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Thursday, December 13th 2007

The Obituary of the late….. Common Sense.

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 common sense was because the birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. 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).

The life of common sense 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 Elastoplast 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 when criminals received better treatment than their victims, when people cannot defend themselves against burglars in their own home and the burglar could sue for assault.

But the final straw in Common Senses will to live was 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 both parents – truth and trust, a wife – discretion, a daughter – responsibility and a son – reason.

4 siblings are alive and well: I know my rights, I want it now, someone else is to blame and I’m a victim.

I read this article in my local newsletter and it sums up what I think of the politically correct – they are killing common sense!