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George Takei criticizes Virginia mayor on refugee stand

22 Comments

A Virginia mayor is facing criticism from "Star Trek" star George Takei after the politician cited the mass detention of Japanese-Americans during World War II in order to deny Syrian refugees the chance to resettle in the United States.

Takei, who was one of 120,000 people of Asian descent put in internment camps in the wake of 1940s-era prejudice, took issue with Roanoke Mayor David A. Bowers' grasp of history.

The TV and stage star pointed out that Bowers was wrong to call those interred as "foreign nationals" since two-thirds were U.S. citizens. Also, he said there was never any proven incident of espionage or sabotage from the Japanese-Americans held.

"There was no threat. We loved America. We were decent, honest, hard-working folks. Tens of thousands of lives were ruined, over nothing," Takei wrote on his Facebook page. Takei's personal story of the camps inspired the Broadway musical "Allegiance," in which he also stars.

Bowers on Wednesday demanded that Syrian refugees not receive any government assistance and that it was "presently imprudent" to assist in their relocation. He then cited the internments during WWII, saying "it appears that the threat of harm to America from ISIS now is just as real and serious as that from our enemies then."

In his post, Takei invited Bowers to come see "Allegiance" as his guest. "Perhaps you, too, will come away with more compassion and understanding," he wrote.

Takei was 5 years old when soldiers marched onto his front porch with bayonets in May 1942 and ordered his entire family to leave their Los Angeles home. His school days began with him reciting "The Pledge of Allegiance," but he could see the barbed wire and sentry towers through his schoolroom window.

"It is my life's mission to never let such a thing happen again in America," he wrote, and blasted the mayor's "fear-based tactics" and "galling lack of compassion."

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22 Comments
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Go, George, Go!

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Hi George.

It was WWII and 70 years ago. I`m sure you have a big house, take some in.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

George Takei is a fool. This is so completely a different issue. But I guess in the comfy leftoid greenhouse of Hollywood, he is just saying what his peer group says.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

George is full of it.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

George is sadly another typical Hollywood left wing loon who's fame has faded over time and is desperate still trying to remain relevant by saying nutty things. George, time to call it a night, dude.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Georgie boy is milking that camp caper for all he's worth. After this musical comes the sequel.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

WHO gives a $*%# what George, washed up "Sulu" says ?

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

George Takei is a fool. This is so completely a different issue.

Your first sentence is false and your second sentence is true. You're calling the wrong person the fool. The fool is the Roanoke mayor for trying to equate the detention of Japanese-Americans over some imaginary "threat" during WWII with the very real threat of an ISIS action. We here in Virginia like to joke about how the folks out in the Appalachians don't have a family tree so much as a family circle and it looks like this mayor fits the stereotype.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Sulu needs to return the the bridge.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I`m sure you have a big house, take some in.

Yes, he does. His house is called America.

And we are taking some in. Not enough, but some.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Yes, he does. His house is called America.

And we are taking some in. Not enough, but some.

Obama has a bigger House, they can move in with him or one the White House front lawn. I'm all for that. That would be the humanly thing to do as he would say.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

“There was no threat. We loved America. We were decent, honest, hard-working folks. Tens of thousands of lives were ruined, over nothing,” Takei wrote on his Facebook page. Takei’s personal story of the camps inspired the Broadway musical “Allegiance,” in which he also stars.

.....In his post, Takei invited Bowers to come see “Allegiance” as his guest. “Perhaps you, too, will come away with more compassion and understanding,” he wrote.

Takei appears to be trying to drum up interest in his musical. Hello everyone, remember me as Sulu? Please buy tickets for my musical.

Sulu conveniently forgets the Dec 7, 1941 Niihau Incident.

http://www.historynet.com/the-niihau-incident.htm

The internment was an unfortunate event. So was WWII. In hindsight, many events throughout history shouldn't have happened. Takei is simply trying to make a buck from his version of history.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

WiiiB,

This is so completely a different issue.

Well it is and it isn't. Is isn’t because, just as Takei accurately points out, Bower demonstrates just how painfully, irresponsibly ignorant he is of anything even remotely resembling a thoughtful consideration of U.S. history, in one stupid, stupid, stupid statement tried to justify the forcible imprisonment of peaceful, law abiding American citizens in the name of “security.”

It wasn't justifiable then and it damned well isn't now.

Imprisoning one group of Americans who have neither been charged with nor convicted of a crime, solely to convey a sense of “security” to another group of Americans -- and that's precisely what happened to 120,000 Japanese-Americans during WWII -- is not only grossly unconstitutional, but it's morally and ethically offensive to the extreme. Do keep in mind that "internment" was a carefully chosen euphemism to minimize the undeniable stink of what was really happening.

Make no mistake; the internments were wrong in every way.

