“Let us compete. That which can produce the most goods for the people, will be the better system and it will win.” — Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev, Premier of the Soviet Union, “Kitchen Debate” with Richard Nixon, 1959.

Born in tsarist Russia in 1894, the son of peasants, Nikita Krushchev remembers holding his pants up with a string and feeling fortunate to have a pair of shoes. His political career was established in the collectivization of agricultural, a major policy initiative of Joseph Stalin. He personalized leadership of the Soviet Union with his style, once pounding his shoe on the podium at the United Nations, and in another speech boasting to capitalist countries that communism “will bury you.” He believed communism would overtake capitalism by providing more to the consumer.

Roswell Garst, an Iowa farmer who built his enterprise on innovation, thought of the Soviet Union as an opportunity not an adversary. He viewed the Cold War from the concern of having hungry and desperate people with a finger on the nuclear trigger, a risk that could be reduced through exchange and trade. Working through the tangled diplomatic protocol of the Cold War, he was able to meet Nikita Khrushchev and convince him to visit his Coon Rapids, Iowa farm in 1959.

Growing up in Ames, Iowa I experienced the Cold War as many baby boomers did, practicing nuclear attack drills and speculating how many minutes it would take fallout to reach us from the nearest target. Watching Sputnik cross the night sky, underscored the reality of the time that the communist ideology was a threat. It was with mixed feelings that I went with my Cub Scout den to catch a glimpse of the man so intent on destroying our way of life, his itinerary included a stop at an Iowa State University research farm.

We were not able to get a clear view of Khrushchev’s face, only his bald brow as he moved about surrounded by politicians and security. While there, a woman approached with a smile and extended her hand in greeting to each of us, she was Nina Khrushchev. Our uniforms of blue shirt and yellow neckerchief may have reminded her of Komsomolets, members of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League. The experience is a reminder there is a human element to every conflict.

Wurtsmith Air Force Base closed in 1993, evidence of “mutually assured destruction,” a policy of the Cold War ending, with capitalism the apparent victor. Humankind is more complicated than an ideological split, making the debate over the rising cost and dwindling supply of food a tough issue to deal with. In frustration, consumers will place responsibility on ruling politicians. It is bigger than that.

The invasion of Ukraine has been rationalized by Vladimir Putin as a fight against “Russia-phobia,” a plot by imperialist nations and lead by the United States to end sovereignty of the 1,000-year country, canceling its culture, destroying its spiritual values, moral principles, and historical memory It has been a long time since we have been challenged, let us show we have still got what it takes to win.

“We need a food system that meets the environmental and the health needs of populations across the globe, while also providing economic support for all the actors and stakeholders across the food system, That’s a just and sustainable food system.” — Ertharin Cousin.

Tom Brindley grew up in Iowa, and studied journalism and accounting. He is a retired controller from Alpena Community College and has been active in local nonprofit organizations. He can be reached at bindletom@hotmail.com. Read him here the first and fifth Thursday of each month.