COMMON
SENSE IS NOT VERY COMMON!
Every
once in a while, something comes along to inspire us. Perhaps it is the utter
logic involved; perhaps it is just that it touches a heart string; or perhaps
it is even because it was so well written it could hardly be improved upon! The
following composition is such an item. A friend sent it to me in February 2009, saying he
first saw it in the London Times. It applies just as much to today as it ever
did then! I cite it here for your edification!
"Common Sense" says I shouldn't! So should I or should I not?! THAT is the question! "Dojah" the dog crosses the Kootenai Swinging Bridge!
Photograph by the Blogger
COMMON
SENSE OBITUARY
Today,
we mourn the passing of a beloved old
friend, 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 for 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 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 that they
themselves had failed to do in disciplining their 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 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 four 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, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Digital Image
from an Ektachrome Slide in Author’s Collection taken at Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona in 1976.
Commented on, Photographed
and Posted by:
and Posted by:
Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst
August 2015
