Strung Out Episode 232: THE RESPECT PERSPECTIVE WITH MARCUS GENTRY

In this compelling episode of Strung Out, host Martin Laurence McCormack is joined by longstanding speaker and educator Marcus Gentry, also known as Dr. Respect. They dive deep into critical conversations about the moral crisis facing society today, focusing on the intricate topic of self-respect and the consequences of living in an increasingly desensitized world. Marcus draws on his extensive experience to discuss how the constant influx of information can numb our capacity for compassion and empathy, leading to a societal shift where popularity overrides accuracy and self-respect. Together, they explore the impact of social media, the challenge of maintaining respect in a distracting world, and practical ways to cultivate self-awareness and dignity. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges the conventional narrative and offers meaningful insights into restoring respect in our daily lives.

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 Lawrence McCormack. Now here's Marty. Welcome back to Strung Out here, and this is a special, uh, Uh, uh, show, uh, series that we go, uh, we're doing with my friend Marcus Gentry here, who for about 40 years has been a speaker, has studied, respect, has gone by the name of Dr.

[00:00:34] Respect for a lot of different, uh, places of education and inspiration. I'll leave it at that, uh, because, uh, hopefully you have seen the first podcast. We're keeping it very casual here, um, and talking about something though that is not casual. Yes, we are in a, um, a moral crisis, I, I would say, and, um, I'll use moral with a little m, um, because we talked about in the last podcast about respect, people can live in a world much.

[00:01:12] Without respect, without self respect. I always think of like ancient Rome, like, you know, I kind of think like gladiators, you know. People kind of have their bread, bread and circuses and when they have those distractions, is what you talked about, that gives them a tendency to be able to not be in touch with reality, therefore not look at themselves.

[00:01:37] And, you break down your Talking about respect into four areas and the first one was respective self. Yes. So let's focus on that We're in a bread and circuses world again. It seems maybe we never left it. I don't know um, but We're in a time period where anybody can be whatever they want to be really if they want to to some degree um, but yet the the idea of what You You should be maybe has been misconstrued in terms of respect.

[00:02:17] Uh, you know, what's your thoughts about that? Um, well, in listening to you talk about that, I think about whether or not think about what How compassion plays into this and how we have lost compassion for fellow humans for each other. And because I didn't just start thinking about this, I've been considering whether we have lost the capacity for compassion because we're so overloaded with information and traumatic information all the time.

[00:02:56] Um, The first time I remember being shocked by it was, I think it was, it could have been 9 11 when the situation happened and I went to a particular school in the south suburbs to talk to a student, I was working in school systems then, and I went to a school to offer supportive services for some of the students who May have been emotionally impacted by what happened, and they weren't emotionally impacted.

[00:03:31] They didn't appear to be. It didn't seem to, it was almost as if they were watching a movie. So that was the first time I was kind of shocked by that. So it didn't impact everybody the same way. So now we fast forward to right now, and you hear about three or four people being killed in Israel. Or somewhere else in another country and you don't raise an eyebrow.

[00:04:00] You don't miss a meal. You don't have a moment of silence. You don't do anything because you just heard the day before 50 people being killed in another place and 25 people or a plane going down and three people dying. And you, you almost turn on the news for entertainment as opposed to Truly information.

[00:04:22] And so with us getting so much of that, so often now, when you hear of a death or even a killing, you don't really raise an eyebrow, you're waiting for the next piece of breaking news. So what I believe it's doing is causing us to have a lack of capacity for compassion for fellow humans. And now that shows up.

[00:04:48] In homes, uh, in businesses and in day-to-day interactions in traffic in the grocery store. Yeah. Uh, just recently in the news that 15-year-old girl in Madison, Wisconsin that shoots up her school just saw that. And, um, I saw that. So this is, uh, a threat to, or, or a roadblock to respect. Then I hear you saying is, uh, can we call it what?

[00:05:14] Desensitization. Desensitization. Yeah, desensitization. So even in, in thinking about the incident that you mentioned of the, the girl who shot the, the people in the school, you know, a few days later, people are waiting for the next breaking news. I mean, how many people were really disturbed about hearing that or just said, or just shook their head and say, oh, that's a shame and went on about their regular day.

