Today we mourn the passing of an old friend by the
name of Common Sense. Common sense lived a long life
but died from heart failure. 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, factories and offices. He helped
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, the
early bird gets the worm, and life isn't always
fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial
policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting
strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids),
and it's okay to come in second.
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, ebonics and new math. His health declined
when he became infected with the "If it only helps one
person it's worth it" bug.
In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for
the ravages of overbearing federal regulation. He watched
in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers
and enlightened auditors. Common Sense knew the end was near
when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies,
reports of six-year-old boys 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, when schools had to get parental consent
to administer aspirin to a student but cannot inform the parent
when the female student is pregnant or wants an abortion.
Finally, 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
Boy Scouts to professional sports.
Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was
kept informed of developments, regarding questionable
regulations for asbestos, low-flow toilets, smart guns,
the nurturing of Prohibition Laws and mandatory air bags.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and
Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and
his son, Reason. Three stepbrothers survive him: Rights,
Tolerance and Whiner.
Not many attended his funeral unfortunately, because
so few realize he is gone.
