"James Madison" - 2024 age 75 James Madison - 1825 age 74 from his "life-mask"
There are those who wonder what the Founding Fathers would have to say about the state of our Nation here in the 21st century. One such Founding Father has made his way through and back to our timeline. His name is James Madison, "Father of the Constitution" of the United States, Member of Congress, Secretary of State for both of Thomas Jefferson's Presidential terms, presiding over the Louisiana Purchase, and the 4th President of these United States for two terms, including the War of 1812.
Join Mr. Madison here as he reflects on what he sees and addresses certain issues of the day which he entreats you to consider; for in his words, "Redii pro Deo et Patriae." (I have returned for God and Country)
Join Mr. Madison here as he reflects on what he sees and addresses certain issues of the day which he entreats you to consider; for in his words, "Redii pro Deo et Patriae." (I have returned for God and Country)
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Shhhh! Don't tell anyone but this is not really James Madison. His real name is Lou Magill and he is 76 years old. The fact that he looks a lot like Mr. Madison at the same age is strictly coincidence. Though he is a 60 year veteran actor on stage, including as a professional opera singer, this is his most challenging role yet. The years of research alone are daunting enough with over a dozen biographies plus numerous internet articles. YouTube lectures and other source material abound. Then there is what is called "primary source" material which is everything that Madison ever wrote, which was a lot: Federalist Papers, notes of the Constitutional Convention every day for almost 4 months and a slew of other writings and letters. He was prolific.
Becoming a first person interpreter of Founding Father James Madison is a tremendous commitment, responsibility and obligation. Mr. Magill once confessed to his church rector that the more he read and the more he studied, the more he felt Madison slowly seeping in as if melding into one. Though concerned about this transformational effect called "channeling", Mr Magill said, "Sure, it's kind of unsettling, but it must be done. I don't have a choice. Some things in life you don't ask or go looking for. They find you and you really have little say in the matter. You just deal with it the best you can and accept the journey. It's pointless to try to understand "Why". That's above my pay grade. I just pray that I prove worthy of this mission."
This mission is not to reincarnate James Madison, nor resurrect James Madison for neither is of sufficient purpose, desire or possibility. The mission is to reinvoke James Madison, his wisdom, his capacity, his mind to address the many issues of today. The pendulum of politics is always in motion. Every effort must be made to prevent that pendulum from going to the extremes, and to temper all with commitment to public service for the greater good. This can only be accomplished with four steps:
LISTEN - not to respond, but to understand. The Almighty gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth in the sincere hope that we would LISTEN twice as much as we speak.
UNDERSTAND: As we listen to understand, we connect with different ideas, with which we may or may not agree. Yet, we must be willing to understand them without judgment or prejudice for there to be forward movement with an even mind.
REASON: For once mutual understanding is achieved, each side now has permission to explore REASON. This is not agreement; but a deeper understanding of the overall condition and effects to be resolved through COMPROMISE.
COMPROMISE: No one wins and no one loses. Consensus on "give and take" such that each party can accept a specific solution, for the time being, with the understanding that the issues may need to be re-addressed as conditions change. We cannot predict the future with certainty. Nothing is cast in concrete, except a coffin in a vault.
LISTEN - not to respond, but to understand. The Almighty gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth in the sincere hope that we would LISTEN twice as much as we speak.
UNDERSTAND: As we listen to understand, we connect with different ideas, with which we may or may not agree. Yet, we must be willing to understand them without judgment or prejudice for there to be forward movement with an even mind.
REASON: For once mutual understanding is achieved, each side now has permission to explore REASON. This is not agreement; but a deeper understanding of the overall condition and effects to be resolved through COMPROMISE.
COMPROMISE: No one wins and no one loses. Consensus on "give and take" such that each party can accept a specific solution, for the time being, with the understanding that the issues may need to be re-addressed as conditions change. We cannot predict the future with certainty. Nothing is cast in concrete, except a coffin in a vault.
"It is a wise man who remembers that, The greatest enemy to political reason is human nature." -- Lou Magill in character as "James Madison"