Throughout history there have been circumstances where individuals have triumphed in situations where the odds were stacked against them. For example, we all remember learning in American History how an unmatched Continental Army took on the all powerful and expertly trained and well armed British Army of red coats and against all odds, won the Revolutionary War and independence for the thirteen United States of America. Consider the young Allied Forces who joined WWII in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy and the victory which eventually led to the end of the war and freedom for Europe from the Nazis. Think about the first crew that landed on the moon and then made it back to earth safely or Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech and it’s powerful words, not only stirred citizens of his era, but countless others since. Remember the victory for Barack Obama, the first time he ran for President on November 8, 2008? I recall thinking at the time, every black American child, including those who had been in my own classrooms, can now look at him and say, “If he can do it, maybe I can too.” Events through history right up to most recently, July 13, when former President Trump stood, after taking a shot to the ear in an assassination attempt, with blood running down his face and gave the fist pump to show those who came to see him, and the rest of the world watching, that he had not been killed and he was ready to fight for the Presidency again.
It’s not just historical moments that show us the triumph of the human spirit, but athletic challenges and victories as well. Recently, I saw the movie “The Boys in the Boat” and the movie did a good job of showing excitement the entire country had for the University of Washington men’s crew team that made it to the Olympics and brought home the gold in 1933 in Munich, Germany. Consider the victory of the US Olympic Hockey Team in 1980 at Lake Placid, first beating the Soviets, in that Miracle on Ice game in the medal round and then winning the gold medal two days later by beating Finland. Most of the Soviet players were basically pros and had won the gold five times in the previous six Olympic Games. The US team was a group of young and much less experienced, non-professional players. Back then, only amateurs were allowed to compete (that actually was the overall rule, however, many countries paid their athletes, which gave those countries an unfair leg up). As a twelve-year-old at the time of the Montreal Olympics back in 1976, I remember watching intently as Nadia Comaneci scored one perfect 10 after another as a thirteen-year-old gymnast from Romania. I remember the white leotard she wore with the Romanian colors in stripes up the sleeves. That Olympic Games also introduced us to Mark Spitz who went on to win 7 gold medals and Bruce Jenner, who’s victory at age twenty-six, winning the gold medal for the decathlon, won him a spot on the Wheaties box also. It’s hard not to remember Carl Lewis’s winning smile as he won 4 gold medals in the Los Angeles Games in 1984. Not only the Olympics but events like World Series, Super Bowls, College Football Championships and Grand Slams have been examples of great viewing moments but events to inspire generation of people.
These memorable events, photographed, illustrated and recorded throughout history are examples of how the human spirit can triumph over incredible circumstances, sometimes physical, spiritual, adverse, or personal to conquer a moment, opponent, enemy or evil force. As fellow humans, citizen, country men/women, we too rejoice in their resilience to overcome obstacles to be victorious. These moments can inspire children and all of us to reach inside of ourselves to be the best at what WE do.
We all may not be a General like Washington who led the colonies to a win against the British Crown and guided a new country in it’s infancy or a skilled orator like Martin Luther King who inspired us to judge a man (woman) by his character rather than the color of his (her) skin or a championship athlete like Novak Djokovic to win 24 Grand Slams or Tom Brady who won 7 Super Bowls. But these people who are, are human just like us. They can inspire us to be the rock stars of our own lives. That’s what I thought when I saw Nadia Comaneci back in 1976 on tv. I would never be the championship gymnast, that my contemporary was, being just one year older than myself. Yet, I could be the absolute best teacher I could be someday. When I look at three of my favorite students and the adults they grew into, I think I did…
It’s a Great Day!
