Don’t lose that loving feeling

The Newport-Mesa community was saddened by the death of Bobby

Hatfield on Nov. 5, and we are further saddened this week to learn

that a drug may have played a precipitating factor.

But let’s stand back and put all this into perspective. They say a

man’s greatness is judged by what he leaves behind. In the aggregate,

few have left our community after contributing so much to so many.

His music lifted the spirits of not only the “Happy Days”

generation but the next and now the next. We always think of our own

peer group’s music as the best -- but even my kids think the music of

the 1960s was pretty cool.

Who hasn’t danced to “You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling,” or

“Unchained Melody?”

When, a few years ago, our community was devastated by the crash

on “the curves” -- along Irvine Boulevard -- it was Hatfield and Bill

Medley, along with their friends (including Irvine’s Will Farrell),

who donated their time and talent for a fundraising concert at the

Newport Beach Country Club.

Hatfield’s daughter -- with her stunning rendition of a Jewel song

-- brought tears to the crustiest of our neighbors’ eyes. When we

needed a psychological salve, it was the Hatfields that applied the

ointment.

Yes, perhaps the “Righteous” light has diminished slightly. Maybe

the relatively small amount of drug, in addition to heart disease and

a drink, caused his death -- but maybe it didn’t. Laboratory errors

are part of life and death. Maybe the coroner is wrong. And let’s

remember that Hatfield was probably not aware of a 95% coronary

blockage.

But by any measurement of the grading scale, Bobby Hatfield’s life

is an A. As to what he leaves behind it is an A+. Unlike most of us,

his achievements will be heard and savored by millions of all ages

for centuries. We should choose not to lose that loving feeling.

MICHAEL ARNOLD GLUECK

Newport Beach

Drugs, sex and rock ‘n roll! I have to admit, this was pretty much

the mantra of the 1970s growing up in California. Timothy Leary and

LSD in Laguna Beach. Marijuana and hashish in the high schools.

Quaaludes and reds on the streets. Flower power in San Francisco.

For all of us, time marches on. For all of us, times change. Some

of us change with the times and some of us don’t. Drugs, once used by

some for recreation, have turned into addiction, despair and death.

For others, experimentation and use has been outgrown and dreams have

been sought and achieved -- and this includes many of the people who

want to be president of United States today.

It was sad to hear that the famous Bobby Hatfield died of “acute

cocaine toxicity.” It is sad to hear when anyone with talent,

potential, influence, and the love of many people dies from drugs. It

is sad to hear of anyone dying from drugs and to think what possible

potential was squandered.

I understand that drugs still are very popular in the high

schools, but now there are designer drugs and date rape drugs that

are the “in” thing. If I had a daughter I’m not sure what I would do

protect her from harm, like the harm the female student received from

the three boys and a pool cue. I guess it’s like driving a car; it is

not only how safe you drive but the other driver you have to keep an

eye out for.

How do you “just say no” when you are slipped a “Mickey” and are

unconscious? If my daughter were assaulted with a pool cue when

unconscious I think I would want blood from both those boys and

their parents. Of course, I would never do such a thing, but what

father wouldn’t have this thought cross his mind?

Is there a message here? Yes. The message is parents should talk

and communicate with their children, take interest in their

activities and whom their friends are. Talk about drugs and find out

what is being used on and off campus and get informed. Just educate

students about drugs in an open and unbiased way.

Hip-hop and rap are now the most popular forms of music for

teenagers. Often the lyrics are violent against people and degrading

toward women. I think parents should know what their children are

listening to, taking an interest in and discussing what it is all

about. Maybe how both sides -- child and parent -- view the music.

Time marches on and times change, and this isn’t the 1970s or the

1980s anymore and children are exposed to so much more. There are new

challenges for students here in our community. What are you going to

do about it?

PAUL JAMES BALDWIN

Newport Beach