為廉恥寫訃文

朋友whatsapp傳來兩段訊息，其中之一是下面這訃文，一段幾年前看過不知出處的東西。

Obituary of Common Sense !

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 from rain, the early bird gets the worm and life isn't always fair.
一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's 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 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 legislation.

He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers and enlightened auditors. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies; when reports were heard of six year old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; when a teen was suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch; when a teacher was fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but couldn't inform the parent when a 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. His three stepbrothers survive him: Rights, Tolerance and Whiner.

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

Author Unknown

Common sense是甚麽？普通常識？普通常識其實也可以很不普通平凡。Common sense 原本是指由五官直接了當的感覺，無需複雜知識或專業判斷，所以才是common. 現在甚麽都進步，唯獨人際關係，社會和諧在倒退，common給individual打倒，法規太多限制了自由空間，人都弄得透不過氣來，sense變得stupid.

朋友另一則訊息是下面這條片，片中粗口爛舌罵警察，看就請將音量收細，以免吵耳，我已選了較潔淨的版本。

如果本土主義者怕香港大陸化，在香港見到這種抄牌罵警的景象，就應該去光復香港過去的文明，不要讓那些使港人蒙羞的事不斷發酵。這段片很明顯是交通違例者拍攝抄牌過程，對違例本身並無爭議，只是不滿被抄而發惡，車上有兩名小孩，男的就越罵越亢奮，粗口爛舌，如果臭罌出臭草，他日社會又多兩個蠻不講理，財未必大口也很粗的棟樑，惡形惡相、粗口爛舌的一代。最悲慘的是這個人還可以毫不羞恥的把片放上網，一定以為自己蠻得有理，罵得鏗鏘。正常人一時失去理智胡亂罵人，冷靜之後都應愧疚於心。可是，香港怎樣才是正常，甚麽才是核心價值，我已全不掌握了。或者應該有人寫篇Obituary of Grace.

不過，正所謂後之視今如今之視昔，現在哀今非昔比，他日可能更一蟹不如一蟹。