Nerds

Anyone who’s ever experienced a love of learning has felt the sting of derogatory terms associated with being intelligent. Argued by Leonid Fridman in “America Needs its Nerds”, the offensive label of the intellectually elite will ultimately lead to our downfall. The author’s argument accurately states one of the cold hard facts about school life; that many intelligent people are being treated unfairly as a result of their intelligence. Meanwhile those who are most likely responsible for the mistreatment are worshipped among their peers. As declared by Leonid Fridman this cycle must be stopped or else the gifted people among us will become a dieing breed. The very notion that is guaranteed to probe Americans thoughts is patriotism. Fridman takes his simple thesis to new levels, starting with his idea that nerds are essential to our countries vitality. By doing this author evokes the feeling of guilt, not only for ones personal involvement in the treatment of “nerds”, but also ones fidelity to the United States. The one way to get people to care is tell them they’re in danger. Without Fridmans element of fear mongering for our very existence as a country, the essay would not be as poignant as it is. “How can a country where typical parents are ashamed of their daughter studying mathematics instead of going dancing, or of their son reading
Weber while his friends play baseball, be expected to compete in the technology race with Japan or remain a leading political and cultural force in Europe?” This question Fridman asks allows the reader to weigh morals, and the language used offers in introduction to a topic that cannot be argued with, or else it is un-American. This statement is an immediate call to action, and together with the element of patriotism, the ideas become parallel to Americas struggle for freedom from an old and popular rule. The only thing that will help the progression of mankind in the future is intellect and if we do not