Editorial January 2025
Dear Readers,
Today, I want to discuss a topic that is very important to me: how kids can achieve excellence by working hard and prioritizing excellence.
As most of us know, Vivek Ramaswamy, who is all set to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk in the President-Elect Donald Trump administration, Most of us also know that Ramaswamy has emerged as a transformative thinker with a bold vision to rejuvenate America’s greatness. Through his books, Woke, Inc. and Nation of Victims, Ramaswamy critiques the societal and corporate trends that he believes stifle innovation and individual responsibility. In Woke, Inc., he exposes how corporate America exploits social justice narratives for profit, diluting their authenticity. He calls for a return to true capitalism—one focused on innovation, competition, and merit. In truth, he advocates for grounding national discourse in shared values and fostering open debate, emphasizing the power of truth over divisive ideologies.
Ramaswamy’s influence extends beyond the written word. During his convocation speech at Liberty University, he inspired students to think critically and embrace courage in confronting societal challenges. He encouraged them to seek truth relentlessly, even when it defies popular opinion, and to uphold values of faith, freedom, and individual responsibility. His innovative ideas inspire young minds to envision an America where merit is paramount, unencumbered by ideological conformity.
Vivek Ramaswamy’s thought leadership bridges the gap between visionary ideals and actionable strategies, empowering individuals to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s progress while rekindling the spirit of the American Dream.
Ramaswamy recently posted a long post on X.com about Redefining American Culture to Prioritize Excellence.
In this editorial, let me talk specifically about Ramaswamy’s recent post on X.com. The post on X.com critically examines why top tech companies often favor foreign-born and first-generation engineers over “native” Americans. He dismisses the shallow reasoning of an “IQ deficit” among Americans and instead holds forth a much deeper and structural concern—the culture. Ramaswamy is convinced that America’s cultural preference for mediocrity over excellence has made it challenging for technical talent to flourish on native soil. He recommends a shift in culture in favor of dignity that honors hard work, intellectual achievement, and ambition over social conformity and leisure.
The Root of the Problem: A Culture of Mediocrity
Ramaswamy asserts that American culture has denigrated excellence by celebrating mediocrity since at least the 1990s. Long before children reach college or the workplace, this cultural bias instills itself. He gives concrete examples, showing how pop culture makes the prom queen, the star athlete, or the charismatic sitcom character into an icon instead of the math champion or the valedictorian. He compares Cory Matthews from Boy Meets World and Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell—both popular, relatable, yet ultimately mediocre characters—to their nerdy, overlooked counterparts in Screech or Steve Urkel from Family Matters.
It makes them, according to Ramaswamy, state strongly to young America that normalcy and social approval are more acceptable than intellectual or technical excellence. Cultural celebrations of “chilling” and hanging out encourage complacency, diverting young Americans from the high levels of work required to excel in competitive fields like STEM.
Success in Immigrant and First Generation: A Cultural Contradiction
However, during the 1990s, immigrant families, particularly those in America, acted contrary to expectations. Many parents prohibited their children from watching numerous television shows or engaging in activities that promoted mediocrity. Instead, they pushed hard for their kids to study with all rigor. They provided them with loads of math tutorial services, science Olympiads, and other programs that emphasized knowledge over socializing. The outcomes are undeniable: these children have achieved remarkable success in STEM fields.
This cultural difference marks a striking divergence in values between mainstream American households and those of immigrant families. The latter’s emphasis on discipline, academic achievement, and a long-term vision for success has made them disproportionately represented in high-tech industries and other competitive fields. Immigrant parents’ willingness to be “those kinds of parents,” as Ramaswamy puts it—strict, demanding, and focused on excellence—contrasts sharply with the mainstream American skepticism toward such parenting styles.
The Price of “Normalcy”
A significant part of Ramaswamy’s argument centers around the concept of “normalcy.” In the broader American mainstream, the effort to be “normal” tends to be the opposite of making intellectual pursuits, which might seem nerdish or anti-social. Cultural bias fosters a cycle where children who emphasize academics or technical skills are shunned while those who adhere to societal norms are celebrated. Ramaswamy argues that the pursuit of normalcy, especially in a globalized economy, results in mediocrity—a standard that simply cannot compete with countries like China, where academic and technical excellence are fiercely prioritized.
He invites readers to reflect on families they know, either from the 1990s or today, who raise their children according to different cultural models. By being brutally honest, Ramaswamy suggests, it becomes clear why immigrant families often outperform their native-born counterparts in competitive fields.
The Global Stakes: America’s “Sputnik Moment”
Ramaswamy asserts that contemporary American culture is grappling with the threat of complacency in the marketplace. He believes that this moment is the modern equivalent of the “Sputnik moment” of the middle part of the 20th century, where Soviet Union space explorations jolted the United States back to the sciences, technologies, and education. Likewise, competition from China and other countries will awaken America’s commitment to cultural excellence.
This may spell disaster for America if she fails to catch up and lags behind the others in a technological and economic supremacy race. In Ramaswamy’s eyes, this represents an important juncture of cultural rebirth where achievement rather than mediocrity, nerdiness rather than conformity, and hard work rather than laziness become important priorities.
A Vision for Cultural Renewal
To address these challenges, Ramaswamy outlines his vision of cultural transformation. A radical recalibration of values is necessary, starting with the upbringing and education of children.
Some of his recommendations include:
Promote intellectual role models: More Whiplashes that celebrate the relentless pursuit of excellence and fewer sitcom reruns promoting mediocrity.
Prioritizing Academic Activities: More time spent on math tutoring, science competitions, and reading, and less on unstructured leisure like Saturday morning cartoons or hanging out at the mall.
Fostering Creativity and Productivity: Encouraging children to create rather than consume, whether through hands-on projects, extracurricular pursuits, or intellectual exploration.
Ramaswamy admits that such recommendations might sound extreme or even unappealing to most Americans. Yet, he maintains that the adoption of these values is necessary if the country is to regain its competitive edge. It is not just a matter of legislating change in hiring practices but creating a cultural environment in which excellence occurs organically.
The Way Ahead: The Abjuration of Victimhood
He concludes by saying that Americans must shun victimhood and take responsibility for themselves. Instead of complaining about foreign workers or campaigning for alternative hiring strategies, Americans should work toward building a culture of hard work, discipline, and ambition. According to him, this is the way forward to solve the talent gap in tech and other competitive industries.
He remains hopeful that it is feasible. He cites Donald Trump’s election as a harbinger of renewed national pride and ambition in America and feels that if its culture were to wake fully to the challenges of a hyper-competitive global economy, America will return to a golden era.
A Call to Action
The post of Ramaswamy is not just a criticism but also a call to action. His posts consciously remind readers of uncomfortable truths about American culture, thus challenging them to rethink their values and priorities. He argues that the future of American innovation, economic leadership, and global influence hinges on the nation’s ability to prioritize excellence over mediocrity.
Parents, educators, and policymakers all have a role in this vision. Whether by instilling a culture of achievement at home, reforming education to focus on the rigor of intellectual development, or celebrating role models who embody excellence, each step contributes to a broader cultural awakening. Only through such collective effort can America reclaim its place as a leader in innovation and technical talent.
I would like to finish my column by extending my wishes for a prosperous and healthy New Year to all Desh Videsh readers.
May your heart be filled with joy and gratitude,
May your aspirations materialize by following Swami Vivekananda’s mantra,
“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.”
Raj Shah
Managing Editor
Desh-Videsh Media Group