Sometimes it feels like justice will never be served, but in these moments we must remember that accountability is a road to walk, not just a destination.
George, thank you for your persistent efforts in seeking justice and for sharing your incredible wisdom. Too many people are shutting down because they have not seen immediate consequences for Trump and the other heinous actors who are working to destroy our democracy and what it stands for. It’s good to be reminded that this is a journey and a fight that really never ends. Battles can be won and lost, but we must persist. To give up is to give in to the will of those who will constantly challenge our rights and will lead us to a dismal future. We must earn our freedom and civil liberties over and over again.
Good words, Chris. I find myself (60+ very privileged white man) fighting the urge to shut down. If it's overwhelming to me, then it must be hell for those who ate oppressed.
I hear you, Bill. It’s really hard to stay in it day after day. I looked forward to the promise of retirement, to be able to kick back and take it easy. But at 69, I’m in the fight like never before. Taking time out for self care is a helpful strategy. I find rejuvenation in nature. Like you, when I feel like giving up, I think of the people who are in much worse straits than I and it keeps me fighting. I also think of how much worse it will be for all of us if we let the oligarchs succeed in destroying our Democracy.
Thank you for your clarity, generosity and gentleness. Your hope for the future, despite the rough waters that many of us are drowning in, shines throughout. You have had the experience of traveling through the extremes of American history and culture, through the light and the darkness, and yet, somehow stay balanced. It's quite a feat. You are a fine example of a human, Mr. Takei.
I am so happy to hear about this because I have seen the American camps for the Japanese outside Lone Pine. Calif. how anyone could have lived in these places (desert) is incomprehensible to me. The wind and the cold in Winter and the BLAZING sun in Summer.
In my opinion it has all come late. As you rightly say this did not help your parents or anyone above a certain age.
Why is DT not in Jail. If anyone had done the things he has been indicted for he would not be allowed to run for President.
I think the Justice system in the USA is so defunct.
The French Revolution in France I believe is because the Justice system was slow.
Thank you for letting the American people know about this.
It is important that we speak up. Far too many people don't speak up because they are afraid of the consequences - particularly as we hear more and more about rage- and racism-motivated mass shootings. When I think of such things, I go back to this famous quote that came out of the Holocaust:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
We must, each of us, speak out, before there is no one left to speak but those who speak in favor of racism, discrimination, and genocide. I do believe that those of us who believe in equality outweigh those who don't, but because we are, individually, afraid, we do not use our majority voice to make our point heard. We must speak up, and speak out.
Thankyou, again, for identifying , speaking what is in my heart. 86 yrs in my country but now afraid, afraid that fascism, authoriatism will overtake my democracy. You are the voice which gives me hope.
A wise message from one who had the diligence- the vigilance and patience to see a degree of justice attained. Today we are at a crucial point in American history that has fascism as a real choice-a strong possibility. Now is not the time to wish it away but to be as doggedly determined to see that choice is not made...so that we have a chance to write about Trumpian fascism as something of the past.
Thank you. I feel I grew up with you; I was a big ST fan early on (well before “TOS” was needed to distinguish from the many other spin-offs) I’d play Sulu with my friends in 5th grade recess.
Thank you for the example you present to so many people, Asian-American or not, LGBTQ or not. You are truly a national treasure.
For anything approximeeting justice and accountability in the United States both constituencies need to demand it concerning their own party. Bashing the opposition is a complete waste of time and energy.
Pointedly, it has a prerequisite of a non-institutional progressive appointed to the position of attorney general. I cannot believe the Democratic Party constituents are consenting to our department of justice allowing the 140 odd members of the GOP who signed the sedition papers and her to file for reelection. They to fall under the 14th amendment. do you think that any of those seditionist have position of power is horrifying. They now control the House of Representatives.
We the People Having insatiable appetite for shit sandwiches and are occupied sucking the sweat from the balls balls instead of acting in and directing the movie that is the ideal of the United States of America. It does not function if simply viewing it or sleeping in the seat is the standard displayed by the members of the electorate.
I was born in 1948, the child of a Holocaust father and Brooklyn Jewish mother. My mother was very political (Democrat, as was my father, though he wasn’t political). My mother told me and my brother, when we were old enough, all about anti-Semitism; slavery; Armenian and Jewish Holocausts; the fight for unions, but she never mentioned the internment of Japanese Americans. She was no racist, and I later wondered why she’d never talked about that to us, as that treatment of the Japanese Americans was as evil as any other such action.
What George Takei wrote is very moving and rousing. We need this encouragement at this very frightening time. “Never again”is not for Jews only; it’s for every group of people who are being threatened by the fascists in our country. We MUST ensure that they don’t gain enough power to do what they are aiming, implacably, to do.
Jay Kuo, I thank you and George Takei for this, and to you I thank for your excellent, tempered daily newsletter (and your funny and animal-centered weekend report).
Thank you for your voice, George, and for being the inspiration for many, all these years. I feel you have indeed lived long and prospered, and hope for you many more years.
My grandfather George W Scott was a lawyer in Los Angeles during WWII. He had a Japanese family as a client. When this family was forced into the camps, they signed everything over to my grandfather. When they came back to LA, my grandfather signed everything back over to them. My grandfather died before I was born in 1949. The only reason I found out about this was the gift of fruit my grandmother (who lived with us) received every Christmas from the family.
George, thank you for your persistent efforts in seeking justice and for sharing your incredible wisdom. Too many people are shutting down because they have not seen immediate consequences for Trump and the other heinous actors who are working to destroy our democracy and what it stands for. It’s good to be reminded that this is a journey and a fight that really never ends. Battles can be won and lost, but we must persist. To give up is to give in to the will of those who will constantly challenge our rights and will lead us to a dismal future. We must earn our freedom and civil liberties over and over again.
