Podcasts Comedy Isn't It Obvious 087 - Cold War I

087 - Cold War I

Published: Sept. 26, 2022, 11 a.m.

NOTE: Originally recorded in the summer of 2021, a year prior to the publication of this episode. Russia has not yet invaded Ukraine.

Phil asks if it is obvious we need to rename the Cold War. Micah discusses the history of the cold war, the continuation of the impacts we face today, proxy warfare, and our American reluctance to look into the mirror. K Sera makes predictions of things to come.

 

Show notes:

n/a

 

K Sera's after thoughts:

- Well, I was wrong, though we were also kinda right. Russia is currently trying to annex Ukraine and there are absolutely guns and planes and people dying. Russians are fleeing the country right now to avoid conscription. It’s a literal bloody mess and the USA and NATO allies want to help Ukraine, but we also are terrified of escalating this into a full on hot mess of nuclear war, even though I feel like that is just playing for time. Russia is struggling to take and keep territory. The Ukrainians have dug in their heels and are starting to push back. I would guess that Putin is starting to feel backed into a corner. He’s that guy in the fight that is starting to realize he has no way out.

In a recent interview on Dax Shepherd’s Armchair Experts podcast, I heard Ice-T say this line: “And you know, we used to say in the hood, the worst person is the scared mother f*er, ‘cause the scared mother f*er will kill you. If you think you go’n bully him, he’s like, well I can’t fight you. I can’t do anything. So you got my back up against the wall and I’ll kill you.”

The world is worried that Putin is the scared mother f*ker in this stupid war over his stupid ego.

- Moving on… I don’t think we can call this Cold War II until this conflict is over, because honestly… if it doesn’t stay “cool” the war is going to have a very different name. Like the Boiling War or Spillover or The Great Radiation or… something. And the fallout is to be determined, but likely nothing positive. I hope it’s nothing worse than the "Warm War" or the "Simmering War"…

- Micah has given up on humanity. Phil has some hope still. And l… have a lot of ‘oh well, it’s out of my control, so… guess we’ll see’ apathy. 

- Also, the United States (and the world) needs therapy. Micah said something along the lines of: “We’ve been dealing with a way of insulting ourselves from our failures for 50 years, and when we didn’t have an ‘other’ of which to blame it on, where does that blame and anger go? It can only go back in. Because there is no outlet.” All I can say is, this is irrational thinking. We can find a better and more constructive way to accept our failures. Aggression (internal or external) being the reflexive response to failure is unhealthy, unproductive and totally stems from toxic masculinity. Stop being the scared mother f*ker afraid of looking like a fool with your ‘wounded’ pride. Deal with your failures like a rational adult and stop being an aggressor. Stop hurting your partners, family, co-workers and allies. Looking at you, shitty toxic countries of the world. You know who you are. The USA is not exempt.

 

Phil's after thoughts:

-A year ago the idea that Russia would annex rest of Ukraine was actually on our bingo card. Although everyone in the US thought that if Russia did invade it would be like Crimea 2.0 (where it would a complete takeover in less than a weekend). To be honest, it almost was (if the Ukrainian president would have fled, we'd be living in Cold War II still).

 
-I think Micah's assessment of the American psyche is very harrowing. Our southern states have a state-holiday literally called Heroes Day where schools and businesses take the day off to celebrate the heroes of the confederate army. In some southern states they want to remove references to slavery in US history. The "war of northern aggression" is not double speak for our fellow Americans south of the Mason Dixon Line. I agree with both of you: America, like every country, needs a therapist.
 
-The Ukrainian War is a proxy war. Nato weapons, with Nato intelligence, with Nato drones, with Nato ammunition, with 5 billion a month Nato cash, to a non-Nato nation. It really feels like that vintage tit-for-tat when compared with Vietnam War, Korean War, and Afghanistan War- Russian Season Pass.
 
-I think Cold War I is a fine name, but not without flaws. If we are to be so analytical, it should be called "Resource War, circa 1946 to 1991."
 
-As for being black-pilled, Micah's sentiment isn't wrong. But at the same point, if we can't even predict a year from now, how can we predict the entire span for the future of humanity? I still believe that humans will continue to do suboptimal moves to help one another, and despite some humans being the absolute worst, that most humans will go out of their way to help each other. I believe in this because I must.
 
K Sera's after thoughts on Phil's after thoughts
-I am mostly disgusted when I hear our southern country folk talk about "Northern Aggression" and celebrate fallen "heros" - sadly, I stand by my statement: you can't kill an idea.
 
-This is a proxy war for NATO. And I believe your name for it is exactly correct. It's resources. It's always about resources. I'd say Micah is right that there is a very high probability that we will destroy ourselves. But, yeah... I hope not. We haven't so far, so hopefully we keep that going.
 
 
Micah's after thoughts:
-MARS (Micah A**HOLE Rating Scale) = Bananas (pronounced Buh-NAH-NAHS)