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yA OO FEW SEALS, BU7 Loysn SEALERS /" saly SRS se SR ~Chatte rBox by J. Peter Hvidsten stand, the TV...and the radio. News-stand. porno are the magazines, booklets and paperbacks that subject the innocent to indecent phrases and photos...or so say the critics. "Society is being corrupted. There should be a law against these books", they say. All the while, many of these same critics are flipping through the pages of Penthouse at the local news-stand, being careful not to miss anything, then put the book back on the shelf and walk-out in disgust. And we mustn't forget the TV. Remember the Baby Blue movies shown on channel 79 a couple of years ago, They were qgne of the most popular shows on the tube. People were actually switching from their rooftop aerials to cable, just so they could catch a glimpse of flesh. -not promoted sex openly, has come to the forefront. Not by way of talk-shows, documentaries or news- casts...but by way of music. The pop songs of today have become very suggestive in their lyrics and now all those horrible things you read in books and saw in the movies, are being sent to you by way of your radio. As far back as 15 years ago there was some hint of sex in music, but not to the extent of todays pop songs. Back in 1964, Roy Orbison sang a song called "Pretty Woman', and in song he said, "Pretty woman say you'll stay with me..."cause I need you, I'll treat you right....come with me baby, be mine tonight'. Now even the most nieve person would have to realize what old Roy was getting around to. He had much more planned than an evening at the malt shop. But this was pretty mild stuff. Mom and dad had no idea of the hidden meanings behirid those suggest- ive little phrases. And in those years, to help hide the songs that did hint at a sexual encounter, the air waves were also filled with dozens of goofy songs like "Ahab -the Arab', Purple People Eater", "Rockin' Robin' and the likes. But now things have really changed. No longer are the lyrics hidden in the third verse and sung in muffled tones, so unsuspecting parents don't really know what it is all about. No...now it's right up front, where mom, dad and even gramps could figure it out if he was so inclined. Take the group K.C. and the Sunshine Band, whose recent hit "That's the Way I Like It"...really means just that. "When you give me all your love, and do it, babe, the very best you can....that's the way I like it, ah hah, ah hah," it goes on to say. But even that is mild when you compare it to a song from last summer by Dr. Hook. He says "When | Pornography is alive and well...on the news- In recent years, radio, the one medium that had your body's had enough of me...and I'm layin' flat out on the floor; I'm gonna love you a- little bit more." Now. ina lyric like that there is no getting around "what he has been doing. One Toronto music programmer was recently quoted as saying, "there's no clear line on what to do about sex in song. We try to avoid obscentities and anything in bad taste, but sex has become a much more prominent topic in pop music, because people are not as afraid of the topic as they once were". And truer words were never spoken. Even if they did censor the suggestive lyrics, how would you get around singers who don't really say ~ anything in words, but use heavy panting and irratic breathing to get the message across. One such song by Serge Gainsbourg and Jan Birkin, called 'Je T'Aime", was on the charts a few years back and accomplished this very capably. But each year the writers and singers are getting bolder and bolder, and a recent song by Rod Stewart lays it right on the line. "Don't say a word my virgin child, just let your inhibitations run wild...the secret is about to unfold, upstairs before the nights too old" . And if that doesn't spell it right out, the next verse will when he says "Spread your wings and let me come inside...ain"t nobody gonna stop us now" Where will it all end...who knows? Nothing is left to. the imagination anymore, whether it be in books, movie screens or in song, and it makes you wonder what is left. When all the avenues have been explored or exposed, will they go back to the times when there was just a hint of the idea. In the movies this would mean fade-outs when they came to a delicate spot, - and in the popsong a hidden meaning. It is very doubtful. -- Today's attitude in song seems to Baa '"Why-beat- around-the-bush" theory. If you're going to say it...say it. . Personally, I don't like being exploited to sex, but in our society there is no need to be. Every individual has the right to listen or watch what they please, and so if the material is offensive to some, they have the right to switch it off. On the other hand, if that same subject matter is enjoyed by another party, he shouldn't be told that he can not watch it. That is censorship. Like a recent government campaign against alcohol abuse points out...you are your liquor control board. The same holds true for sexual exploitation. '"You are your own censor!" If you don't like the material... listen to it. .don't watch it or a aan SRE SE a 8 Keep Doors Open "Although Monday's special meeting on estate . residential development in the township was held in open session of council, it is interesting to note that there were a number of councillors who seemed quite willing to exclude the public for a second time this year. At least that's how it appeared from Oona made at the February 28 session of council. The topic was the upcoming. planning meeting, and there seemed to be no objection from the remainder of council at the time that the meeting should be held in camera. This seems to conform with a pet theory of ours about the addictive nature of closed sessions. Of no small significance is the fact that an earlier closed session on planning was held just two weeks before. Matter-of-fact suggestions at the February 28 meeting that the upcoming meeting should be closed as well raised hardly an eyebrow. To be fair, it should be noted that the record speaks well of council's openess over the past two years. There are far fewer closed meeting here than many councils we've run across. In fact, this writer can recall only three or four times that council closed its doors to the press over the past two years, and on all occasions, it was for perfectly legitimate reasons. One reason for the township's track record is the above board attitude of some of the members of council, specifically Mayor Lawrence Malcolm, who has on a number of occasions spoken against motions to close council room doors. But while closed meetings often start on perfectly legitimate grounds, they often become an acceptable way of dealing with a lot of sticky issues...be it in the interest of the public to know or not. Often, the only explanations given are that "councillors can speak freely and openly", or that they can "'express their opinions without having to look over their shoulders for a moving pen or whirring tape recorder'. Besides being self-incriminating, such reasonings don't hold a lot of water. It is, after all, for their opinions, views and convictions that we elect our representatives, so one wonders what: harm there could be by having the public hear these opinions being expounded. - Unless, of course, the opinions preached before the public are different from the ones expressed behind closed doors. It is interesting to note that, in retrospect, the meeting held just a few weeks ago with regional planners was held in camera on similar shaky grounds. Why planners cannot talk about general area development and planning in an open and clear manner escapes us. The trouble with closed meetings .is that the political security they provide can be almost addic- tive. In that-light, it might be even more interesting to note that when it was decided that another general planning and development meeting be held in the near future, the suggestion that it should be closed was accepted without bother of discussion. Need To Keep Cool There's been some irregularities discovered in the way Georgina Township's last municipal election was carried out, and the effects of the discovery are still reverberating in that community. It brings to mind a recent interview with Dr. Matthew Dymond, in particular, a comment he made about the bright glare of the public spotlight on the political stage. About 50 people have already voted in favour of issuing a writ citing election irregularities, and judging by the drift of news coverage -and the subsequent outrage of some members of the com- munity, the Georgina Inquisition has begun. Already there's been concerned citizens' meetings, complete with suggestions for resignations and the collection of funds for what could become a legal battle. ! Stumbling over the trite old political axiom about justice appearing to have been done is major transgression by that council, and one wonders if...as it has. been charged 'by some...that ' disgruntled candidates who were unsuccessful in the December 6 election, are helping to keep the pot bubbling. That there were irregularities 'is unquestionable, but it is just as obvious they were hardly of the Watergate variety. Unprofessional? Yes. Stupid? Maybe. But hardly cabalism. : With all the accusations, misinterpretations and inflamatory statements reverberating in Georgina, you'd think they're talking about a proposed peniten- tiary! BY 'x