Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 1980, Page 42

Description:	Afghanistan, marking the first time sinceWorld War II they had crossed the Iron Curtain to overthrow a government. This moveespecially was dangerous to the Westernworld because the Russians had movedwithin 350 miles of the Arabian Sea, the oillifeline. President Carter responded thatthe action was a callous violation of international law and U.N. charter. The U.S.began a technology embargo and cut backon grain shipments.Perhaps the most controversial decisionwas Carters announcement that the U.S.would boycott the Moscow Summer Olympic Games, if the Russians did not withdrawtheir forces by March 23. After the deadlinepassed without Russian withdrawal, a groupof athletes went to court to challenge theconstitutionality of Carters action s. Thecourts upheld the boycott.In national news, as gas prices soared tomore than a dollar a gallon, an emphasiswas placed on conserving fossil fuels. Alternate energy sources—including solar, windand nuclear power—received more attention.In March New Mexico became the site ofone of the nations worst prison riots. Duringthe 36-hour siege at the New Mexico StatePenitentiary, 33 inmates were killed; and theprison was virtually destroyed. Investigationfound the prison was dangerously overcrowded, intended for 800 inmates butactually holding 1136.Miami was also the site of riots, when inMay four white policemen were acquitted byan all-white six-man jury of charges thatthey had beaten a black man, ArthurMcDuffie, to death. The race riots lastedthree days, claiming 16 lives and leaving400 wounded, with property damage up to$100 million.Also in May, Urban League president Vernon Jordan was shot in Ft. Wayne, Ind.Although FBI director William Webstercalled the incident a conspiracy todeprive Jordan of his civil rights, and President Carter called it an assassinationeffort, the authorities remained mystified asto the identity of the assailant. The one witness, Marian Coleman, saw nothing. Jordanwas moved to a New York City hospital infair condition in June.Troubled Miami had more problems inMay as thousands of Cubans began to floodthe Florida coast. The freedom flotillabegan when Fidel Castro, Cuban dictator,allowed embassies in his country to opentheir doors. According to Newsweek, Castro expected no more than a few dozen malcontents to turn up. Instead, 60,000Cubans had landed in the U.S. by May 26.Carter urged the American people to greetthe refugees with open hearts and openminds; but as Castro began to clear hisprisons, Carter set up a system of priorities.First were close relatives of persons alreadyin the U.S., then long-time political prisoners, and then those who had sought refugein the embassies.As the East coast was faced with riots andrefugees, the West was confronted byMother Nature. For the first time in 60 yearsa volcano on the U.S. mainland erupted (Mt.St. Helens in Washington). As powerful asthe largest hydrogen bomb ever tested, Mt.St. Helens spewed as much ash, mud, andexploding gases as Mt. Vesuvius did wfburied Pompeii in 79. A.D. The devastresulting from the first blast was estimatbe more than $ 1 billion. The volcancerupted twice more as of June 19. Altime scientists were speculating that adome had formed, perhaps signalingend of eruptions.In February the people of the world titheir attention from boycotts, hostagespolitics to the 13th Winter OlymiAlthough the Games were not withoutbles (Lake Placid was declared to belimited state of emergency in an effchandle the transportation problems)overall national enthusiasm continuebuild. It reached its peak when for thetime in 20 years, the American hockeydefeated the Soviets and won themedal. Under the leadership of CoachBrooks and team captain Mike EruzioreAmericans compiled a 6-0-1 record. SEric Heiden also contributed to the wapatriotism as he swept all the speed e\winning an unprecedented five goldals.In sports championships Pittsburghrejoiced as the Pirates won the World !;and the Steelers won the Super Bow jUniversity of Alabama was number ccollege football, and the University of iville won the NCAA in basketball. TheYork Islanders won hockeys Stanleyas the Los Angeles Lakers took the]title. Johnny Rutherford won his third!anapolis 500, and Genuine Risk becarrfirst filly to win the Kentucky Derby Iyears.
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/1538
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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