America's Minute

“Great moments are born from great opportunities.” -Herb Brooks

42 years ago today, on February 22, 1980, a Miracle on Ice took place in Lake Placid, New York.

The “Miracle on Ice” refers to the hockey game that was played between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Winter Olympics of 1980. The U.S. team, which was coached by Herb Brooks, was composed mostly of young college players. Compared to the Soviet Union, the U.S. team was inexperienced and ill equipped. The Soviet Union was considered the best team in the world and were four-time defending gold medalists.

A win over the Russian team seemed nearly impossible. Incredibly, against all odds, Team USA beat the Soviets 4-3 in the final period. The crowd went crazy. 

This victory over the Soviet Union was more than just a gold medal or a win over the best hockey team in the world.

The meeting of the two teams took place during the “Cold War”, a long period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Overall morale, spirit, and confidence was low in the U.S. Americans had just experienced a decade of political scandal, energy crises, and crippling economic stagflation. On top of everything, the USSR had recently invaded Afghanistan.

Leading up to the Olympics, Americans saw this contest as much more than just a hockey game. It was a symbolic battle between Communism (The Soviet Union) and Freedom (The United States). To the Americans, so much was on the line as they watched sports, culture, and politics collide.

Many viewed this event as a victory in the Cold War. It became a symbol of hope and a reminder of the greatness that America has always achieved during challenging times. About 10 years after this event, the Cold War finally came to an end. This unbelievable Victory became one of the most iconic moments in Olympic AND U.S. history.

During this era, Americans understood the threat of communism. They wanted to conquer it. Whether that meant ending the Cold War or simply winning a hockey game. They were up for the fight. Even the pop culture of the day portrayed the evils of communism. In 1985, the movie, Rocky IV was released. This movie portrayed a similar story line of what the Miracle on Ice had represented to so many Americans.

To sum it up, Rocky decides to fight the Soviet Union’s top boxer, Ivan Drago, to avenge the death of his friend, Apollo Creed, and defend the honor of his country. In the end, Rocky is victorious over Drago and the Soviet Union. The movie featured the Song “Burning Heart” by Survivor which held these lyrics:

Two worlds collide
Rival nations
It’s a primitive clash
Venting years of frustrations
Bravely we hope
Against all hope
There is so much at stake
Seems our freedom’s up
Against the ropes
Does the crowd understand?
Is it East versus West
Or man against man
Can any nation stand alone

Once again, the imagery of freedom (USA) over communism (Soviet Union) is portrayed both in the movie and in its theme song.

Do we as Americans still understand the evils of communism? Do we still portray this message in our movies, shows, and songs? Is freedom celebrated? Is victory celebrated?

Overall, it seems that our culture not only ignores the evils of communism but celebrate it. As a whole, my generation does not understand what communism represents like my parents’ generation did in the 1980’s. Many young adults believe communism and socialism are acceptable ideologies. With that being said, I do believe that there are still many Americans that understand the dangers of communism. For example, the Winter Olympics recently took place in Beijing, China. Many individuals chose not to watch the Olympics in order to protest the Chinese Communist Party. As a result, the ratings of the 2022 Olympics were the lowest in history. This is proof that many individuals disapprove of the Chinese government and their treatment of their citizens. Our convictions and actions can cause change.

For years there has been a battle between Communism and Freedom. History has shown us that when Communism threatened the United States, the United States came out on top. But will that always be the case? I hope and pray that my generation will learn to stand up for freedom. To do so, we must educate ourselves on the dangers of communism. We need to study history and how different ideologies have impacted society. We need to use our voices and say what we know to be true.

And maybe even adopt some of the fighting spirit that Team USA displayed on February 22, 1980.

 As coach Herb Brooks said, “This is your time. Now go out there and take it!”