I am delivering a special message to you tonight about two very important causes.
As you all know (or might not know) I travel to a lot of conventions promoting not only the club but also Galacticon 3...which gives me the chance to meet a lot of people...some famous...some not...but all great.
I recently met a person (in this case of the famous variety) who is inspired by some very good causes...who has a zeal for them that I much admire....and she is a extremely nice person on top of that.
The person?
Linda Blair...and yes that would be the same Linda Blair who appeared in probably the most frightening film ever made...The Exorcist.
In real life she is light years away from that character...and very firmly committed to some wonderful projects that we here at the Fan Club are happy to support, first of all the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation which is designed to help abandoned animals find a new home..please take a look at the site & the video here:
Her other project is Haunts For Hunger which is designed to raise awareness & food for the hungry among us, please take a look at what Linda has to say:
Speaking to Linda on the phone today, she said how happy she was that we could get the word out to you tonight & that she wanted me to give you all a big Hello & Thanks!
If you would like to help contribute to either cause feel free to use the contacts on either page...they can always use the help.
Over the course of our history the Battlestar Galactica Fan Club has used a variety of symbols...I would imagine that a lot of you have seen them.
We did adopt a flag several years ago that was the official banner but I have decided to retire that in favor of a new banner, which will also seem a bit familiar.
Let it be known that as of this date 9/23/12 by Presidential proclamation..(proclamation's are one of the perks of the job!)....that the Battlestar Galactica Fan Club has adopted a new flag and standard.
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to serve onboard a battlestar, I, on behalf of our Commanding Officer, would like to invite you to join the Battlestar Raven. We are the flagship of the Battlestar Fanclub (BFC) Fleet and endeavor to provide an environment and experience that maintain the highest of standards. Please visit our group at The Battlestar Raven Group Page
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me. Major Al Bartraw, XO
What is interesting about science fiction, which of course includes Battlestar Galactica... is it's amazing ability to embrace diversity.
I think it's a forgone conclusion that it is part of the genre, wouldn't you say?
Science Fiction was the first really of all art forms in either book form or televised form to break out in this way.
You merely need to pick up a book by Jules Verne or H.G.Wells to see that...they tended towards (especially H.G. to talking about mankind, rather than a specific group or nation).
Now of course it is a given that when it came to aliens it used to be that most of them were BAD and that was fully realized during the B Flicks of the 50s...but there were always some good ones too.
The Day The Earth Stood Still is a very good example of this...Klaatu was trying!
Star Trek was really...at least in the televised sense the harbinger of things to come.
Vulcan's were good, Klingon's bad...and then the Klingon's turned out to be not so bad either.
Sci-Fi has always been a reflection of society expressed to the nth degree.
The point is that since we, here on Earth have never seen an alien (that I know of for sure), we tend to give them very human attributes or wildly inhuman ones, there doesn't seem to be a middle ground.
The truth is that we probably wouldn't know how to react in case we were to meet one...or actually we probably do, but in a most negative way...which means were are likely not quite ready for that as a species.
Which brings me to my point...we need to get our own house in order.
The Internet has managed to shrink the world & put things into perspective in a way that couldn't even have been considered 20 years ago...or even 10.
It has opened up the world in ways that couldn't even be imagined and are allowing the youngest of all of us to see the world in new ways and in new lights.
The children of man are allowed to embrace the world and make it their own, to embrace the diversity of all people which is our common race...the human one.
We don't need to be children to know this either.
Sci-Fi points the way...by its very nature.
You find a huge diversity among the humans of any given sci-fi show...you even have diversity of aliens as well (I suppose we would be alien to them) but I digress...there is a very common theme running throughout all this.
But sticking to things a bit more day to day I will give you an example:
The Battlestar Galactica Fan Club...which most humbly I will say I co-founded and serve as it's President...have.people from many different nations participating....literally from all over the map...from every continent, from all walks of life, from very different cultures that are unified in their love of Battlestar Galactica.
This is true of BattlestarGalactica.com as well...Richard Hatch is an exemplar...an ambassador of goodwill who goes all over the world speaking & teaching to many diverse groups.
Black, White & Brown...Christian, Muslim & Jew...Gay & Straight...Male & Female...German, Russian, American....you name it...we are collectively a BSG UN!
It is interesting...with Battlestar Galactica fans in particular...and maybe this has something to do with the general theme of the show....but fans realize that there are no real differences between themselves...why, because they realize that they are all human, brother and sister & that in the end they must come together.
Now, I don't want to equate the eradication of the human race (at least fictionally), with fans of a television show coming together...but...
But, were do we start on this path of understanding & acceptance?
Why not right here?
Edward James Olmos summed this up perfectly in an address at the United & said..."the word race has been used as a cultural determinant"...in other words it has been used to try and establish a pecking order that shouldn't exist to begin with.,,,putting one group over another (at least in their own eyes), or for other more disastrous reasonings & outcomes.
We need to reject the notion of "us" & "them"
"There is no race but the human race" which is something EJO also said and that is without one FRAKKIN doubt true.
It is only US.
There are some that want to play upon differences amongst people and use that as a way to gain advantage politically or economically...or maybe to enlarge their own feeling of self worth...I will say, you will never gain the true meaning of self worth by feeling you are better than another human being...only by being as good as your fellow person & treating everyone with the respect that they deserve will you gain that.
Yes, embrace the diversity of your fellow members of the human race...whatever that particular difference may be...learn from it, appreciate it...but always remember, again that there is but one race....the human race!
Let us always hold in ourhearts & minds that our one true strength IS our humanity, that which we find in ourselves and in others & that diversity amongst all of us one of the pillars of our mutual strength.
