Maybe it's a mid-life thing for us boomers, but I'm finding that the
Cold War is one of those things for which I frequently have to remind
myself that younger folks have no frame of reference. I'm surprised
how much of my mental baseline was composed of USA/Soviet tensions.

Nuclear weapons are still a threat, but the prospect of Soviet ICBMs
raining from the sky has faded deeper from my awareness. Bomb shelter
films are now almost humorous, and the "kiss your ass goodbye" drills
are gone.

Culturally, the Cold War was a rich field from which sprang some good
spy novels from LaCarre, Clancy, & others. The better Bond movies had
"red menace" overtones.

I began realizing this in conversations with my Russian coworker. We
share some intercultural humor, and I was recommending that he watch
"Dr. Strangelove". From the west's perspective, it's excellent dark
humor, but I wonder if he'll "get it". Without palpable Cold War
tensions, I'm not sure it's as funny.

For his part, he strongly suggested I read the "Life and Adventures of
Soldier Chonkin" if I wanted a humorously accurate portrait of the
Soviet system. Sounds interesting.

/rambling

Joe F.