I remember in the 1980’s wondering when (not if) the USSR was going to nuke the US. One morning I was awoken by a rumble of something exploding 20 miles away in a Pasadena chemical plant. I thought we were being nuked. It is nice not to feel that fear anymore.

Shortly after that first song came out, Vietnam got really nasty. Shortly after the second song came out, the Berlin wall and USSR fell. Just goes to show we can not predict the future.

One common thing about both songs is violence in the Middle East. But then that area has seen violence since civilization arose there.

The seeds of freedom and democracy have been spread there. We’ll see if they take root and spread. Perhaps, in 20 years, the area will be a peaceful part of the Free World.