Freedom’s Light At The End Of The Tunnel
By Mitch Berg
In 1940, war clouds were gathering on both horizons, as the nation struggled to shake off an epic downturn. There were those that said socialism was the only way to defeat totalitarianism; that, perhaps, Hitler and Stalin had the right answer to difficult times.
Into that breach, on December 9, 1940, stepped the Chicago Bears. Heavy underdogs to Sammy Baugh’s Washington Redskin juggernaut, Papa Bear George Halas and quarterback Sid Luckman led the plucky Monsters of the Midway to the most lopsided win in NFL Championship history; 73-0.
I’m not going to say the win ended the Depression and set the stage for victory in World War II – but the fact remains, we’ll never need to know if either would have happened otherwise. The Bears came through.
And in 1985, as the nation rebounded from a deep recession but struggled with Soviet power around the world, there were those who believed the Cold War was as close to going “hot” as it would ever get. This – in the days before Rejkjavik and the fall of The Wall, with Contras and Pershing Missiles and demonstrations against the US around the world – was a dire time for the US, and for democracy.
And when the nation needed it most, the Chicago Bears delivered; Jim MacMahon led the Bears to a victory that set the stage for the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the greatest period of prosperity in modern times.
Indeed, it could be said that the onset of the current electoral and economic troubles – the Dems’ win in ’06, the mortgage crisis – coincided with the Bears loss to the Baltimore Clots earlier in 2006.
So today – with times as fraught as they are – it’s good to know that The Bears are not only still there, but they are still beating up on the hated Vikings.
There is hope, my fellow Americans. It is on the horizon. And it wears Black really really dark Navy-Blue and Orange.
Courage.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am
And in 1985, as the nation rebounded from a deep recession but struggled with Soviet power around the world, there were those who believed the Cold War was as close to going “hot” as it would ever get.
And they were idiots – the Soviets of 1985 were a shadow of the Soviets of 1955 or 1965 – There is a famous Russian joke about the pretense of power of the Soviet state under the waning days of Brezhnev and Andropov.
But whatever, Oliver Stone’s gots nothing on you.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:37 am
My goodness Peev,
He’s writing about the Chicago Bears. He could have written about the Packers and linked their success under Vince Lombardi to the 6-Day War.
It’s a joke, son.
Oh, and Mitch — da Bearz wear orange and navy blue.
October 20th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Yeah, Peev, the Soviets were provoking confrontations with the U.S. around the world, like in Grenada, Angola, South Africa, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, because they knew they would lose them due to their decrepit military. Just a wee little trouble with your logic there…..
And yeah, what Mr. D. says. The Staleys wear a dark navy and orange, not black. But as long as they play the Viqueens and the Rednecks, I can still say “Go Bears!”
October 20th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
“Just a wee little trouble with your logic there…..” Logic???? BWHAHAHAHAHA. Anyway. Has it really been 23 years? Seems like just a few years ago. I am slowly turning into my father.