Beware the Red Menace

The first, and most important thing to know is that I dislike beets. I mean, I really dislike them. I will on occasion sullenly eat my beets in a social situation that calls for them. Or, I will occasionally try them to see if my palate has changed—it has yet to.

Last night, I was enjoying a beer and a whiskey at one of the local bars seeing off one of our Norwegian friends who will be off on vacation for the rest of the summer. The conversation drifted to life in Russia and his experiences there. He explained that, at times, meat was difficult to come by and people had to stand in long lines to get bread. However, it was fairly common for people to have their own vegetable gardens and a russian diet, traditionally, has been primarily vegetable dishes. Furthermore, this means that Russians have mastered many vegetarian dishes and they are to be enjoyed if at all possible.

I was with him, nodding vigorously (perhaps part of the vigor was fueled by the drinks) thinking of delicious vegetables. That is, up until he drops the bombshell that one of the vegetables that is easiest to grow in the Russian climate and is the most prolific is beets. Big, red, beets. Yuck!!! I know I made a face at hearing this. My next thought was that the stories of the Red Menace from the days of the Cold War must have been referring to beets. This gave me a whole new perspective on the cold war.

All of this passed through my mind in a micro-second and my spit-take and barking laugh at his beet comment left him, and others at the table, momentarily confused. But, the drinking and storytelling continued on.

Beets—the true red menace. I understand now...