It’s the End of the World as We Know It

It feels weird to talk about anything else given what’s going on in the world, so this week Norah and Dad discuss Ukraine. 🇺🇦

If you feel helpless watching this humanitarian crisis unfold from thousands of miles away, here are seven verified charities that are working to deliver aid to people in Ukraine.

• Global Empowerment Mission
• World Central Kitchen
• Global Giving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund
• International Rescue Committee
• Save the Children
• Razom for Ukraine
• International Fund for Animal Welfare

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Intro music written and performed by norah marie.

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Question? Ideas for a future episode? Email us at norahanddadshow@gmail.com.

Intro music written and performed by norah marie.

Transcript

Dad: 0:00

Hey, Nora,

Norah: 0:01

Hello, dad,

Dad: 0:02

what are we talking about this

Norah: 0:03

we are going to talk about Ukraine.

Dad: 0:18

Welcome back to the Nora and nacho. I am as always dad and, with me, I have

Norah: 0:24

Nora,

Dad: 0:25

what happened in Nora,

Norah: 0:28

nothing much.

Dad: 0:29

Alright, great show. We'll see everyone next week.

Norah: 0:32

I mean, at least in my life, same old, same old.

Dad: 0:35

Let's close out the mock trial trilogy two weeks ago. you have not listened yet, you can go back and listen to Nora. Explain all about her mock trial experience. Last week, we talked little bit about her experience in the second round of the competition. Nora, did your team advance to states

Norah: 0:56

not mine, but one of lake Bridge's teams advanced.

Dad: 1:00

the green team, which was the team you were on your journey?

Norah: 1:04

team.

Dad: 1:05

Yeah. Your, your journey ended in the second round of the.

Norah: 1:08

Fair enough. We learned from it.

Dad: 1:10

feel it. feeling okay about it.

Norah: 1:11

Yeah. I mean, I'm upset about it. I kind of, it was expected and I felt like there wasn't much I could do about it. Like I did the best I could. Could've so it's out of my hands now.

Dad: 1:25

Out of your hands. So now on to, more serious things, how are you feeling about what's going on over in Ukraine,

Norah: 1:35

Well, I don't think it's good. I mean, I think that's the collective decision. Not like, you know, some people have other opinions, but think the majority opinion is that it's not good and should not be happening.

Dad: 1:47

Are you concerned? Are you nervous? Are you.

Norah: 1:52

right now I'm just concerned for the safety of like Ukrainian studies. Just like, uh, it's not like as of right now, of course it's affecting the U S but it's not like we're not being attacked. We're not the ones who need to like fear for our safety. We need to make sure that the other people who are like actively facing war are safe.

Dad: 2:14

So I grew up in the, like the height of the cold war, d do you know what the cold war is?

Norah: 2:20

I did not get that far in history, but I know it's Russia and us, right?

Dad: 2:25

Yeah. It's after world war two, when Russia took over Eastern Europe and the U S along with NATO was controlling is not the right word, but was maintaining peace in Western Europe. And the cold war was essentially an ongoing war that lasted for 60 or so years between the, the U S and the Soviet union. But there were no. Battles fought. We lived in constant tension and fear of. They're just being a nuclear war between the two countries and all life on earth being wiped out with the push of a button. and you have not known any of that. You, you were born in 2006. Russia was. A, uh, the Soviet union was over, uh, they were extensively a democracy, although not really. and you just don't know a time in your life when like Russia was the big, bad enemy of the United States. And so it's interesting now that all of a sudden, like Russia is back in play as this awful evil thing that now we have to worry about with Putin talking about like nuclear weapons and other things.

Norah: 3:35

No about Russia being a democracy there they're like a fake democracy, I think is like the legitimate term for it. Cause I remember learning about this in history, beginning of the year. Like there was some year when he got 102% of the votes, just because all of the votes are fake. Not all of them, but.

