Common Sense - The Opposite of Thomas Paine's Legacy

Caduceus - ancient symbol for healing.
 

The first inkling came in the 1960s, when high school teens began to use and abuse alcohol. Abuse was more likely when teens found professional musical entertainment. 

In 1973 I signed up for Yale University Medical's week on alcohol and drug abuse, aiming at seminary students, guidance counselors, etc. That led the head of the program to praise cocaine for being so effective and non-addicting  - !?!?!? I went back to the Yale Divinity apartments and asked Christina, "Guess what the next addiction is going to be?!"

I was appalled, given the useful week of practical and medical information. Some of them were police officers. Others were detox veterans. Efforts to quash drug abuse only seemed to increase the problem and and create a giant market for all ages. As I have told many, the use of doctors' prescriptions have promoted more difficulties.

The "I'll be safe" people have told me how they started in high school and still battle the marijuana addiction (by no means safe but so addicting). Being hauled into the hospital with painful heaves (hyperemesis syndrome) is no fun and neither is the next episode, and the next. 

One pastor told us at a group clergy picnic, "I can get a better high if I mix the two prescriptions together, or one with alcohol." He did not hesitate, even when I mentioned the obvious bad effects. Evil came of it, and so did much sorrow. 

When I think of Luther and Melanchthon, both had serious health problems, and both lived only 63 years. Both had an enormous volume of Scriptural interpretation. They suffered in many ways, but it was because of devotion to the Truth, to the Scriptures, and the great scholars.

 Melanchthon (left) was a great balance to Luther's own style. Both had the highest regard for the other.

What I Would Do about the Children? - A Fantasy

 

This is not be allowed today, to roll back baby training 50 years  - so there is no danger about what is now acceptable to moderns. Only one class fits - the Amish/Mennonites with many babies and a clear concept of Christian Faith. They are expanding, unlike the rest of all groups.

Most realize that the best nursery for a baby is the mother, the best source of real nutrition (aka breast-feeding) and the best the way to unite the mother and newborn. 

Next in line is the toddler and young child. Who learns more? Both groups have remarkable gifts of learning, guiding the mother, enjoying good nutrition after nursing is over, learning an enormous amount of facts and emotions, and growing up in increments. 

If children would grow in groups - not just "one and done" - they would gather the remarkable differences in birth order. However, one and done has gone from that category to "no babies at all." Groups of four were rather scarce after WWII, and two were more likely. The four Jacksons won the "most sons" category (3 out of 4 children) at the Moline Disciples of Christ Church (no longer).

Eight Single-Syllable Words - Our Past But Not Our Future

 

Thomas Paine produced the greatest opening for an argument and used only two words - the best title - for his essay, Common Sense.

English classes overlook the opening - eight words, eight single-syllable words. How does one duplicate "These are the times that try men's souls"?

Someone may find an equal to the opening, but more likely the best one will be hauled out of the computer rather than gathered from a brilliant brain. 

I always enjoyed a chance to have a classroom find a sentence equal to those concise, electrifying words. I never saw the equal, but that is what helped the colonies build a foundation for the United States.

That is what lacks today. The majority of clergy are far distant from the foundations of their own creeds and their own denominations. They have ready publications, just off the press, that will make sure they are doing well in the coming months. But they know what is happening. 

America itself has fallen into shambles (total disorder) and little will happen to make that change. The statistics are obvious. Those who look back can compare their growing-ups with the standards of today. I grew up with Father Knows Best on TV, unlikely today.

Thomas Paine - Common Sense: These Are the Times That Try Men's Souls.