[00:05:41] And I guess you ask her, well, what can you do about it? And that's. That's kind of what happens when you get overwhelmed with so much information and the brain almost shuts down because what can you do becomes the question that allows you to Give it a lack of prioritization in your whole awareness because you hear so much of it.

[00:06:06] So the brain naturally dulls, mutes that part of the story out. So you don't have emotion connected to it. I like that even better that we're dulling the dulling of the mind or the dulling of the spirit. Yeah. Maybe is that where we're at? Yeah. Because, uh, um, you can. You're not truly processing this, you're just, you're treading water then, is what you're saying.

[00:06:31] Yeah. Is that, uh, so much of it's coming at you and, uh, all the time. All the time. And, you know, one of the things, uh, uh, a lot of, uh. tactics used by people trying to force their will on other people is to overwhelm them. Yes, that's true. That is true. With facts or, or not real facts or, uh, you know, um, you know, I think it was Joseph Goebbels who said, you know, tell a lie often enough and people will start believing it.

[00:07:01] You know, the Nazi, uh, director of propaganda. We're in, uh, you know, You know, he would have had a field now if he was living now, right? Because it's so much easier. It seems isn't it though? What and and where do you classify then the people that are making false? Narratives as well, uh again through social media We have this like, uh, you know, you always hear the echo chamber, but people like that because of why?

[00:07:33] Why is that because that fills that void where respect should be? Well, it's popular. And like I said, it feels good. I mean, there are studies, people who study the brain, um, and such, you know, talk about chemicals that's released by the constant, um, releasing of information. So it's more important to be popular than it is necessarily to be accurate.

[00:07:57] So if I can create something to get some attention that's more exciting than anything else So if I see a tragedy Then I'm gonna see if I can video that and then see how many likes I can get from my video No matter I'm not really concerned about the the trauma of what's happening. I'm concerned about how many likes I'm going to get So whether it's it's replacing it.

[00:08:19] It is just It's opening a new, broader arena, and I think it's exposing the character of individuals today, where many are, not all. But many are falling into that category, and I think it's wise if we just watch how we're living, how we're walking, and whether we are sleepwalking, and whether we are walking, um, led by distractions.

[00:08:50] So we're, we're talking here with Marcus Gentry on our Respect Perspective. Uh, and we're talking about respect for self, but one of the, the first pitfalls we're talking about is the idea of, uh, the dulling of, uh, the dulling of dignity. Maybe that's what we should call it. But then also that, uh, that idea of, um, There are certain things out there that we've replaced, replacing respect, replacing, uh, empathy or compassion, which lends to respect, but it's not exactly respect, I'm thinking, um, with that idea of, of self engrandizement, you know, that, that, that way you're relevant, you're liked.

[00:09:36] If you videotape that accident, like you said, and there is a circle, there's a following of that. So there is a space or room that's been created and expanding for people who like that who do that. So there is a place. So for those who say, Oh, there's not a place for that, or that's not right, that, that's, there's a following for that.

[00:09:59] Right. But there's also a following for the people who have their cameras, it's not one person with a camera, or a phone, it's several people filming that same tragedy, or that same incident, it's not just an isolated situation, it's growing. It reminds me of those people that you always hear out of, like in Yellowstone National Park that are taking selfies next to the buffalo.

[00:10:20] Right. And they're like, you know, everybody knows how this is going to end, but. They're, they're watching the train wreck. So let's take a short break and we're going to be back with more, uh, as we delve into, uh, respect, respect, perspective, we'll be back. Go to MarcusGentry. com to find out more about the programs offered by Marcus.

[00:10:46] His talks, his keynote addresses, his workshops and classes, and his Respect Awards. That's www. MarcusGentry. com Hey, want to show your support of Martin's Artist Endeavors? Buy me a coffee is an online site that makes supporting Marty easy. In just a few taps you can make a payment of any amount and no account is needed.

[00:11:15] You can also decide to become an ongoing supporter. Go to martinmccormack. com Com and click on the words support market. Let's help Martin keep it all happen.

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[00:14:32] And we're back. And, uh, the second part I just want to, uh, um, ask you, uh. We identified one distraction, one pitfall. I'm trying to come up with a good word. We'll come up with a good word. Don't worry about it. It seems to me that now that we have this social media, now that we have media that's acting socially, right?

