Super Power

Super Power

There is an emerging and quickly gaining popularity, belief that “Common Sense” is so uncommon as to be considered a “Super Power.”  Being one of those rare individuals with the unusual ability to reason, and analyze situations before taking action (as in using common sense).  I’ve given thought to what my Super Hero name might be, if I were to decide to use (share) my super power for the good of mankind: The Common Sense Cruzader!

Imagine having a 9 year old responding to an adult saying, “it hurts when I do that” (referring to raising the right arm above his head).  My answer was filled with common sense: “until you have a doctor look at it, don’t do that.”  My answer didn’t resolve the problem, but it prevented further discomfort and pain.  That instant in my past has always stuck with me because, I secretly realized that as a 9 year old, I was possibly a notch or two smarter than a 23 year old with 14 years more life experience.

 

There are so many examples of the lack of use of common sense in everyday life, that I can’t help but wonder where society went wrong. 

The Death of Common Sense:

• Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it is okay 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 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 well-intentioned but overbearing regulations. He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero-tolerance policies. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for charging that a reprimand of an unruly student only worsened his condition. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parent when a female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.

This is written to sound funny but at the same time serious.  The reasoning for the death of common sense is real enough, that no one could argue otherwise.  And so it goes that common sense is now considered a “Super Power.”  I will now ponder whether it would make sense (of the common variety) to share my gift with mankind.  If the inclination should be to go forth, the name of the new masked hero shall be “The Common Sense Cruzader,” (please note the spelling of cruzader with a “Z.”  If the decision is to stay in the shadows, you shall not hear of this super hero ever again.  Common sense dictates that the best is yet to come…….