"What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving, how express and admirable in action, how like an angel in apprehension, how like a god! The beauty of the world; the paragon of animals; and yet to me what is this quintessence of dust?" (Hamlet)
The great Bard spoke of man from many angles, and how a man likes to be seen and how he conducts himself here on earth can be ambivalent. We can start with the Fourth Estate (the press, media, etc.) which is arguably the most powerful of all the Estates. There is a great pride in a practitioner of Journalism and being referred to as a journalist.
Survival 101, dictates that you don't argue with anyone that buys ink in 55 gallon drums, and even a dumb Conch knows better than to take on the press and will only limit his critique to locking-on to a lead-in line in last week's KWTN, about an assault on a 22- year old girl, who you knew 20 years ago when she was 22 years old. But, I will respectfully refer to them as journalists.
There is nothing so basic to the strength of a Nation as the institution of Justice. And what a joy it is to see the people who have chosen this profession adhere to all the principles, oaths, and noble ethics, that the word Justice conjures up. And yet in the hands of a person less than dedicated to truth and fairness; it is a blotch on the fabric of that institution and it can be an instrument of great harm to the people it has failed to protect. To this the great Bard said "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers". (Henry VI) Yet, we respectfully refer to them as your Honor, Esquire, or dear Counselor.
The Clergy is one of the Estates, but as an architect, who has designed churches and one synagogue; it was necessary to do research about not only the ecclesiology but to understand theology. There are enough mysteries and unknowns that should caution the bravest of men to stand clear and not debate church issues. I reverently refer to them as Reverent.
Now lastly, you serve your fellow man in government. Here you can use his money to create all the amenities that will make his life safer, exciting, and more comfortable. This brings the warmth you feel that comes with being a public servant. And after many years of being a statesman, you are recognized as "Aren't you that Politician?"
Ah . . . "This was the unkindest cut of all." (Julius Ceasar)
NOTE: Sonny McCoy is Monroe County Mayor.