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99 Red Balloons Lyrics
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I am here again for yet another review, this time for the song that so many of us have heard, and probably like “99 Red Balloons”. Honestly, this is one of my all time favorites, both in German and in English. I understand that the lyrics of the two are slightly different, but I love the German version for itself, and the English for the message it contains.
It is no secret that the song was written during the age of the Cold War and the image the lyrics paint is something we would expect from the escalation of the situation between the two countries. But even though the cold war is over would’t we expect political powers over exaggerating a similar occurrence even now?? After all they exaggerate so many other things that are no big deal. Think about the Cuban missile crisis, now I know that it took place during the Cold War but still too many people on both sides got too antsy and exploded the situation into an almost world catastrophe. And when people get antsy about something and don't think things through terrible mistakes are made, for which other people, those that are innocent, have to pay. I mean what harm is there to take a step back and rethink the situation and the possible actions.
I guess I can see one positive thing about being hasty when you are political leader. The faster you do something the less chance there is for someone to notice what you are doing. Also, if the decision you are making is a very difficult one and there is no telling which action guarantees the correct response the faster you make the decision the less chance there is that someone will notice you mistake, if it was the mistake, in the future.
Laziness and fear for their own behinds are what drives hasty decisions of every politician, because when something that requires hard work and difficult negotiations, (like welfare reorganisation) comes to the table no one wants to be the first one to go after it. The instant leap and deadly strike of the "enemy" make you look more like a hero. The tedious work which is often required of political leaders doesn't give them enough time in the spot light, so no one wants to do it.
Thus, in our future we should expect more of the instantaneous attacks against "something" we do not understand rather than the work preformed on identifying and clarifying that "something". And hopefully we do not wind up like the end of the song where the civilization is brought down to dust. Even though the current direction we are heading predicts nothing other than dust in our future.
Dea
