Death of an old friend

[gunslingingbird]

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 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 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.

 

[squallumz]

RIP, you mother fucker.

 

[bahodeme]

:weeping:He's gone when we need him the most!

 

[Ravenholm]

I like what I read there. It rings true across all walks of life.

Well done. A couple of lines made me chuckle.

 

[STDiva]

He was going to pass eventually people. It's common sense.

 

[boatmonkey69]

Now days he is not that common :error:

 

[kewlio65]

RIP, you were dear to so many.

 

[Facetious]

---> Forward to OP

Oh yeah, wiseguy?!!


THE PARADOX OF OUR TIMES
Is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers
Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints
We spend more, but we have less.

We have bigger houses, but smaller families
More conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees, but less sense
More knowledge, but less judgement
More experts, but more problems
More medicines, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often
We have learnt how to make a living, but not a life.
We have added years to life, but not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back
But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.
We have conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted our soul.
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We've higher incomes, but lower morals.
We've become long on quantity but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men, and short character;
Steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare,
More leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorces;
Of fancier houses, but broken homes.
It is a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you,

And a time when you can choose,

Either to make a difference .... or just hit, delete.''


Author :anonymous

 

[TheOrangeCat]

He/she'll be back .... will rise on the third day and smite the whingers, the scroungers, the 'I wants' and the 'gimmie mines'

 

[Alyssa Rose]

Only the good die young!

 

[Atar554]

OMG WALL OF TEXT...not gonna read it /quits thread.....

j/k good read.

 

[Facetious]

^ Wall of text, really? Are you in denial, sonny ...O-º... is that it?

The decline of a nation or of nations (as in the case of the western world) is not a fate, it's a choice. Granted, the choices we are presented with might not be offered with the best of intentions (thank your government), but they are choices nonetheless.

 

[alexpnz]

makes sense....

 

[Rey C.]

Being something of an amateur history buff, I question whether Common Sense ever really lived... or whether he was more of a figment of our imagination. I think he was someone we like to believe once existed. But human events, throughout history, suggest that he was no more present years ago than now. It's just that we have the internet and a 24 hour news cycle now, and we're more aware that he's not around.

When my dad was in his 80's, someone was at his home and made mention of "the good old days". My father cussed the man to everything he could think of and told him, "they were the old days, but there wasn't anything good about them!"

My girlfriend tells me there's something hard wired into humans, whereby our brains skip over bad or traumatic events, and we only tend to remember the good things in our pasts. My guess is, our (selective) memories of our old friend Common Sense go along with that theory.

Still, a cool post in the OP though. :hatsoff:

 

[L3ggy]

We live in a sad world.

 

[darkwarrior3007]

Now days he is not that common :error:

Of course he's not that common! He's dead, did you not read? I tell you, some people! R.I.P. Common Sense!