Sunday, March 8, 2009

Common Sense

Saw this and thought I should re post it.

An Obituary printed in the London Times........ Interesting and sadly rather true.

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 can 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 realise 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 his daughter, Responsibility, and his son Reason.

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

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

2 comments:

~T~ said...

Yeah, I've seen this before:-) Sad, but oh so true.

Trish said...

I love this. Sadly, my sweet, rule-obeying 10 year old son was 7, he was charged with sexual abuse for poking the girl in front of him in line in the back with the eraser end of his pencil when she didn't move forward in line as the class left without her down the hall because she was distracted. The girl's parents said that he shouldn't have touched her in the "no touch zone" (=torso region), even though he didn't actually touch her with a part of his body, even though it didn't hurt her, even though he was trying to help her and the rest of his class move forward. Ugh.

So, I LOVE this post.

Just dropping by from SITS to say "top of the mornin' to you." Happy Saint Patrick's Day!