____________________________________
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for what seems forever. No one really knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered for his integrity. For cultivating such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, don't take what doesn't belong to you, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting (adults, not children, are in charge).His health began to deteriorate rapidly when so-called well-intentioned, but overbearing, regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for sneaking a kiss from classmate, teenagers suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they had themselves failed to do in disciplining their disrespectful and unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer paracetamol, sun lotion or an aspirin to a pupil, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense began to lose the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became labeled as hateful and objects of vehement criticism for teaching morality, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when some courts ruled you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, but the burglar could sue you for assault because you protected yourself and your own.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility and his son, Reason. He is survived by three estranged stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized that he was gone.
Thank You MJA for the Linkage!