Good words, Chris. I find myself (60+ very privileged white man) fighting the urge to shut down. If it's overwhelming to me, then it must be hell for those who ate oppressed.
I hear you, Bill. It’s really hard to stay in it day after day. I looked forward to the promise of retirement, to be able to kick back and take it easy. But at 69, I’m in the fight like never before. Taking time out for self care is a helpful strategy. I find rejuvenation in nature. Like you, when I feel like giving up, I think of the people who are in much worse straits than I and it keeps me fighting. I also think of how much worse it will be for all of us if we let the oligarchs succeed in destroying our Democracy.
Thanks, Chris. Take care, brother.
Thank you for your clarity, generosity and gentleness. Your hope for the future, despite the rough waters that many of us are drowning in, shines throughout. You have had the experience of traveling through the extremes of American history and culture, through the light and the darkness, and yet, somehow stay balanced. It's quite a feat. You are a fine example of a human, Mr. Takei.
I am walking the same path no matter where it takes me. Trouble convincing friends to join me is the biggest upset.
You can lead a horse to water.....
Mr. Takei, you are a National Treasure. Thanks for all you do.
I am so happy to hear about this because I have seen the American camps for the Japanese outside Lone Pine. Calif. how anyone could have lived in these places (desert) is incomprehensible to me. The wind and the cold in Winter and the BLAZING sun in Summer.
In my opinion it has all come late. As you rightly say this did not help your parents or anyone above a certain age.
Why is DT not in Jail. If anyone had done the things he has been indicted for he would not be allowed to run for President.
I think the Justice system in the USA is so defunct.
The French Revolution in France I believe is because the Justice system was slow.
Thank you for letting the American people know about this.
Education in the US is defunct.
It is important that we speak up. Far too many people don't speak up because they are afraid of the consequences - particularly as we hear more and more about rage- and racism-motivated mass shootings. When I think of such things, I go back to this famous quote that came out of the Holocaust:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
We must, each of us, speak out, before there is no one left to speak but those who speak in favor of racism, discrimination, and genocide. I do believe that those of us who believe in equality outweigh those who don't, but because we are, individually, afraid, we do not use our majority voice to make our point heard. We must speak up, and speak out.
Thankyou, again, for identifying , speaking what is in my heart. 86 yrs in my country but now afraid, afraid that fascism, authoriatism will overtake my democracy. You are the voice which gives me hope.
A wise message from one who had the diligence- the vigilance and patience to see a degree of justice attained. Today we are at a crucial point in American history that has fascism as a real choice-a strong possibility. Now is not the time to wish it away but to be as doggedly determined to see that choice is not made...so that we have a chance to write about Trumpian fascism as something of the past.
Thank you, George!
Thank you. I feel I grew up with you; I was a big ST fan early on (well before “TOS” was needed to distinguish from the many other spin-offs) I’d play Sulu with my friends in 5th grade recess.
Thank you for the example you present to so many people, Asian-American or not, LGBTQ or not. You are truly a national treasure.
For anything approximeeting justice and accountability in the United States both constituencies need to demand it concerning their own party. Bashing the opposition is a complete waste of time and energy.
Pointedly, it has a prerequisite of a non-institutional progressive appointed to the position of attorney general. I cannot believe the Democratic Party constituents are consenting to our department of justice allowing the 140 odd members of the GOP who signed the sedition papers and her to file for reelection. They to fall under the 14th amendment. do you think that any of those seditionist have position of power is horrifying. They now control the House of Representatives.
We the People Having insatiable appetite for shit sandwiches and are occupied sucking the sweat from the balls balls instead of acting in and directing the movie that is the ideal of the United States of America. It does not function if simply viewing it or sleeping in the seat is the standard displayed by the members of the electorate.
Say wut now?
Eloquent, wise words. Thanks for your perspective, sir.
A wonderful piece - thank you.
Thank you. Shared.
I was born in 1948, the child of a Holocaust father and Brooklyn Jewish mother. My mother was very political (Democrat, as was my father, though he wasn’t political). My mother told me and my brother, when we were old enough, all about anti-Semitism; slavery; Armenian and Jewish Holocausts; the fight for unions, but she never mentioned the internment of Japanese Americans. She was no racist, and I later wondered why she’d never talked about that to us, as that treatment of the Japanese Americans was as evil as any other such action.
What George Takei wrote is very moving and rousing. We need this encouragement at this very frightening time. “Never again”is not for Jews only; it’s for every group of people who are being threatened by the fascists in our country. We MUST ensure that they don’t gain enough power to do what they are aiming, implacably, to do.
Jay Kuo, I thank you and George Takei for this, and to you I thank for your excellent, tempered daily newsletter (and your funny and animal-centered weekend report).
Thank you for your voice, George, and for being the inspiration for many, all these years. I feel you have indeed lived long and prospered, and hope for you many more years.
Wut The Cranberries . .
Hey, Luv the Mango sauced Doo . .
and the raccoon eyes Tan's a Freak Out too . .
And the Alt reality Wobbling . . Now there's
Get the Vermin! goblins . .. The One and Only
Savvy G on Demented Jack's platter . .The All
Time Best at Just Kidding death threats
Yugely Yoo
Sed to The Turkey .. . #Down at . ..
Whut?
Down at .. Merry Lardo. ... #the space takes .. .
My grandfather George W Scott was a lawyer in Los Angeles during WWII. He had a Japanese family as a client. When this family was forced into the camps, they signed everything over to my grandfather. When they came back to LA, my grandfather signed everything back over to them. My grandfather died before I was born in 1949. The only reason I found out about this was the gift of fruit my grandmother (who lived with us) received every Christmas from the family.