Thursday, April 9, 2009

Obituary For Our Time

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 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 6-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 that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the 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 could 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, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, please take time to stop and whisper a prayer for those of us left behind. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

10 comments:

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Great post Diane,I think common sense is unheard of now a days. It is sad.

Terry said...

dear diane...what a true loss to the world was "common sense".
"every one to his own" has taken over and that is a really scary thing.
great post for sure diane....

Trish said...

Hi Di...I have seen your comments on our Sisterhood of the Travelling Scarf site, so I came by to visit! I love this post!!! Poor Common Sense has gone the way of Miss Morals and Mr. Discipline...I find it sad that the world as we knew it doesn't exist.
I will be stopping by often.
~hugs~
Trish

Terry said...

dear trish,
you certainly won't regret THAT decision.
you had better read diane's sunday april 5th post...just amazing...
hmmm... you probably would of read it if you hadn't been eating all that birthday cake...

Deb said...

Great post Diane!!

Heidi Pocketbook said...

Common sense....finding people with it is few and far between these days. Very good post☺

Anonymous said...

I love this, read it before and always makes me shake my head in agreement LOL

Constance said...

The verse from Judges immediately comes to mind:
"And they all did what seemed right in their own eyes".
Goodbye Common Sense,
Some of us will indeed miss you!
Connie

Pat said...

Great post Diane. A little common sense goes a long way doesn't it? Sometimes I think I'm alone with these thoughts your post reflect, but I can see I'm not.
To all that I can only say,
Heaven is sounding sweeter all the time!

oma aka meme said...

my grand daughter - Miss Ashley who is 19 lives with me and I am slowly teaching her some common sense- it seems that is one thing missing in our young folks- good old common sense and to try to walk in the shoes of others and to be second now and then- this ''it is all about me'' has caused a lot of sorrow in our United States and Canada- well- Meme best go and be a Oma and talk some common sense to g'kid -LOL
hugs Meme