No, it’s not chewing gum being exchanged. Of course, it was the time of real shortage in the communist stalwarts, the “Soviet Union” and German Democratic Republic or better known then as “East Germany.” The entourage in the background does look a little pissed-off that they’re not getting some, that is of the chewing gum! USSR Communist Party Secretary Leonid Brezhnev and East German leader Eric Honecker exchanged this “Brotherhood Kiss” in 1979. It might have as well as been the kiss of death. In a decade, the Iron Curtain was penetrated like a wedding night of a couple saving themselves through a 35year engagement. Brezhnev was gone and the Soviet Union – the USSR - soon thereafter. (Now I’m more likely to hear "Back in the USSR" on a classic rock station playing the Beatles than on the political channel). East Germany was absorbed by Germany and Angela Merkel went from being a “comrade” to leader of the “free world’s” most resilient free market economy. Honecker went from most feared man in East Germany to Defendant to plain Herr, (not the plane Jane kind but MR. type), to Senor in exile in Chile, where he became the late Eric Honecker. It would be fun to say, but I don’t really know if he found God in the solitude of the Andes or dreamed of that kiss with the Communist semi-God Brezhnev. Looking at the picture, it appears to my eye that Mr. Honecker was under a bit of pressure to perform. After all,neighbor Czechoslovakia had just been raped by Soviet troops only 10 or so years earlier. But, they do look like they have good form, certainly better practiced than Bono and Mo. --- By Susan Sacirbey Find me at Face Book at "Diplomatically Incorrect" and "Diplomat Artist" Twitter - DiplomaticallyX