Dad: 3:53

I think when the Soviet union first broke apart, they elected a president, how free and fair the election was. I'm not sure we'll ever know. And we certainly have our doubts. Clearly Putin is while he was the listeners, can't see my air quotes, but while he was certainly elected, into his role in the. It certainly was not what you would call a free and fair election. And I'm encouraged by the fact that we're seeing, I think I saw today, there were something like 6,000 people arrested, I think in St. Petersburg, which is one of the larger cities in Russia, um, for protesting the war, uh, um, I'm encouraged that the Russian citizens are speaking. Against what's going on. I'm not sure if you're a Russian citizen, that's the smartest thing

Norah: 4:38

I think it's, it's not a war between Ukraine and Russia. It's a war between Putin and. At least from what I've been seeing on social media and not the most reliable source. but most Russians do not agree with what's going on or at least the ones who are speaking out about it. Do not agree.

Dad: 5:01

I think that's fair. I think there's maybe some hope that as we continue to squeeze the finances of Russia, the country and the Russian people suffer as a result. And it's unfortunate collateral damage for them, but, it is, what we need to do to try to bring this to, as quick of a resolution as possible with as little bloodshed as possible. I know you're very concerned. You said you were concerned about us getting involved. You told me off-air that you are concerned about us getting involved. Militarily, because you're worried about world war three,

Norah: 5:34

yes. My opinion. I have, I have differing, well, I don't know. I, I agree with both sides of that argument.

Dad: 5:42

explain.

Norah: 5:43

Okay. Well, for pro having you as military, if like we go in. Like, cause we are like one of the strongest, if not the strongest military, like we will be able to go in and help and provide support in that way. But then also the con is that if we do go in and then I'm sure like Russia's allies will join and then more and more countries will get involved, which will lead to world war three. But I think that if we also don't stop, then he's going to continue. what's the word like conquering other countries and won't stop until we put a stop to it.

Dad: 6:26

C N I M a V opinion that we're worse, three has already started, and we just don't realize it yet. We don't, we don't have the benefit of knowing how these things are going to play out over time until we get to look back through the lens of history and see, and I think. You're right. That if we don't, I don't think he's going to stop with Ukraine. I think he's going to go on to other countries that used to be part of the Soviet union. And he's going to look at Lithuania and Latvia and Estonia and, Romania and Hungary and Poland and other countries

Norah: 7:00

as of right now, all like not all of those countries, but a lot of those countries are housing people from. And that situation will also get worse if he continues to do that,

Dad: 7:10

Correct. The refugee crisis. I mean, they're going to have to go somewhere if they don't want to live under Russian rule. So they will just keep moving west and the refugee crisis will get yeah, will get significantly worse than it already is. I think today we were recording on Sunday. I think so far 120,000 Ukrainians have left Ukraine for bordering countries and yeah, if he moves into bordering countries and they have nowhere else to go, there's going to those Ukrainians. Plus the. Latvians and Lithuanians or whoever are going to have to go are, are going to have to go elsewhere.

Norah: 7:43

I

Dad: 7:43

The other thing you told me, oh God, I'm

Norah: 7:45

I was reading this article, earlier this morning about this family from Afghanistan that just moved to Ukraine to escape the situation that was going on there. And then they're currently trying to escape again from

Dad: 7:57

uh, they pick the, they pick the wrong country. Geez.

Norah: 8:00

very bad for them.

Dad: 8:02

Yeah, they should have chosen. Country and maybe they don't

Norah: 8:05

that was the only option. Yeah.

Dad: 8:08

Hey. Yeah. I, I mean, we're, we're so fortunate here that we haven't known war on our soil since, or at least war from a foreign invader on our soil since, the war of 1812, so we're very, very fortunate. this is the first war in Europe we've had since, since world war two. Right? And so this is all new for us.

Norah: 8:32

I don't know, I've never experienced any other war, so I don't

Dad: 8:36

Yeah. It's well, no, but I mean, there was, I mean, we were fighting over in like Afghanistan and fighting over in Iraq and we were fighting over, you know, so, so we had those wars were going on in your lifetime,

Norah: 8:46

don't really think I have the knowledge to be able to comprehend what was going on in those situations.

Dad: 8:52

Oh, cause you were too young.

Norah: 8:53

Yeah. Or just didn't have a good grasp on like world history.

Dad: 8:58

Unlike worldly,

Norah: 8:59

Yeah. Were Leah fares?

