I am a full-time apologist. I do what I do because of the following reasons:
1. I was called to it as a matter of vocation.
2. The Bible commands all believers to defend their beliefs and share them intelligently and charitably with others (e.g., 1 Peter 3:15-16, Jude 3). Some folks simply devote their lives to this.
3. Jesus commanded us to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and MIND. Apologetics strengthens people's faith & removes obstructions & roadblocks to faith.
4. I am just as committed to warm relationships with non-Catholics as I am to defending Catholic distinctives. I don't see how the two are mutually-exclusive at all (though they are often made out to be).
My original post was much longer, but then there was this 1000-character limit thing . . . so what you see is a "hatchet job." LOL
Dave
Sorry about that, Dave--I hate the character limit (imposed six weeks ago), too. Feel free to use as many posts as you like to get around, it though, as I refuse to pay for an upgrade. 
I agree with you on the America article. From even cursory review, it's not clear that he's all that familiar with the apologetic phenomenon.
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