Clarksburg Exponent Telegram
NEWS
GUIDES
NIE
ADS
CIRC.
LINKS
HOME MAIL

TODAY'S
NEWS

LOCAL NEWS
SPORTS
BIRTHS
OBITUARIES
CALENDAR
OPINIONS
COLUMNS
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR


News Search

WEB LINKS
FUN LINKS
Kid Stuff, Museums to visit, Games to play
NEWSPAPERS
IN EDUCATION

For Students and Teachers
NEWS LINKS
Newspapers, Politics, Space, Comics, Weather, Sports, Internet, Lottery
REFERENCE PAGE
Reference Starting Points, Dictionaries, U.S. Government Sources, Other Sites, Universities and Colleges, News
REVIEWS
Books and Music
WEST VIRGINIA LINKS

THIS SITE IS
BEST VIEWED
WITH THE
LATEST VERSION OF:
msexplorer
INTERNET EXPLORER

CORRECTIONS
AND ADDITIONS

Copyright ©
Clarksburg Publishing
Company 2000

Clarksburg
Publishing Company,
P.O. Box 2000,
Clarksburg, WV 26302
USA

CURRENT STORIES


Now we mourn the passing of an old friend

BOB'N'ALONG by Bob Stealey

EDITOR

Though the title of this item, which was sent to me by my friend Cheryl Cummings, is "Mourning," it is not for an individual. Rather, it is for a concept that has been personified. This is in no way intended to mock daily obituaries of readers' loved ones. Please read on:

"Today we mourn the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense.

"Common Sense lived a long life, but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

"He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories and offices, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.

"For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as 'to know when to come in out of the rain,' 'the early bird gets the worm' and 'life isn't always fair.'

"Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies -- 'Don't spend more than you earn'-- and reliable parenting strategies -- 'The adults are in charge, not the kids' and 'It's OK to come in second.'

"A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including feminism, body-piercing, whole language and 'new math.'

"But his health declined when he became infected with the 'If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it' virus.

"In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing federal regulation. He watched in pain as good people became ruled by some self-seeking lawyers and enlightened auditors.

"His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies, reports of six-year-old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student, but cannot inform the parent when the female student is pregnant or wants an abortion.

"Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports.

"As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments, regarding questionable regulations for asbestos, low-flow toilets, 'smart' guns, the nurturing of Prohibition Laws and mandatory air bags.

"Finally, when told that the homeowners association restricted exterior furniture only to that which enhanced property values, he breathed his last.

"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, Rights, Tolerance and Whiner.

"Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone."

Thanks, Cheryl, for sharing that.

Exponent and Telegram Editor Bob Stealey can be reached by phone at 626-1438, or by e-mail at rstealey@exponent-telegram.com.

SUBSCRIPTION
INFORMATION
(print version)

CLASSIFIED ADS

ADVERTISING
RATES
HARRISON COUNTY
RELOCATION GUIDE
News Search