Battlestar Galactica comes to the UN

So last night I attended the Battlestar Galactica: A Retrospective event in the Economic and Social Council chamber. Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick were all in attendance, with Whoopi Goldberg moderating and various UN officials (Radhika Coomaraswamy, Robert Orr, etc.) taking part in panel discussions about world issues today and how they're dealt with on the show.

With the nerd factor turned way up (the delegations' placquards on every seat were replaced by the names of the 12 Colonies, I kid you not), the discussion was nonetheless interesting. Moore was the most circumspect and insightful as far as prying at the challenges and unsolved moral dilemmas brought up in the show. Olmos and McDonnell, interestingly, were unequivocally against many of the decisions their characters make, especially regarding security, torture, and the infamous abortion episode. Most interestingly was during the discussion of terrorism, when the panelists weighed into Colonel Saul Tigh's decision to use suicide bombers in resisting the Cylon occupation. McDonnell described the insurgents' collective mindset and how hard, even in acting, it was for her to come out and be against this tactic in the name of an even higher ideal. Edward James Olmos thundered that "There's no such thing as race. So say we all!" (Added Olmos, "when a bug hates you, that's racism.") He said the students in th audience can understand this, and that the adults can nod, but that the adults can't understand, and I'm afraid he's right.

Before we all adjourned for a reception in the Delegate's Dining Room, Whoopi Goldberg wrapped it up by thanking God for the word "frak." And I agree.


p.s. In other Battlestar news, my girlfriend has long observed Colonel Tigh's creepy resemblance to John McCain. She's not alone.



(Update) The other highlight I forgot about was when EJO said the UN should send troops to Mexico. More coverage of this event from Entertainment Weekly.