Now fast forward to publicly elected imbecile of the hour, “Mayor” David Bower, who tries to compare one of the darkest episodes of wholesale illegal suspension of the American civil rights with the issue of Syrian refugees fleeing a war zone.

Not only does he get the circumstances absurdly wrong in his comparison, but Bowers manages to insult the principle victims and descendants of those very same 120,000 Americans who were royally screwed by precisely the kind of fear-inspired stupidity -- and there really is no other word for it -- stupidity that Bowers just spewed that led to Americans being rounded up and locked away.

This jackass should shrink away in shame to lick the open abscesses that are his own profound stupidity, as well any of the other sycophantic so-called “Fellow Americans” who tripped over themselves to celebrate “interment” as resembling anything even remotely close to a good idea. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Takei was 5 years old when soldiers marched onto his front porch with bayonets in May 1942 and ordered his entire family to leave their Los Angeles home. His school days began with him reciting “The Pledge of Allegiance,” but he could see the barbed wire and sentry towers through his schoolroom window.

Jeeze, what a whiner. Just because a politician talks about taking similar measures doesn't mean Takei needs to speak up. I guess he just hates America.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Sulu conveniently forgets the Dec 7, 1941 Niihau Incident.

http://www.historynet.com/the-niihau-incident.htm

I spent three years on Oahu while in the navy back in the late 70's and early 80's. Even then the residents of Niihau were anti-social outcasts. For the government to ascribe their actions to all Japanese Americans was just another example of the racism inherent in the American government.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Takei is simply trying to make a buck from his version of history.

Takei is already rich. And it's not his 'version' of history, it's his actual history.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

George knows he's at best a footnote in show biz history unless he can get his name out there for something other than his bit part in Star Trek.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Hello everyone, remember me as Sulu?

Sulu needs to return the the bridge.

George is sadly another typical Hollywood left wing loon

... other than his bit part in Star Trek.

It's lost on no one that ad hominem attacks like the above are the direct result of having a completely impotent argument. When one has nothing of substance to defend one's own irrational fears and bigotry, that person will often resort instead to insulting the messenger. Well, I mean, if you happened to be an 8 or 9-year-old on a playground, that is. That this kind of immaturity comes from supposed adults is fairly sad and pathetic.

._____.

arrestpaul,

Hit the books, pal. You've got massive gaps in your understanding of even basic U.S. history. I'll give you a freebie: Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and not the Americans that the U.S. Government locked up to make, well, folks just like you feel safer at night.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Black Sabbath,

All Americans dont feel the same way as Takei. His house isnt America. And no America doesnt have to constantly take in immigrants, illegals, refugees etc. Over half don`t want anyone coming in.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

LFRAgain - It's lost on no one that ad hominem attacks like the above are the direct result of having a completely impotent argument. When one has nothing of substance to defend one's own irrational fears and bigotry, that person will often resort instead to insulting the messenger.

Why do you choose to make this personal? We are still talking about a historic event that occurred 70 years ago during a time of war between nations.

The Virginia mayor is concerned about terrorists. That's what mayors are supposed to do. If they want to get reelected. There's an ongoing conversation as to the best way to deal with the situation. Sulu wants people to buy tickets to his play.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@point of view

Yeah, well, that is just -- like -- your opinion man.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

arrestpaul,

The Virginia mayor is concerned about terrorists. That's what mayors are supposed to do. If they want to get reelected.

Actually, no. The job of the mayor of Roanoke, Virginia is not to protect the constituency from terrorists. That's the job of the governor of Virginia and through him or her, the National Guard. And then there are the federal agencies like the ATF, FBI, and Homeland Security.

Is it also not a very astute political decision for re-election to extol the virtues of flagrantly trampling the civil liberties of American citizens during WWII as a good way to move forward with the Syrian refugee crisis, particularly when the legislature of the State of Virginia unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the internments as a horrific and unjust thing.

Considering fellow politicians from both parties in Virginia roundly condemned his statements, I would venture to guess I'm not alone in thinking Bowers chose -- and continues to take -- a ridiculously dumb position. As I said earlier, stupid, stupid, stupid.

The good news, however, is he's decided not to run for re-election as mayor. It looks like some of that "ongoing conversation" had a positive effect after all.

Why do you choose to make this personal?

Nothing personal about it. I don't know you. But I can make an educated guess at the quality of an argument when it seeks to discount an opinion by only ridiculing or mocking one's chosen profession or past accomplishments. In the absence of any other plausible explanation for why having been an actor in a sci-fi television show should automatically discount Takei -- or anyone else -- from expressing an opinion on a decidedly importune topic, emotional immaturity is a reasonable assumption.

It bear mentioning that beyond playing Sulu on Star Trek, George Takei was actually interned, which makes him infinitely more qualified to speak on the subject than either you or I.

When you distill his personal experiences into "Sulu wants people to buy tickets," well, that raises legitimate questions about not only your level of emotional maturity, but also about the depth of your character.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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