This week, we honor two of the most revered American figures, Washington and Lincoln, with extraordinary car sales and school holidays. In addition to President's Day, there are several other events with astounding cultural impact in the fields of literature, athletics and history worth remembering this week.
"Huckleberry Finn" -- first on every high school English reading list and a past reading assignment for many University students -- was first published Feb. 18, 1885. The book's author, Samuel Clemens (better known as Mark Twain) was received with great acclaim across the nation. His book, however, has been the center of much controversy and debate to this day because of its discussion of racial conflict and its colorful language.
Despite any controversy, Huck Finn is one of the most beloved American literary characters today, and the novel itself is one of the most widely read nationwide.
Bookworms aren't the only ones with cause to celebrate this week; athletic fans also have a reason to look back on sports history this week. During the 1980 Olympics, the United States ice hockey team seemingly stood no chance against its formidable opponent from the Soviet Union. During this period of heightened conflict between the two world powers, viewers everywhere couldn't wait to see the outcome of the highly anticipated game. America turned the arena upside down Feb. 22 when it defeated the four-time gold-medal Soviet team. The down-to-the-second upset was not only an athletic triumph, but also a symbolic victory over America's Cold War enemy.
"I feel like it was one of those things that the public gets behind and is united by," first-year College student Michael Mahoney said. "Similar to the landing on the moon, it doesn't mean anything but stands for something huge."
The historical significance of this week also extends beyond the Cold War.
When asked, any American can easily recognize the iconic image of six men raising the American flag after the bloody battle at Iwo Jima. It was 62 years ago Feb. 23, after a harrowing victory, the American flag was raised on Mount Suribachi, the highest point on the island. Recreated as one of the most popular monuments in our nation's capital and forever immortalized on everything from books to sweatshirts and mugs, the Pulitzer Prize-winning image is a staple image of American achievement.
"Our own national anthem is about the flag remaining in the air as a symbol of our strength," third-year College student Keith Page said. "When I see a flag being raised, it reminds me of the strength of our own nation and how it can survive through war and bad times"
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