Strung Out Episode 229: WORLD ROUNDUP (FROM THE COUCH)

Welcome to Strung Out, the podcast where artist, writer, and musician Martin Laurence McCormack explores life through the creative lens. In this episode, Marty dives into the complexities of the holiday season and its impact on booking interviews. He provides a thoughtful analysis of recent political events, including the consequences of Trump's re-election and Biden pardoning his son, Hunter. Marty discusses the dissolving democracy in South Korea, the ongoing struggles in Ukraine, and the resilience of Ukraine and Russia's military engagements. He also highlights the importance of supporting a free and varied press and offers news consumption tips. Tune in for a mix of art, music, and introspection on current global affairs. Don't forget to subscribe and visit martinmccormack.com for more content.

Transcript

[00:00:00] Welcome to Strung Out, the podcast that looks at life through the lens of an artist. Your host is the artist, writer, and musician, Martin Laurence McCormack. Now here's Marty. Hello everybody and welcome to Strung Out. And, uh, we are officially in the holiday season. And when the holiday season hits, it gets very difficult to get people to come in.

[00:00:29] to be able to do all the interviews that we normally do. And, uh, even simple things like, uh, uh, just trying to get, uh, the world roundup going. So, uh, you get me and you get capers, right? Capers. So welcome to the, welcome to the world roundup. Um, the last time we did this, uh, it was prior to the election, which now seems Like it was an eternity, right?

[00:01:04] And, um, The reality is, is, uh, a lot of us, uh, uh, are still figuring out just what, uh, what, what's going to happen. Uh, and it's too early to tell as far as, uh, with the second Trump administration, if it's going to follow a little more of a. I hesitate to use the word normal, but I'll just say, uh, more of the tried and true path that a lot of prior administrations have, uh, done in, uh, Washington, D.

[00:01:46] C. Um, from looking at the people that, uh, that, uh, so far have been suggested for some of these posts. It seems a little odd, uh, that, uh, a lot of these people do not have experience. So, um, We have to, we have to kind of just wait and let the process itself play itself out. Um, one of the things that, uh, we, uh, have been hearing in the news lately is, um, uh, the.

[00:02:35] Pardoning of Biden Hunter by, uh, President Joe Biden. And, uh, a lot of people are wondering how can it be that, uh, a president who said he wasn't going to, uh, pardon his son. Go back on it. I think when Biden made that pronouncement, he was making that pronouncement under the assumption that he was going to be president and that he would get reelected.

[00:03:11] And so much water went under the bridge, uh, that, that, uh, you know, when it became obvious that, uh, Trump won the election and now that things are unfolding, I think he made the right decision. If it was me, I would probably say, wait a second. Uh, I can't trust. What's going to happen to my son, uh, coming down the pike.

[00:03:41] And so I think that he, uh, he made the right decision and people get pardoned in the past for all sorts of, uh, uh, various misdemeanors and crimes. Um, every president. This, uh, it's a weird thing for them to hear the pardon, but I think in the big term of a democracy, it's okay. It's, it's kind of that final escape valve.

[00:04:13] For, uh, things that maybe are wrong and need to be set right. Can it be used in an abusive manner? Sure. Of course it can. Um, you know, I, I remember that, uh, Jimmy Carter, uh, pardoned his brother, Billy, uh, Carter and, um, you know, Billy Carter was one of these guys that just was a little, uh, little off his nut, you know, and, uh, students of history would.

[00:04:45] Probably find him quaint and charming now. In the case of Biden Hunter, you can't argue that he is, uh, totally apolitical because he indeed did get involved in some business dealings. Was he a private citizen? Yeah. Uh, did he have, you know, uh, a problem with his, uh, addictions and such? Yeah, he did. Should he have been gone after?

[00:05:21] Uh, the way he was gone after, probably not. So it's kind of, uh, interesting to hear people freaking out about it and saying, Oh, Joe Biden went back on his, his thing, uh, you know, his promise, but really get a grip, um, you know, president Biden made a smart decision and probably, hopefully, uh, saved the day.

[00:05:50] All of us, um, some, some embarrassing and agonizing stuff with the sentencing of Hunter Biden. And, uh, again, I just feel like that guy has been dragged through the mud enough. And, uh, his dad now is going to go into the history books and hopefully Hunter Biden goes off into the sunset somewhere and just lives the remainder of his life quietly.

