Celebrate strength of young U.S. minds

Richard Williams, Las Vegas

Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008 | 2:02 a.m.

I received an e-mail recently thanking the volunteers at this year’s Science Bowl at UNLV. Something happened that was more important than any thanks. Many of us left with a renewed faith in the USA.

Our technological edge and the young brains behind it are still alive and well. I experienced this at the Science Bowl. The questions and the answers given by the young people, who are high school students, simply amazed me.

They calculated, collaborated and answered within 25 seconds. I witnessed technology leaders of the future and a demeanor not seen in professional sports. I am proud of all these fine young “brain athletes.”

The teams were made up of every shape and size, creed and color. America is not so bad after all. Who covers the positive events such as this one?

There were no crowds cheering for the future technology leaders. No multimillion-dollar awards, no pictures on cereal boxes, no contracts for movies, nothing for these real winners.

These youngsters, however, will be a part of the great advances in physics, chemistry, mathematics and other sciences.

What is wrong with America? It is obviously clear that we pay too much tribute to the athletes and not enough to these mental giants who are great on their own playing fields.

I am happy, but I’m so sorry most of America did not see and feel the excitement or even know about it.