The Death of C. Sense-an Obituary

By Bill Ellis 
Special to ASSIST News Service
SCOTT DEPOT, WV (ANS)

Have you ever had the feeling that you live in a crazy mixed-up world? Those who are supposed to be the leaders, the mentors and the best examples of what mankind should be, seem to be confused, muddled, perplexed, puzzled and confused. It often appears that the blind are leading the blind and even the befuddled know that won't work. Failure seems to be the only thing we are good at, the only thing in which we consistently succeed.

More than once I have heard, "Just use a little common sense." That means sound judgment. I've even heard it called "horse sense". Ralph Waldo Emerson called common sense, "The shortest line between two points." Time now to pause for an apology concerning what you are about to read. I do not know who wrote it. I have tried to find out. Should you know or if you wrote it, please let me know. That is one thing I do not like about "stuff" that arrives by e-mail. Some of it is good. Much of it is useless. Seldom does it ever give proper credit to the person who wrote it. I have read some of the things I wrote, but not one word about credit. Things received from others without attribution should not be used or, as in this case, be accompanied with a sincere apology. I do hope the author of this thoughtful and humorous piece called an "OBITUARY" emerges.

"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 valued 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 but 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 did.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, spilled it 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. Two Stepbrothers, My Rights and Ima Whiner survive him. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone."

We can all hope, and even pray, for the resurrection of "Common Sense" in the minds of all our citizens and especially our state and national leaders.

Think how much better life would be for all of us in the world if presidents, senators, representatives, prime ministers, cabinet members, judges, parliaments, mayors, governors, teachers, preachers, and dogcatchers would just use a little common sense.

If we had any, you'd think we would use it. That's another thing we can all pray for.