[00:06:21] So that's that with that. And like I said, with the rest of the transition of the government and that, we just are going to have to see what's going to happen. Um, it's too early. It's, uh, we know that one of the things about Donald Trump is he spews a lot of rhetoric, a lot of, um, uh, things that are emotional, um, and, uh, you know, will the checks and balances of the society hold?

[00:06:54] I don't know. Um, remains to be seen, but if there's anything that came out in this week's news that should give. People who are afraid that people do not have the power, they should take, uh, note of what went, uh, what happened in South Korea. The president of South Korea declared martial law. Now this is something that had not been declared in South Korea, uh, since the 1980s and during that time that Korea was, uh, the military, uh, didn't have its rightful place, uh, it kind of was throwing its weight around, uh, something we haven't seen in this country, thankfully.

[00:07:52] Um, but that's, that's what, uh, this President Yoon, uh, decided that he would try the old martial law idea to clamp down on opposition. Um, it seems from what I've read and listened to that this president had a lot of opposition. And he wasn't getting his way, so he went for the, I'll show you, I'm going to, uh, bring in the military, I'm going to clamp down on all my, uh, dissidents and opposition, uh, in the political party, uh, that's opposing me, and, um, I'm also going to clamp down on the press.

[00:08:44] So, the South Korean people rose up, and in all of two hours, the, uh, president had to rescind his martial law, uh, order. What is the good news in it for all of us? Well, the good news in it for all of us, it's, uh, if you want to try to, uh, Pull some, glean some good news out of it, is that, um, people can still stand up to the government.

[00:09:17] If, by any chance, for whatever reason, uh, the second Trump administration proves to be something dangerous, um, we still have the power to resist. And that's something that, uh, we have to take into account, is the people of South Korea, uh, showed us. How'd I do it? So, we have to understand for any government, Democrat, Republican, whoever comes in and is holding power, has to understand that, especially in the United States, the average person is not going to just take that line down.

[00:10:16] You don't want it to get to that point, but sometimes that happens. And so that's Where we're at though, uh, the South Korean people have shown other democracies that when push comes to shove, they're going to stand up. Where else is that happening right now in Georgia, the Georgia Republic, where the prime minister of that country.

[00:10:46] leaning and certainly is pro Russian. Uh, Georgia is where Stalin came from, and, uh, it's, uh, right in Russia's backyard. But they want to be part of the European Union. And, uh, of course they've been, uh, squelched quite a bit. And, uh, Russia, uh, did a war, uh, against Georgia in which, um, it was, it's kind of a, a blueprint for how they're acting with Ukraine.

[00:11:19] They, uh, said, Oh, these parts of Georgia want to be, you know, uh, self determining and they brought in their troops. They fought, uh, a very, very weak Georgian army. And, uh, The Georgian army lost. This land now is basically Russian. And what was left is kind of a fiefdom, uh, at least by, uh, those that want to curry Russia's favor.

[00:11:51] And, uh, the majority of the people, though, are protesting and standing up against it because they want to be free and part of the European Union. So a weak democracy. We're the people are standing up against, uh, autocracy in two instances this week so far that, uh, uh, shown us that democracy is still the way to go.

[00:12:26] And. Ultimately, it comes down to the people to fight for your right to live free. We'll see what happens here in the good old United States of America within, uh, the next, uh, seven weeks or so. Wish we didn't have to, but, uh, that's where it's at. We're going to take a short break right here, and we'll come back with more of the World Roundup.

[00:12:57] You are on strong out. Hello, subscribers. It's autumn here at Marty's Outdoor Studio, but the easel holds the jolly winter energy of Marty's 2024 holiday painting. Announcing, Dashing Through the Snow freezes the light footed action of two red foxes racing toward us while the jewel tones of the northern lights fill the sky with magic and wonder.

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[00:13:58] Click the merch button. Select Dashing Through the Snow image and order multiple sets for your chance to win the tote bag. Our way of saying thank you for supporting Martin McCormick and Marty Fine Art. I

[00:14:34] can't wait. For Christmas. I hope you can't wait to,

[00:14:45] there's a present that I have, I want to give to you.

