RIP Common Sense

This is one of those forwarded E-mails you get. I thought it worthy of a post. The sentiment is so true.


THE SAD DEATH OF COMMON SENSE "Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of 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 value lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge). His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but overbearing 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. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student; however they could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Finally, Common sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Isn't it sad that common sense has gone out the window? We've become a society so worried about being politically correct that we cannot see the forest for the trees.

Charging a six year old with sexual harassment? C'mon?! We don't allow children to be children anymore. We take away a parent's right to discipline their children by screaming abuse, yet blame that parent when their child becomes out of control and delinquent. Everyone is looking for a quick buck and sue happy for their own stupidity; like the man who put his RV on cruise control and went back to the kitchen to make a sandwich. He sued when he crashed - he thought cruise control meant it would drive itself down the highway.

Talk about the dumbing down of America?!

No one wants to be held accountable anymore. It's much easier to point fingers and blame someone, anyone else for our lot in life. People are looking for a quick fix, a happy pill. We've become a nation of addicts praying to the pharmaceutical Gods to solve our woes.

No, I am not going all 'Tom Cruise' on you. I am not gonna tell you to take two vitamins and call me in the morning. Medication certainly helps for medically diagnosed issues. My son is on medication. I thank the Gods for that medication and how it improves his/our quality of life. BUT, the medication is only one small portion of treatment. Therapy, behavior modification and consistency in discipline have to be employed to manage his disability. I refuse to allow my son the 'out' of a disability. Having that disability doesn't give him license for bad behavior. Being more impulsive just means he has to be more aware of that impulsiveness and work harder to control it than others! It's hard work. But isn't that what life is? It's work!

I think that's become part of the problem. Why do the work? It's so much easier to run to the Dr. and say it isn't working! Up the dosage! We end up with a society of lazy, stoned whiners pointing fingers at everyone else for their problems and policing how others live their lives. Isn't that easier than actually using common sense, looking inside ourselves, realizing that we are responsible for our own happiness and lives, shortcomings and all?

Three words: GET OVER IT!

It's time for people to mind their own damn business. I do mean MIND. Take care of what's going on inside your own life. Do the work to make yourself happy. Do the work to be a good parent and bring your children up to be happy, responsible adults. That's the job you agreed to when you decided to reproduce! Teach them manners and respect. Please and Thank you go a long way. Teach them right from wrong. If we did that, would there be a need for gangs? It isn't easy? Waaa. Too damn bad. How can you really learn to appreciate life if it's easy? There needs to be tough times and hard work in order to appreciate and be grateful for the good in life. If you do something stupid or bad, then you need to take responsibility for it!

Let's bring back Common Sense. I'm really worried where humanity will end up if we don't.