Common Sense

3:47pm Monday 19th February 2007

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Funny that just when I thought I would blog on something that concerns me I got the little 'obituary' shown below. In the last couple of years I've watched some of the youth in Hereford in certain places become more and more disrespectful of authority and at times even violent and distructive.

No I am not lumping all youth into one little category. I have no doubt there are plenty of good kids out there, it just seems that I come into contact with the not so good ones. We live on the end of a turning circle or cul-de-sac. A while back one of our neighbours chased some kids off our lawn while we were out because the kids can't be bothered to walk around and take the path. They frequently cut through our garden trampling plants and climbing the fence to get to the path that runs along our home. We were out when it happened but when we came back our neighbour mentioned what had occurred. We went in, had our lunch and then went back out to find that in that short time all of the dust caps had been stolen off our cars and our company's cars. No doubt revenge for being told to get out of the garden. They managed to miss one car and when we came back in again my husband went back out to move the car only to find they had been back again to take those dust caps as well. These were all specialist caps purchased in the states and no longer available.
On top of the dust cap incident, it's very common for us to have to clean eggs off the back window as someone sees fit to lob them over the fence at our windows.
I don't really understand. When I was a kid, you respected other people's space and property. If an adult told you to not climb a fence, you didn't. You were respectful and polite to police officers and teachers and your elders in general. You didn't steal trollies from the grocery store and dump them in the stream, you didn't buy sweets and crips and toss the wrappers on the ground. It has reached the point that last week there were some kids cutting across our garden and climbing the fence and I was literally afraid to confront them for fear of what retribution they would take. What is happening to our society?

OBITUARY OF THE LATE MR. 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 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 Calpol, sun lotion or a band-aid 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 Ten Commandments became contraband; 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; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; "I Know My Rights", "Someone Else Is To Blame", and "I'm A Victim".

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

I thought this little item was appropriate to share. If I am labeled 'crazy' for it as it seems that at least one of our readers thinks the only sane blogger is Billy the Dog, then so be it. I just wanted to share my thoughts with you.