AN OBITUARY - THE DEATH OF 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
Band-Aid 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 when religions became
businesses and criminals received better treatment and living
conditions than their victims or the poor. 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.

Most of us have been around long enough to notice and mourn the passing of Common Sense.

WIW,

Thank you for posting this, GREAT!


Shirleevee

This is terrific - what is the source of this great piece of wisdom?

travel -

I don't know the source - I received it from a friend who says he received it from a friend -
I too would like to know the source.

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~armiller/commonsen.htm)

This note followed the Death of Common Sense:
Note from Lori Borgman: This piece was first published March 15, 1998 in the Indianapolis Star. It has been "modified" and "edited" by others and circulated on the Internet, even sent to me several times. Imagine my surprise to see it attributed to some guy named Anonymous. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I take having my work circulated on the web as a compliment.

Thank you, Bright.
I am so delighted to learn who created this amazing piece.