Today we mourn the
passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many
years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long
ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated 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, 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 well-intentioned, but overbearing, regulations were
set in place.
Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for
kissing a 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 unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to
administer paracetamol, sun lotion or plaster to a pupil, but could not inform
the parents when a pupil became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became
contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment
than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when 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 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. ……………Author Unknown