[00:15:03] I mean, we used to have, you know, journalists that we could say, well, they're not going to Act one way or another because they're just telling the news. We, those, I mean, where do you start, Marcus, then? Do you turn to somebody like that or people or students and you say, Don't, don't go on TikTok. Don't go on, you know, I mean, how do you, let's, let's look at that.

[00:15:37] How do you, how do you become. Cognizant of respect or the lack of respect in yourself. Let's say let's let's go there because Assuming that these people is that people are kind of replacing respect respect for others Mm hmm and respect for self with this this kind of drug. How do you get? How do you start getting people off the drug?

[00:16:04] I would say by asking the critical questions. So I'm a strong follower and promoter of the Socratic method. Um, so I believe in asking the questions. I call it going to the fifth level of inquiry. So when you ask. Enough of the right questions, you allow a person to examine their own consciousness about a particular matter.

[00:16:29] So who do you really want to be? And so if I was talking to students or adults or anybody in our circle of influence, and I think that's where we can begin in our circle of influence. Um, the question is, how do you want to show up in the world since you do have a choice? You know, was it, um, the point two roads diverged in a yellow wood.

[00:16:53] So we have, um, an option of roads that we can take. How do you want to show up? In the world and why, well, why is that important and then going to the fifth level? Well, it's important. I want to show up as this kind of person. Well, why is that? And, and then what brings it? What are the things that could possibly interrupt that?

[00:17:20] Do you have examples of what that looks like? Because there are things that in some cases create and you mentioned this, I believe. a little earlier than this segment or the previous one about that blocks or interferes. And so if there is a blockage that's keeping someone from being the kind of person they want to be, are you willing to do the dirty work to clear the block?

[00:17:47] We've also talked about though that people can exist in a This world right now without respect and, uh, and that the, the reward for not living in a respectful world or not having self respect or respect for others, uh, is, is pretty strong to some degree. Right? So, uh,

[00:18:16] That, that is the question. That, that's the question. So, many answer the question, there is no reason to do it. So, I don't have to think about that, because it goes back, if I can distract myself. So, I can busy myself watching, Uh, a sports team on television or watching a movie or following something on social media.

[00:18:40] And this is not about bashing social media because social media can be beneficial. It can be helpful. It can do a lot of good, but it can also be a distraction from looking Introspectively at yourself or even looking at other people more accurately so you will think that the sound bite you see is their whole story and you come to conclusions without having clarity about the rest of the story.

[00:19:10] Paul Harvey used to do a piece called the rest of the story. Um, yeah. We're dating ourselves. Yeah. I think so. I think so. I think so. Yeah. So, um. You know, conclusions are drawn because people aren't getting the rest of the story and it's, it's popular to do that. So where do you begin? You begin by, by just asking questions and see if they're curious to have the answer.

[00:19:36] Okay. Let's take a little break. We're going to wrap up. This, as we continue to march, uh, on respect and the respect perspective, uh, right now we're just focusing on respect for self and, uh, you're on Strung Out. We'll be back after this. Hello, this is Polly Chase presenting artwork by Martin McCormick.

[00:20:00] This painting, titled Dude, features a mountain range that holds a special place in Marty's heart. On the canvas, which measures 20 by 24, we see the Tetons rising in the hazy distance of a view from an abandoned dude ranch just outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Near Marty's parents old place, the cool blues and violets of the background complement the buttery yellow foreground.

[00:20:30] These colors pass the viewer's attention back and forth along the horizontal plane, while the decaying Model T sinks into that scrubby landscape. From which the majestic peaks punch upward along the vertical plane. It's a quiet yet very moving scene, both artistically and emotionally. It pulls the imagination into a human story waiting to be told, one witnessed by rock that is millions of years old.

[00:21:03] To explore this painting and more of Marty's artwork, go to martin. mccormick. edu.

[00:21:14] We're back and, uh, we're going to continue along this path when West podcast because in and of itself is such a huge section. Respect yourself and identifying and, you know, yes, you're right that the, the, you know, social media and, and all these things that we've been pointing out so far are the easy layups when it comes to here's a good example of respect.

[00:21:44] But, or somebody not respecting. And, um, you know, I'll, I'll, I'll point out to something that, um, happened to me. I got cut off and my side view mirror, uh, you know, swiped against another car's side view mirror. And I went around the block and I thought, well, you know, I don't have to report that right. You know?

