Edward James Olmos is a great man and a great activist

[tavalon]

I had a fun experience at Edward James Olmos' panel at ECCC (Emerald City Comic Con). I knew he was politically active, so when audience question time came, I was first at the microphone, shrinking violet that I am, and I said, "I'm fairly sure you've heard about the Occupy movement and the current meme is that it's dead. It isn't dead, it's over-wintering. Would you be willing to join us this spring as we gear up for what may be a nation or even world changing movement?" He smiled and answered "I've been part of the Occupy Wall Street movement since it started." and then he looked away from me and looked at the audience and for the next ten minutes, he concisely explained why it was vitally important that they all commit and hit the streets. It was incredible!

Then at the end of the panel, he briefly revisited the activism and Occupy meme and ended with So Say Us All, to which everyone repeated So Say us All. He did it three times, each time louder, as did we. It was a beautiful moment.

[eShirl]

1. k&r

There must be some kinda way out of here...

[tavalon]

2. As an addendum, he is obsessed as many of us are

He didn't manage to answer a single question about his career without in some way connecting it to his activism or activism in general.

[longship]

3. As a former math teacher, I'm happy to R&K...

Stand and Deliver, the biopic about Jaime Escalante and his experiences teaching math in East Los Angeles is one of the best flicks I've ever seen. Olmos is incredible in this role. If you've never seen it, you need to grab it from Netflics or wherever. It will change your opinion about education. I know it did that for me.

Thanks for this post, tavalon

[tavalon]

4. It was a great moment in my life

To be the first questioner, and to have him use my question as his jumping off point to explain to the whole crowd why we all needed to commit and be active was just magnificent.