[00:14:56] It's wrapped up and it's ready, Not too hard to miss. I can't wait to see you my dear, And give you a Christmas kiss. It's a tingle and a jingle, And it's a ho, ho, ho.

[00:15:30] It'll warm you from your eggnog and to the tips of your mistletoe toe toes. I can't wait for Christmas,

[00:15:46] you've been on my list. You're the very first and only one to get my world's finest. Christmas kiss. Take it away, Paul.

[00:16:48] I can't wait for Christmas. I hope it. Feel the same share of one of happiness harder than a yule log's flame. It can't be found in a store, but it's quite priceless to show the world you have a place. My heart is my Christmas kid. It's a tingle and a jingle. It's a ho, hoo, hoo. It'll warm you from your egg noggin to the tips of your mistletoe.

[00:17:55] I can't wait for Christmas,

[00:18:00] you've been on my list.

[00:18:06] You're the very first and only one to get my Christmas kiss. You're the very first and only one to get my Christmas kiss. Yeah, you're the very first and the only one To get my world's finest Christmas kiss

[00:18:43] World's finest Christmas kiss Nothin but the very best for you. Comin at ya, my world's finest Christmas gift. And we're back. I'm here with Capers the Wonder Dog, who is just having a great day.

[00:19:17] What else is going on in the world right now that we should be taking note of? Well, one of the ramifications of Trump being reelected is what's happening to the brave people in Ukraine. Will they be able to achieve their repulsion?

[00:19:43] Of Russia, and it's difficult to kind of see, uh, right now the troops, they don't have the troops. They're exhausted. Um, the aid that they're getting from, uh, Europe and the United States has brought the conflict to some degree to a stalemate. Thank you. But there are some interesting things that are going on in the world that even with the Trump administration coming in and Trump, uh, you know, it wants to, uh, end things by making some sort of transactional deal with Ukraine and Russia.

[00:20:31] I don't know how that's going to go, but where is the good news here? I think the good news is from what I've been reading and again what I have seen, uh, is that there is a lot of, uh, Russian forces that have been stretched to the point where I don't think this is going to be that sustainable for Russia.

[00:21:01] One of the reasons is, is the rebels in Syria just this week captured Aleppo, second largest city in that country. That's a huge thing. they are basically knockin back the ally of Russia, uh, uh, Bashar and, uh, Bashar Assad. And, uh, he, uh, he is, uh, of course, propped up by Russia. This means that Russia has to expend some sort of military energy to, once again, prop up that regime, if it's going to, uh, Uh, if Assad is going to survive, it looks like right now the rebels do have a lot of momentum and how interesting, uh, if Russia loses.

[00:22:01] Russia also has been losing in Africa and some of these, uh, uh, campaigns and that, that, uh, a lot of their mercenaries have been involved in. So,

[00:22:15] again, with the, uh, even the conflict in Georgia, that's something which their energies are, are being dissipated, uh, trying to see if they can mitigate this uprising. So you have a lot of things on the, uh, on the, uh, burners for Putin to deal with. And the conflict in Russia is not going that well.

[00:22:50] That said, Ukraine, uh, it's anybody's guess if Ukraine can continue to hold out with, uh, they, it's amazing that they haven't, uh, recruited younger people to serve. Right now, um, uh, 18 year olds are exempt. I think 20 year olds are exempt. Uh, it's, it's really, uh, the, the people that are serving are older and, um, So it's amazing in that sense that their recruitment, uh, has been, uh, uh,

[00:23:32] just for those older people. Uh, I find that, uh, if it was a regular, you know, the United States in World War II, I mean, you had 18 year olds going off to fight. I think an 18 year old in World War II would be the equivalent of a 25 year old now. So is Ukraine, uh, doing the right thing or shouldn't they just be going all out?

[00:24:01] I don't know. I mean, uh, it's, it just seems to me that, um, uh, I really feel for the Ukrainian people at this point. Um, because, uh, they have been fighting this huge machine now for two years. And, um, with kind of like an IV drip of weaponry coming in from the West and democracies are usually. Horribly slow to address, uh, threats to their own democracies.

