The Passing of Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense.

Common Sense lived a long life but died in the United States from heart failure on the brink of the new millennium. No one really knows how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, and factories helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.

For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, and that life is not always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (do not spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it is okay to come in second place.

A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language, and "new math."

His health declined when he became infected with the "If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus.

In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of well intentioned but overbearing regulations. He watched in pain as self-seeking lawyers ruled good people. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero-tolerance policies.

Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.

It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parent when a female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.

Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from the Boy Scouts to professional sports.

Finally, when a woman, too stupid to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, was awarded a huge settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel.

As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments regarding questionable regulations such as those for low flow toilets, rocking chairs, and stepladders.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his three sons, Reason, Manners and Character. He is survived by two stepbrothers: My Rights, and Ima Whiner.

Not many Americans attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

8 comments:

Tori :) said...

Amen.

Kate said...

You, my dear girl, are BRILLIANT. What a wonderful commentary! *going to look for a suitable essay contest for which to submit this lovely bit of cleverness*

:-)

Gina said...

My darling, Kate... I did not create this work for art. I got it in an email as a forward from a friend, thought it was clever and posted it on my blog.

Love you for thinking I am even capable of this kind of writing.

Klin said...

I shake my head daily in remembrance of our dear friend common sense. Things people do sill amaze me.

Thanks for sharing your email. I like this one.

Busy Bee Lauren said...

This was the best thing I hace read in a while!!!

Rest in Peace dear old Common Sense...

D said...

Very clever indeed.. Well said...

www.stepherz.com said...

Wow. You said it. You said it well. This is probably one of those that should be published in a book.

www.stepherz.com said...

Oh, I just read that you got it from an e-mail. Clever writing, isn't it? You are a brilliant writer too, so I totally thought you wrote it. Thanks for sharing it, it really made me think.