"I have engaged in the most highest paid vocation - winning my own self-respect, dignity, and self-worth," Spanish Civil War veteran Abraham Osheroff said during his speech at the Aidekman Art Gallery on Monday, Nov. 6.
Osheroff, a filmmaker and poet, spoke about serving in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, the Spanish Civil War, and his view on social activism. Photographs and propagandizing posters depicting the Spanish Civil War's struggle for justice covered the Aidekman Art Gallery.
Osheroff also presented his documentary film on the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, celebrating an American troop that defended Spain and took a stand against fascism. His film, which won the International Critic's Award in 1975, focused on the war, Spanish and American relations during that period, the oncoming wave of fascism, and Osheroff's own place in the history of it all.
"It took a lot of creative mischief, let's put it that way," Osheroff said, explaining that it took stealing, bribery, and collecting to obtain all of the film's footage. He risked imprisonment to make the film - his crew was once thrown in jail.
Osheroff is a carpenter by trade, following in both his father and grandfather's footsteps. He urged students to learn a craft that they can fall back on. "For the young people," he said, "if you entertain the idea of becoming an activist or a teacher, I offer you this advice: learn a good manual trade."
He also asked the audiences to ponder a couple of questions concerning their motivation for the future. "Are there poets in this room who don't know it? Are there musicians?" He wondered whether it's possible to know an honest lawyer, a doctor dedicated to saving human lives over making money, or a judge who passes sentences based on circumstances, not skin color. "Is it something you really want to do? Is it close to your heart?" he pleaded to an audience who absorbed his probes, quietly and attentively.
Fielding audience questions on subjects ranging from voting to the presidential election, Osheroff's most important answer returned to a historical perspective. "You are all a part of history - you as an individual can make something happen, or you can be a log in the river of history or be a pedantic watcher," he said.
Audience members left the gallery, clearly moved by Osheroff's statements, some with tears in their eyes. He was "very inspiring," sophomore Lauren Wheeler said.