To all Canadian members of BFC and from other countries where there is no Colonial Defense Forces Chapter:
As the 11Th Fleet Liaison I am looking for recruits to join us to rebuild the Canadian Chapter that have fallen for little more than a year. In the past years 11Th Fleet of CDF, representing a group of Canadian fans of BSG, was an active Colonial Defense Forces Chapter. Battlestars Chimaera and Excalibur were patrolling our wild area of space.
As Reimagined BSG has been filmed in Vancouver, Western Canada, and less than a year before Galacticon 3, It's about time to embrase the torch of the Canadian BSG fandom.
We just need a few more members to reactivate our CDF Chapter and get a Battlestar recommissionned. If you are interested to join us, register to http://www.cdfcommand.com/global/forms/reg_lib/registration.html and request assignment to 11Th Fleet. We need Fleet Officers, Marines and enlisted crewmans (Fleet enlisted) too.
I Would Like to Take This Time Out Of The BSGmania To Remind Everybody To Remember All Those Who Lost Their Lives 11 Years Ago, In An Act of Extreme Terror On Our Country. Many Of These People Were At Work And Taking Care Of Business When They Were Needlessly Cut Down, Along With Two Buildings That Stood Tall Along The NYC Skyline. Also, There Was A Similtaneous Attack On The Hub Of Our Military. More Brave Souls Lost. Those Who Undertook Rescue Efforts In Both Cities Were Also Cut Down. More Grieving Parents,Children,Siblings,Friends,Lovers.
We Have Since Recovered From This Outrage,And Have,And Are Rebuilding With A Renewed Determination To Continue With Our Lives,Our Principles, And Our Dignity. Most of the People Behind The Attacks Have Been Tracked Down And Brought to Justice. And ,With Past Tragedies, We Have Grown Stronger As A People,And As A Nation. And,We Will Do not Intend To Let Predjudice Bring Us To The level Of The Terrorists.
So, Remember; What We Lost, And What We Have Learned. So Say We All.
Flagship of the Battlestar Fan Club Fleet - Battlestar Raven- Looking for Recruits and Salties alike
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to serve onboard a battlestar, I, on behalf of our Commanding Officer, would like to invite you to join the Battlestar Raven. We are the flagship of the Battlestar Fanclub (BFC) Fleet and endeavor to provide an environment and experience that maintain the highest of standards. Please visit our group at The Battlestar Raven Group Page
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me. Major Al Bartraw, XO
Of course like anything that's out there...Battlestar Galactica has fans from all walks of life....you name the profession & there is someone in that particular line of work who is a fan.
People who work in the industry are fans too....be they actors, writers or musicians.
Case in point...Scott Ian of the band Anthrax is a massive fan of the show...and the part that I didn't know is that he worked on the final version of the release of Bear McCreary's Battlestar Galactica: Razor/The Plan, specifically the track: Apocaclypse.
Bear was looking for a definite heavy metal feel for this...check out the video here.
For all of you who are interested, this is the complete run down of tracks:
1. Apocalypse (Theme from “The Plan”) From “The Plan” Featuring Raya Yarbrough, vocals Lyrics Traditional Music by Bear McCreary 2. Razor Main Title From “Razor” 3. Arriving at Pegasus From “Razor” 4. The Plan Main Title From “The Plan” 5. Attack on the Scorpion Shipyards From “Razor” 6. Apocalypse, Pt. I From “The Plan” 7. Apocalypse, Pt. II From “The Plan” 8. Pegasus Aftermath From “Razor” 9. Kendra’s Memories From “Razor” 10. Mayhem on the Colonies From “The Plan” 11. Civilian Standoff on the Scylla From “Razor” 12. Husker in Combat From “Razor” Contains “Theme from “Battlestar Galactica” by Stu Phillips and Glen A. Larson Adapted and Arranged by Bear McCreary 13. Major Kendra Shaw From “Razor” 14. Cavil Kills and Cavil Spares From “The Plan” Featuring Raya Yarbrough, vocals Music and Lyrics by Bear McCreary 15. The Hybrid Awaits From “Razor” 16. Kendra and the Hybrid From “Razor” 17. Princes of the Universe From “The Plan” 18. Starbuck’s Destiny From “Razor” 19. Apocalypse (Theme from “The Plan”) [Bonus Live Version] Performed by The Battlestar Galactica Orchestra
Anyway, a nugget for all you nugget's out there...
Here are images of the front and back of the CD if you are out there scanning around for it....
It's really amazes me when talent of this kind can come together and really create something great...of course you wouldn't expect anything less, right?
Of course, who would have thunk a marriage between Anthrax & Battlestar Galactica right?
I think actually, it just points out again something that I pretty much talk about all the time...and that is the diversity of the fans...and the talent of the fans.
IMHO (In my humble opinion) all the fans are great, they are all creative and constantly coming up with amazing (yep, there's that word again!)...things.
Either via music, film, stories...it's all good!
When you take something that's in your mind and make it real...that is creation...even if you are taking something pre-existing and making something new...well, that in that form never existed before, now did it.
The main thing is that everyone has potential in them...Battlestar Galactica is a great way to unlock that potential...so when it comes to things like this...I say pull the cork out!
I think everyone has natural inhibitions, but really if you have an idea or talent you want to express, express it!
I think for instance that this website is a perfect place to make the expression to the whole BSG Universe...or the universe in general if you want.
Always...and I mean always...the main goal here is to make things as interactive as possible...for everyone...so people can interact with each other over long distances, talk story and have fun...and to be creative.
I think it's an amazing (whoops!) platform!
So go check Bear and Scott on itunes if you haven't already....
