Do You Believe in Miracles?

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1980 was a strange time of the United States of America. The previous 10 years included the installment of the 26th amendment, Anti War protests and women’s liberation; the Watergate scandal, NASA stopped sending man to the moon and the death of Elvis Presley. America had its 200th birthday, there was a gas crisis, and you could now play a game call “Pong” right in your very living room. In a country with such a rich and storied tradition of being the best, this time period might have been one of the lowest times in our history, especially with the Cold War going on. We did not have that faith in our government that we always had had. That was, until a group of scrappy college kids and a no-nonsense coach, made us all believe.

As the Cold War was going on, our country was losing its faith. In a excerpt from Jimmy Carter’s Crisis of Confidence speech, I think he pretty much sums of the feelings of the country and what we needed to do…

“We've always had a faith that the days of our children would be better than our own.

Our people are losing that faith, not only in government itself but in the ability as citizens to serve as the ultimate rulers and shapers of our democracy. As a people we know our past and we are proud of it…But just as we are losing our confidence in the future, we are also beginning to close the door on our past…For the first time in

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the history of our country a majority of our people believe that the next five years will be worse than the past five years…We've got to stop crying and start sweating, stop talking and start walking…The strength we need will not come from the White House, but from every house in America.” (Carter)

During the Cold War, the Unit...

... middle of paper ...

...ch save after clutch save. Jimmy made 39 saves in all. Were the Russians usually win games, as I stated earlier, is in the 3rd period when your wore down and they take advantage of you, but not this game. Under Herb Brooks, the Americans were the best conditioned team in the world. And as time expired, everyone know the famous line Al Michaels screams in excitement: “Do you believe in miracles? YES!” Every time I hear that, I just get the goose bumps. It is a line that will always be remembered. The Soviets couldn’t believe it. They just lost to a bunch of 21 year olds.

Two days later the Americans finished the job, defeating Finland for the Gold medal. In every single game, the United States came from behind to win. That game against the USSR gave America hope again. If a bunch of college kids could over come all the odds, why wouldn’t the rest of the country?

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