[00:22:10] And then I thought, but that isn't. being respectful. Okay. Doing the right thing. So I went back and wrote a note, put it on a number and, and, you know, in the insurance and everything, you know, and, uh, the guy said, uh, oh, you know, he was so elated that, you know, that I did that. And he said, uh, good karma has to be coming your way.

[00:22:35] I don't know if good karma is coming your way, but what is the reward? I guess using, I mean, I felt good that I did the right thing. Is respect for oneself, acknowledging that you have the right to be good? Yeah, I think to your point of reward, I think one of the, one great reward, of course it feels great to be acknowledged in the view that someone appreciates what you're doing.

[00:23:09] I, I am rewarded that you have. found value in the subject enough to invite me to be a part of your podcast. I'm very excited and pleased and rewarded by that. So everybody has a story to tell and everybody wants to at least feel that their story is heard. So a part of the reward is, um, Being able to feel that you've been heard, but another part of the reward is just being able to look in the mirror and feel that you've done the right thing.

[00:23:39] Um, and, and to know that, and I say this especially for, for educators, that the tree that you're watering and that you planted may not provide the shade for you. You may not get the benefits of the tree, but it may be down the line. So it's about seeing. The value of things beyond yourself. What about when you're gone, can you feel good that you've done something towards the growth of something that may exist beyond you?

[00:24:14] And I have a good friend, um, and we may introduce him and have him share in the conversation at some point, uh, named Ryan Kaufman. And he said to me that the fruit is the last thing to show up on the tree. Oh, nice. And I never, I forgot, he just said it. And it's, it's true. So we sometimes look for that immediate karma.

[00:24:35] I wrote my name on the, on the card. Maybe I'm going to find a, uh, a bag of money or something, maybe something really good and it might, and it might not, but the good thing exists in the action itself in who you have become because of what you have done. So, so respect is beyond reward. It is. It is the reward.

[00:24:59] When you feel good about who you are, then you see the world differently. And, um, many speakers, Wayne Dyer, many people, if you, uh, study shamanism and things of that sort, many things. teaches that the world is what you think it is and so if it begins in the mirror, you feel good about who yourself, who you are, then the world shows up different.

[00:25:26] I've got many stories of that. The world just reveals itself differently to you because of how you see yourself in the world. Wow. Wow. We're going to, we're going to leave it at that. Okay, yeah. And I'm glad we got that on tape because we're gonna start the next time you and I get together with seeing the world as it is, uh, as you see it.

[00:25:53] Because I was, I was going to say, you know, uh, well, Mark, Marcus, you know, where's the hope? You know, I mean, I'm, I said, I was going to say, I'm grateful that you see hope. You see hope in the world because, you know, it's, uh, right now I feel like, you know, we're two hobbits and we're about to go into mortar, you know, but I mean, that's, that's kind of, you know, uh, the, the, the, the way the world is, but by seeing the world is.

[00:26:24] You should see it, right? I mean, is that the idea that visualizing the world? How do you visualize the world? How do you see the world? How do you see, man, seriously, that can be an episode or however you want to do it. Yeah, man, the way you see it. So it's one of the books I'm reading now is one of the two books.

[00:26:41] I mean, is the shaman's mind. And, and, and one of the first principles of Huna, I think it's called is the world is what you think it is. And I I've had experiences. Where I saw that, but I, where I see that and I also have friends who see the world as a very horrible place and that's what keeps showing up for them, right?

[00:27:03] So that's the way when they see a situation, they see the horror of it and they aren't able to see the, the, the bright side. It's not just about looking at the bright side of things. It's just knowing that the bright side exists or in that situation, a seed exists. Well, we're going to pick it up from there and, uh, because we have a lot to talk about with the respect perspective.

[00:27:29] I want to thank Marcus Gentry here. You can, uh, uh, I'm going to put down his website so you can, uh, talk to him yourself. Um, you don't have to sit around the table, uh, with us, so we like that and, uh, thanks and we'll be back with more of this and you're on Strung Out. We'll see you next time. Bye bye. Thank you for listening.

[00:27:52] For more information about this show, or a transcript, visit martinmccormack. com. While there, sign up for our newsletter. See you next time on Strung Out.