly utopian dream?
You may well ask!
Yet I am being daily confronted by individuals who claim to represent a constituency that itself feels threatened by developments that would force the sharing of resources they wrongfully consider to be their own. No surprises that they react negatively to any suggestion their time in the sun is over.
By allowing these imposters to influence regional decisions in the manner they been and are doing exposes the authorities that are supporting them as “fools who have rushed in.”
Now is the time to listen to other wise words from the Elvis favourite.
“Take my hand, take my whole life too” and another, “Some things are meant to be”
“Take my hand, take my whole life too” and another, “Some things are meant to be”
Surely all those lines are applicable to communities who are suffering from poor leadership in countries such as ours and throughout the world.
We can get it right but time is running out.
Will keep you posted.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
3 comments:
You don't say who you are having issues with Clive. A couple of years ago, I remember the operator of the paddle steamer in Rotorua was required to build a brand new jetty before he was given permission to keep operating. Every time we were in Rotorua that was the attraction many tourists were lining up for. Needless to say he had to cease operating. Beneficial outcomes for communities(or in his case tourism) should be taken into account.
I refer to my experiences here in Tairawhiti trying to promote community projects that would benefit all, but particularly the poorer families (mostly Maori ) who are being betrayed by the elite leaders who oppose any Council decision that could threaten their control over the use of natural resources - fresh water, natural gas and arrable land -
Without this development, our region will descend into a backwater that few want to visit or invest in. We will have no defences against the ravages of Climate Change - let alone economic downturns. Our vulnerability to these natural events is already well exposed.
I know of no other region in the country where the Council has been hyjacked to this extent by rogue elements who should be stopped before they wreck the place.
Janine, as I recall the operator was not only required to build a new wharf, maintain it, but also give it to the local tribe.
Maori Mafia shakedown in public.
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