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January 16, 2009
Writing Well: Satire
The satirist is to be regarded as our physician, not our enemy.
Henry Fielding, 1707-1754
Like lawyers, physicians may no longer be the great opinion leaders and social architects they once were, or people had hoped they would be--but you still get what Fielding was trying to say. No, Fielding was not disparaging satirists when he wrote this. Satire is the perhaps the only form of writing no one does (or should try to do) in court papers, opinion letters or inter-lawyer correspondence. The law needs certainty, clarity and seriousness of tone--all kept at a consistent wave-length so we do not lose our place.
But I am always excited and think I am about to see some great and epic satire and commentary every time I read a pleading which begins "COMES NOW...", a letter which begins "Enclosed herewith please find..." or contract which uses "said" frequently. I am always disappointed when I realize it's intended to be a serious document.
Posted by JD Hull at January 16, 2009 11:50 PM