Dad: 9:00

honors, honors history, student Nora at 15.

Norah: 9:04

Well, I'm still not that knowledgeable. I just think I have a better grasp on it than I would have. Like if this was happening two years ago, I don't think I would've been as informed about it as a yeah.

Dad: 9:16

The other thing you told me that I thought it was really interesting. And I don't think for what it's worth, even if we got involved in world war three, I don't think we'd ever re-institute the draft. I don't think. Cause I think we have enough people in the military right now to serve. But you said that you think there's what, only 30% of people. of draft eligible age or would even be able to serve because of

Norah: 9:39

It's mostly

Dad: 9:40

mental health issues that is, uh, well, insane's not the right word under the circumstances, but you know what I mean? I mean, it's, it's awful to think that that many people, I mean, you're still a little too young for the draft, but people kind of in your, of your generation, that so many are impacted by mental health issues that they would not be eligible to be.

Norah: 10:00

part of that was also probably COVID.

Dad: 10:03

Like the mental, it COVID.

Norah: 10:04

Yeah. Or also I think. It might be generational. Like parents may have had mental health issues, but weren't diagnosed by it, like diagnosed for it. And then now their kids are having that, but they are being diagnosed. That's just something I'm like pulling out of my, but I don't know if that's accurate, but just, just because it's become less of a taboo topic, I think it's easier to get help for it. Like, cause obviously there's different severities of mental health in normally I think. Previously, it was only in like the release of your cases where people got help, but I think more it's now it's a more common thing to get help, even if it's not like as severe as it may have been before. So I think that probably also impacts that

Dad: 10:56

I'm not sure other than talking about it and sending our moral support over to Ukraine. I'm not sure what else we can do. I'll I'll find some relief organizations I can put in the show notes if people are thinking or looking for ways to help,

Norah: 11:08

There's lots of fundraisers going on,

Dad: 11:10

yeah. Get money and resources over to people, in Ukraine. obviously. We send them our best was what they're going through. It's I can't imagine it's unfathomable to me in 2022 that we are talking about one European country invading another European country. War to me makes no sense in general. Anyway, I don't understand why people fight over land and places. And it's just a to me it's just stupid. I never

Norah: 11:36

it's a power thing.

Dad: 11:38

I know, and Putin's nuts. And I know, I know. And, but it, just, to me, it doesn't, I don't want power.

Norah: 11:46

I don't want power either, but when you're a president of somewhere, you want power,

Dad: 11:50

I'm happy with the little fiefdom of control I have here. Like I, yeah. I don't even have power on my, I don't even have power in my own home, so.

Norah: 12:00

no comment.

Dad: 12:03

You see, I don't even have power in my own home is how am I supposed to have power like out whatever. but we'll, we'll put, we'll put some resources or some, information in the show notes for people that are looking for ways to contribute. Obviously we send our thoughts and prayers over to people in Ukraine. They continue to hold strong. And who knows, we're recording this on Sunday and by the time this drops on Tuesday, the country may have fallen. And, and, uh, I certainly hope they continue to hold strong against the Russian army and, and they stick it up Putin's but that's what I hope. And, and I hope you never have to. I hope we, but particularly you never have to. Experience the horrors of war that these people are. It's just, it's just, I, I just can't imagine. families being separated, the men have to stay behind children, leaving their dads behind as they get on a train to go to a foreign country. Not knowing if they're ever gonna see their dad again and people. Who've never shot a gun before being trained, how to fire a gun to defend their country. To me it's just unfathomable and it's all really just for nothing other than the whims of a lunatic, that's in charge of Russia. So, so with that, unless you have anything to add, I'm gonna close it out for the week. Anything you want to say?

Norah: 13:18

I think you covered it.

Dad: 13:20

All. right. Thanks everyone for listening. Um, Nora, where can people find you?

Norah: 13:24

I could find me at Nora Marine music anywhere you can think of on social media.

Dad: 13:30

You can find me at John Hyman. You can find us at, Nora and dad show.buzzsprout.com. you can email us, Northern dad show@gmail.com for comments, questions, suggestions for a future episode, and otherwise, we will see everyone next week. Cheers.