[FONT face=Arial size=2] [/FONT] [P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by. Today I read his obituary. Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance, for Common Sense had served us all so well for so many generations.[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = XXML /][XXML:NAMESPACE ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" prefix="o"][/XXML:NAMESPACE][?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[DIV style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 4pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid"] [P class=MsoNormal style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; lineh-eight: 14.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 4.0pt 0in"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]Obituary[O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT][/B]
[P class=MsoNormal style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; lineh-eight: 14.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 4.0pt 0in"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]Common Sense[O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT][/B]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]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.[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]His health began to deteriorate rapidly 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.[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a Band-Aid to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]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 can sue you for assault.[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]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.[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]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 three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim.[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]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.[/SPAN][/FONT][/B][FONT color=black][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"][O:P][/O:P][/SPAN][/FONT]
[P class=MsoNormal style="lineh-eight: 14.4pt"][B style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal"][FONT face=Verdana color=black size=3][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"]Author unknown[/SPAN][/FONT][/B]
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49er....THAT is without a doubt the best thing I've read in ages. It is absolutely excellent. I shall bless ye in multiples. [img height=22 src="http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/icon_bow.gif" width=27]
Totally agreed.
Politically charged! but good one 49er.. too true.
I'm saving that one!
Me too.