5 Votes
Common sense
Common sense, is there such a thing? Why is every damn thing so political and complicated. Sound prudent judgment or the unreflected opinions of ordinary men. Has the ordinary man lost his voice.
Sure you can burn a flag, burn a Quran or build a mosque. But, why would you want to if it hurts others.
You might ask what is an ordinary man? I think he is the guy or gal who works hard and wants food, clothing, shelter, happiness and peace for his family. Is it possible, common sense is like world peace, a great ideal but unrealistic?
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rarely sensible by Occams
The problem with common sense is that it a’int so common.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Art (1841)
On dit quelquefois: “Le sens commun est fort rare.”
Common sense always speaks too late. Common sense is the guy who tells you you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front end this week. Common sense is the Monday morning quarterback who could have won the ball game if he had been on the team. But he never is. He’s high up in the stands with a flask on his hip. Common sense is the little man in a grey suit who never makes a mistake in addition. But it’s always somebody else’s money he’s adding up.
Where's the "hurt"? by scottb
Sure you can burn a flag, burn a Quran or build a mosque. But, why would you want to if it hurts others.
Seems to me the problem with all those things isn’t the original action, it’s the dubious “outrage” that follows.
Burning a flag or a book, or building a mosque (or a community center) doesn’t really hurt the people who claim to be hurt by it. The cries of protest just don’t really ring true.
Have we forgotten that freedom of speech is supposed to be a founding virtue in our country? Have we become so ignorant that we no longer understand why it matters?
You might ask what is an ordinary man? I think he is the guy or gal who works hard and wants food, clothing, shelter, happiness and peace for his family.
Why is it you assume these aren’t the characteristics of those towards whom you’re complaining? Is it so impossible that your “ordinary man” wouldn’t find himself in a situation where he feels he must make the sort of statement that burning a flag represents?
This sort of “why can’t we all just get along” stuff strikes me as naïve.