[00:24:36] And Russia has been waging a war against the West now. Um, undeclared, but might as well be declared by their actions. A lot of, uh, sabotage. A lot of, uh, the attack went through, uh, false media and, and things like that. So, uh, again, with the changing of the guard here in the United States, I think we are going to really have a come to Jesus moment on how things are going to work out in Ukraine.

[00:25:19] Um, certainly the, uh, Donald Trump, uh, Think we'll not try to, uh, continue along the same. So, uh, it's really, uh, up to the European governments to see if they can step up to the plate here. Um, it's, it's heartbreaking in the sense that, uh, the investment that has been made thus far. In trying to protect Ukraine has been kind of small when you think about it from the West.

[00:26:14] And we're pretty, pretty bad at playing chess with the Russians. Um, I, I think that, uh, the fact that we finally, with Biden, because North Korean troops that are on the scene allowed, uh, the ATACMS and some of the other missiles now to actually be fired into Russia. Um, it's, it's just in some ways too little too late.

[00:26:41] We can't have Ukraine fall. And this is where I think we have to understand from, uh, a transactional thing, if you want to think of it that way, like Trump, um, the reality is, is that the investment that has been made to protect democracy hasn't been fully invested in by the West, but needs to be. Or else we're going to, uh, it's, it's just going to continue on, you know, Russia, Putin is at war with all of us.

[00:27:27] And even though he hasn't declared it such, he has made it known just through the way he views the West. So what's going to happen with Ukraine? Again, I think we're going to have to see what the European people do. Um, and those that are isolationist in the United States, and they think that, you know, we've done our share and we should just sit back and watch things happen, we've already seen what happens when there is a vacuum.

[00:28:08] And the United States isn't proactive. Uh, and you have to ask yourself, who do you want to fill that vacuum? If not us, then who? And we don't live in a world anymore that, uh, is free from, uh, where we have oceans guarding us, just doesn't exist.

[00:28:33] So I'm very sad about Ukraine. And I, I, I'm just praying that, that they can continue to bleed out the Russians. And that a miraculous collapse of the Russian government, the Russian economy, and a changing of heart by the Russian military against their leadership that have been sending waves and waves and waves of Russian soldiers into a meat grinder.

[00:29:02] All this will coalesce into the toppling of the current regime that's in Russia. There'd be a wonderful Christmas gift. Let's hope it happens. Gonna take another break here, and I hope you're enjoying the holiday music that, uh, I've written for an album that should be coming out one of these days, so. I also want to encourage you to please click and subscribe to this, uh, Martin McCormick channel.

[00:29:35] There's a lot of great things going on with art, with music, with, uh, the Mr. Murdy show, and of course with Strung Out. And you are listening to and watching Strung Out. We'll be back.

[00:29:59] Hello, subscribers, and welcome to Inside Views of Marty Fine Art, where people are talking about their collected works by artist Martin L. McCormick, like this plein air watercolor titled River Bower, Donegal, Ireland, recently purchased by Cindy Roby. A trip to Ireland was such a gift, even more so. It's the forever reminder of the trip we had through Marty's painting, River Bower, Donegal.

[00:30:30] It is a beautiful rendition of a path we actually had the pleasure of walking. Marty masterfully captured the light through the trees, the gentle breeze, and the brilliance of the fall colored leaves. It truly embodies the peace and tranquility of Ireland. We will remember it always. Along with the friendships made and the memories that this unforgettable painting inspires.

[00:31:00] Thank you for supporting Marty Fine Arts, Cindy. Additional originals and prints and merchandise of all of Marty's art can be purchased at martinmccormick. com.

[00:31:33] I believe

[00:31:39] it's a gift we can give again and again.

[00:31:48] Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, my friend. We have the power to eliminate hate.

[00:32:13] A world without fear, wouldn't that be great?

[00:32:21] Merry

[00:32:25] Mer Sr.

[00:32:48] Don't.

[00:32:53] Even if they act like Scrooge, call you a fool, say you're a stooge, Don't give up, don't run away.

[00:33:08] It costs not a penny, needs no ribbon or bow.

[00:33:15] Can't get it online, it's yours to grow.

[00:33:25] Christmas,

[00:33:28] Christmas,

[00:33:32] Christmas.

[00:34:22] Lead with your heart, don't be afraid.

