S. Minnitte – 10/5/04

This page was last updated on October 5, 2004.

Defining a demagogue; S. Minnitte; Beaver County Times; October 5, 2004.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“A G. Walker Bush cheerleader (this is obvious, palpable and apparent from repetitive, arrogant letters to the editor), Peter Homitz of Monaca in his latest outburst criticized letter writer Stephan Kislock III for using the word ‘demagogue’ in reference to G. Walker Bush.

“I guess some people can clearly read, but others can only sadly struggle.”

[RWC] Apparently Mr. Minnitte is not in the “some people can clearly read” group. First, read the Homitz letter and you’ll note it’s hardly an “outburst.” Second, Mr. Homitz didn’t criticize Mr. Kislock for using “demagogue.” Here is Mr. Homitz’s full comment, “He [Kislock] further stated, ‘I, for one, am against this demagogue.’ Why? Definition two (The Standard College Dictionary) says ‘demagogue, any popular leader or orator.’ I like that.”

Mr. Homitz simply noted there are at least two definitions for demagogue and he chose the one he liked. For what it’s worth, one of the definitions in the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary is “a leader championing the cause of the common people in ancient times.” It was listed as the primary definition in the 1970 edition and the secondary in the 2003 edition.

“I don’t know or care how Homitz culls definitions or allusions from whatever reference he pokes into. But I do know that one of my favorite dictionaries (Webster’s New World College Dictionary) more intelligently says that a demagogue is a person who tries to stir up the people by appeals to emotion, prejudice, etc., in order to win them over quickly and so gain power.”

[RWC] “I don’t know or care how Homitz culls definitions or allusions from whatever reference he pokes into?” Apparently Mr. Minnitte does care or he would not have taken the time to write a letter to the editor.

“Homitz needs to dump whatever dictionary guides his cheerleading for G. Walker Bush.”

[RWC] Ever notice how some people hate it when their own words are thrown back at them?