What is a Polemicist? The act of polemics is that of the contrarian, and derives from the Greek. In the Greek it has the meaning of being war-like, or hostile. The act of polemics is a militant reply in the form of reasoned arguments against a proposition regarded as worthy of defense. The polemicist is a man or woman of courage, because contradiction implies confrontation. A polemicist speaks in opposition to another, and against the proposition of the positive or negative premise of said opposition. The polemicist is intrusive to the comfortable, and shatters delusion. The late Christopher Hitchens, was known as a professional “polemicist” argued against authoritarian and totalitarian habits in religious thought. He expressed our sentiment, when he declared:

“Unless you’re willing to commit suicide, for yourself, and for this culture, get used to the compromises you’ll make, and the eventual capitulation that will come to you, but bloody well, don’t do that in my name; because I’m not doing it. You surrender, in your own name, leave me out of it, I’m going to fight these people, and every other theocrat, all the way.” (Christopher Hitchens)

Published by Dominique Johnson

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