[00:34:29] Even if they act like Scrooge, call you a fool, say you're a stooge. Don't give up, don't run away. It's a wonderful life if we only believe.

[00:34:52] Better to than to receive

[00:35:00] Christmas.

[00:35:04] Christmas.

[00:35:09] My

[00:35:18] merry.

[00:35:22] Merry Christmas Merry Christmas my friends

[00:35:55] And we're back and We're on the world roundup the final part that I want to focus on is Even though the previous two little sections yes capers. I know the previous Sections have been Look at that. It's, Capers is saying, one more point to make. I get it. Um,

[00:36:26] there is good news in all of this. And, uh, I think the, the good news from the first section is that we have to remind ourselves that the average person, when we work together, when we come together, we do and can muster great power. And, uh, we're seeing that going on in the world. And with Russia, in the second section, uh, with Ukraine, even though right now it just has been a, a stalemate, a slugfest, Ukraine is exhausted, Russia is slowly It's very slowly, uh, it's, it's starting to fray.

[00:37:13] So I, I do remain hopeful in spite of sadness that we in the West, and especially in the United States, uh, don't have the cojones to, to step up to Russia like they should be. Uh, stepped up to. And then in this final section, we have to look at the idea of, uh, what

[00:37:47] we need to do in this country to be a little more accountable. And, uh, the area that I think Right now, we're engaged in some deep soul searching in the United States is with the press, and I've talked about this before, but it's worth repeating this last campaign, uh, season, the press in the United States is, um, is under A great deal of stress.

[00:38:18] And the reason why is it is the fairness act, uh, was abolished. Uh, the, uh, the whole regulation of the airwaves has been deregulated. And, uh, that has allowed these big, you know, um, monoliths like Fox News and, uh, MSNBC and CNN, and that to exist,

[00:38:49] we have to kind of get back to local and, uh, we have to regulate again, I don't think that will happen with the next administration as it hasn't happened with this current administration. It's an idea in which the. You know, the, the press has always been treated as the other branch of government that really isn't named.

[00:39:20] And, uh, in the, the system of checks and balances, a free press, and I, I'll add the term, a varied press, is necessary in order for the country to be healthy. But what we also have is, because the press is unregulated, You have a lot of stuff that's unsubstantiated. You have outright lies. You have a lot of, uh, uh, stretching of the truth.

[00:39:49] You have a lot of opinions. And all that stuff creates a lot of mental chaos, uh, for people. And you have to ask yourself, well, where do I turn? Where do I get, uh, good news? Uh, and where do I get honest news? In the past I've mentioned, uh, there are a couple sites, uh, that do help, uh, winnow out, um, the, the, the lies and the fabrications from just facts.

[00:40:26] 1440, which is a web based news site, it's named after the year that the printing press was made. I really suggest that you Google that and jump on it. Here's the problem with this stuff. It's not sexy. And, uh, in other words, you don't have the, you know, uh, situation room and you don't have the Fox and friends and all the glitz and stuff, it's just back to the news.

[00:40:56] So we ourselves, again, as people, we have to change our consuming habits when it comes to. The news and we can't listen. We can't afford to listen to just one side. We have to just get back to what is news and then what can we do, uh, locally, uh, to help our communities and help, um, our government on a local level, um, because we're, you know, we've elected our officials and hopefully God will still, uh, extend his grace on this country and we will be able to, uh, march ahead with a democracy.

[00:41:50] And, um, that's it for now. And I hope to get back with, uh, some more interviews. Um, and, uh, we will see. It's always, like I said, it's always weird during the holiday season. And, um, uh, Usually things kind of, uh, go on hiatus until January, uh, so, uh, even though, uh, I will, I will try to keep these, uh, podcasts going during, uh, this time, but everybody's busier than soon, so that just means that it's really difficult to get interviews.

[00:42:30] And, uh, I don't know how much anybody has the stomach of sitting and listening to me, uh, go on and on, but that's it for now. Um, from, uh, myself and my sidekick today, Capers, I will talk to you again soon. Very soon. Thanks for listening. Thanks for watching. Bye. Bye Thank you for listening for more information about this show or a transcript visit martinmccormack.

[00:43:01] com While there sign up for our newsletter. See you next time on strung out