'Fancy-shmancy,' or good education?

In a Feb. 13 letter to the editor, a Herald reader who objects to columnist Kathleen Parker's unhappiness with Donald Trump and Sarah Palin asked, "Where does she [Parker] get all those fancy shmancy words to thrash them?"

Well, here's a guess. Like any professional writer (and I am one), Parker is likely to have been a voracious reader since childhood, exploring and evaluating the good minds of others. She holds a master's degree in Spanish lit, which is useful because a close study of literature enriches vocabulary, develops critical thinking, and encourages insightful reflection. And because literature is really the examination of people, a lifelong student develops a discerning eye capable of spotting charlatans and addle-brains.

Although Kathleen Parker sits too far right of center to suit me, I like her mind and enjoy her prose. What strikes some readers as fancy shmancy looks like wit and erudition to others.

David J. Hogan

Arlington Heights