Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Showing Original Post only (View all)

lapucelle

(19,530 posts)
Sun Sep 1, 2024, 10:18 AM Sep 1

The Magistrate [View all]


It is through The Magistrate that I know James, for The Magistrate is his persona, the narrator of this particular story told through DU about the moral and ethical state that we, as a nation, have found ourselves in for the past twenty years.

So what exactly is a magistrate? A magistrate is an official who hears cases, delivers rulings, and issues warnings. Because the office is established to serve the best interest of the community at large, it is one of great responsibility.

When the job is done well, a magistrate earns respect and establishes trust, not so much through detached objectivity, but through his understanding of our common and connected humanity, informed by a considered perspective and an upright moral compass grounded in decency and compassion.

James’s Magistrate is the best kind of magistrate, an exemplar of the better angels, a magistrate who speaks deep truth in a deliberate and measured voice with the certainty of the righteous.

I am always inwardly proud and somewhat relieved when I find myself on the same side of an issue as The Magistrate, such is the esteem and respect that I hold for the ethics of his perspective. I have always been “m’am” and never the rare dreaded and devastating “dear”, a single word that cut so deep and clean that the recipient was left to wonder, “Why am I bleeding?”

I had my one and only personal contact with James the man only last week when I thought I might have offended him with a response that was made to him, simply because it was the safest place to put it. The topic involved a problematic four-word phrase in a long speech. It was a close reader’s concern, so I knew he would understand.

James’s response was gentle and friendly. He pointed me in the direction of a Mark Twain essay that he said was the best and funniest writing advice that he had ever read. He thanked me for my kind words and exhorted me to be well and stay healthy.

I will not speak of The Magistrate in the past tense. That narrator, the persona of the author himself, will live on in the same way that characters live on in literature. And as for James, decent, kind, funny, and brilliantly gifted, I choose to leave the verb unspoken.

It has been an honor.



42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Magistrate [View all] lapucelle Sep 1 OP
Wonderful post. Elessar Zappa Sep 1 #1
His responses to people were golden. Siwsan Sep 1 #2
...and woven with silk. WheelWalker Sep 1 #3
I am filled with grief. yardwork Sep 1 #4
Great Post ProfessorGAC Sep 1 #5
Nicely said. A HERETIC I AM Sep 1 #6
Beautifully Said... Rubyshoo Sep 1 #7
Here is the link. lapucelle Sep 1 #9
Thank You Rubyshoo Sep 1 #13
Great tribute berniesandersmittens Sep 1 #8
Thank you for that heart-felt and heart-warming post. I'm sure The Magistrate approves. erronis Sep 1 #10
Wow AKwannabe Sep 1 #11
Thank you for this wonderful post. n/t Mr.Bill Sep 1 #12
Thank you for such a beautiful post. CaptainTruth Sep 1 #14
What an eloquent tribute... OneGrassRoot Sep 1 #15
Thank-you. Well said JohnSJ Sep 1 #16
Beautiful post.. mountain grammy Sep 1 #17
Thank you for posting this wonderful eulogy to a great person LetMyPeopleVote Sep 1 #18
We had a number of exchanges Tom Rinaldo Sep 1 #19
Amen to this. DinahMoeHum Sep 1 #20
Does anyone remember? In the past year, I think, he took time off because of his son sudden death question everything Sep 1 #21
His son Brendan died of a sudden heart attack Nov. 5, 2020, and he posted about the loss 11/22/2020. highplainsdem Sep 1 #25
Thank you for the link. And many of us, myself included did express our condolences question everything Sep 1 #29
I recall that. Thank you for reminding me. NT mahatmakanejeeves Sep 1 #32
Beautiful, so beautifully painted Hekate Sep 1 #22
... lapucelle Sep 1 #27
I'll respectfully add mine. Prairie_Seagull Sep 1 #23
I always enjoyed our interactions... 2naSalit Sep 1 #24
This message was self-deleted by its author lapucelle Sep 1 #26
Aww, lapucelle, beautifully spoken. Mahalo Cha Sep 1 #28
lapucelle, your brilliance is awe-inspiring. This is a beautiful Nixie Sep 1 #30
He was the brilliant one. lapucelle Sep 1 #31
Yes, he was very brilliant. Nixie Sep 1 #37
Yes, it has been an honor. Thank you for this heartfelt tribute. His memory will live on. ancianita Sep 1 #33
"" AllaN01Bear Sep 1 #34
. Marcuse Sep 1 #35
Wow! flying rabbit Sep 1 #36
Thank you. Silver Gaia Sep 2 #38
Beautiful, I hope this is read at his service. Or printed and made available to his family * Oopsie Daisy Sep 2 #39
Agreed. Mossfern Sep 2 #40
I always enjoyed his posts jfz9580m Sep 3 #41
Thank you lapucelle for such a lovely post. OnDoutside Sep 3 #42
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The Magistrate