At times, a song has the power to seize your attention. I can distinctly recall that instance, as it occurred during a much-needed respite from my nerve-wracking preparation for the comprehensive post-graduate examination at Michigan State University.
While tuning into the radio, Sting’s “Russians” began to play, and I was compelled to pause in contemplation.
The poignant lines, “We share the same biology, regardless of ideology, But what might save us, me and you, is if the Russians love their children too,” resonated with me.
Sting’s song, a fusion of new wave and art rock, emerged onto the musical landscape in 1985. This was during the Cold War between the U.S. and U.S.S.R.
Remarkably, the song’s significance has only deepened as we’ve moved into our present era.
In the current state of affairs our world invokes a sense of unease. We observe once again the brutal conflict in Gaza between Hamas and IDF (Israel Defense Forces), Ukraine, a peaceful neighbor, falling victim to an assault by Vladimir Putin’s forces, and the Philippines, a friendly neighbor, faces intimidation and harassment from Xi Jinping’s People’s Liberation Army and Militia in the South China Sea.
Here are the evocative lyrics of the song:
In Europe and America there’s a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets
Mister Krushchev said, “We will bury you”
I don’t subscribe to this point of view
It’d be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too
How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer’s deadly toy?
There is no monopoly on common senset
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too
There is no historical precedent
To put the words in the mouth of the president?
There’s no such thing as a winnable war
It’s a lie we don’t believe anymore
Mister Reagan says, “We will protect you”
I don’t subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
But what might save us, me and you
Is if the Russians love their children too
Just as Filipinos and Taiwanese cherish their children,
I fervently hope that the Chinese, too, hold a deep love for their children.
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Author’s email: efren.padilla@csueastbay.edu
