A Nerdy Necessity & Speech by Patrick Henry
Sandy Nichols
introduced guest speaker, Spencer Ponce: a junior at AGHS and a co- captain of the school speech and debate team who recently placed second in Original Oratory, first in Oratorical Interpretation and qualified for State finals. He was recently accepted into the American Legion Boys State program and accepted into a one week program at the Annapolis Naval Academy.
Spencer's first speech started with the declaration that his hero, Bill Gates, isn't very sexy and more sex and dirty talk about nerds is needed to promote their importance in the world. Somehow we need to embrace the grandeur of the geek in the 21st Century. He relates that the I.Q. in America appears to be dropping and young people are not proficient in academic skills. He drew out a monetary comparison between Michael Jordan and Bill Gates saying that Jordan makes almost $180,000 every game he plays and that along with his advertising accounts, he makes a $gillion amount of money; but, Gates still makes more; therefore, Nerds win! So, put on your pocket protectors, embrace your braces and thank the Nerds of the world.
Spencer's second speech was his oratorical interpretation of Patrick Henry's address to the Virginia House of Burgesses, the first representative government in North America. Henry implored the delegates to vote for war for freedom from England imperialism. He said, "If we wish to be free, we must fight! We must fight!" He explained that the three million Americans were not weak, they were strong and invincible; and God was on their side. War is inevitable, let it come and "...Give me liberty or give me death!"
(Well done Spenser, we enjoyed your presentation/interpretation. We wish you well and continued success!
)