The Thinker

    C 

Auguste Rodin

         My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me
I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was
always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by.
Today I read his obituary. Please join me in a moment of silence in
remembrance, for Common Sense had served us all so well for so many
generations.

   

Obituary 

Common Sense 

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 strategies (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; teens
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 themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a
student, but could not inform the parents when a student 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 and the burglar
 can sue you for assault. 

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 he was gone.
~Author unknown~

Let us think of ways to restore common sense back into
our lives. Remember, the great oak was once a tiny acorn.
So let the renewal of common sense start with you and me
and hopefully be restored to its rightful place in the world.
Betty