More than 10 years down the track, this post begs the question – is it possible to be worse than dead? We seem to have gone even further downhill in recent years…
I am unable to confirm whether the London Times was the source of this but it makes pretty good sense in any event.
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.
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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, 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
- I’m A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Good morning Winston from my Wild Blue Yonder in rural Australia!
I was truly saddened when I read this page.
As a Baby Boomer, I grew up with Truth, Trust, Discretion, Responsibility, Reason and Common Sense.
As children, we were joined at the hip to these characteristics by our parents. Our grandparents. Our brothers and sisters. Our friends. The schools we attended. The employers who gave us part time jobs.
As adults, everyone we came into contact with expected us to act as if we absorbed these traits through osmosis.
It was hard to escape their shadow. And influence.
I miss them!
And I’m sure I’m not alone.
I look forward to the Hallelujah Day when they’re resurrected.
Best wishes and take care,
Carol
Carol Jones
Director
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Designers of The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover
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Beautifully said Carol and I support your thoughts 100 percent.
Have a f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c day… Winno
This is without doubt the saddest news I have read since the death of Someone Else.
Winston, you don’t hppen to have a copy of the obituary of Someone Else do you? I checked through my collection and can’t find it.
Jurek, I googled it and found it in a number of places…
Obituary – Someone Else
Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.
Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of the work.
Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list, “Let Someone Else do it.”
Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; “Someone Else can work with that group.” It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.
Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?
When you are asked to help this year, remember – we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.
Thanks Winston. Good isn’t it?
I love it Jurek coz it makes a great point in an easy to read and easy to understand way.
Winston, well said! The frightening thing is that the step brothers (and sisters) are the up and coming “leaders” of tomorrow. Is this why political parties have shifted from debating real issues to becoming merely marketable?
Poor old Common Sense, I’ll miss you. RIP.