Posted on 06/11/2013 11:02:21 AM PDT by nickcarraway
George Takei is hardly the only American concerned about the NSA's massive surveillance programs. But unlike most people, his fears are rooted in the memory of the government persecution he suffered firsthand in a Japanese internment camp.
"Due process is a pillar of our American justice system," the Star Trek star told Daily Intelligencer last night at the Eighth Annual Stella by Starlight Benefit Gala. "We were rounded up simply because we happened to look like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. And we were put in prison camps with barbed wire and machine guns pointed at us. It was a horrific violation of our Constitution."
Because of that experience, Takei is particularly wary of the government's powers being abused. "We know where this can go," he said. "We have to be ever vigilant against overstepping of the fundamental ideals of our democracy."
Takei understands that President Obama "is a person who has to deal with a lot of issues." But on the NSA spying programs, he says, "I don't agree."
Notable Rohwer internees [edit]
Ruth Asawa (born 1926), a Japanese American sculptor.
Takayo Fischer (born 1932), an American stage, film and TV actress. Also interned at Jerome.
Jim Ishida (born 1943), actor best known for his role as T. Fujitsu, Marty McFly’s future boss in Back To The Future II in 1989
Janice Mirikitani (born 1941), the current poet laureate of San Francisco; co-founder of the Glide Foundation (Glide Memorial Church is featured in the Will Smith film, “The Pursuit of Happiness”). Co-founded with her husband the Rev. Cecil Williams, Glide empowers San Francisco’s disadvantaged members of society through extensive outreach and advocacy efforts.
Henry Sugimoto (1900–1990), Japanese-born artist. Also interned at Jerome.
George Takei (born 1937), an actor best known as Mister Sulu from Star Trek (1966–69). Since his parents refused to take a vow and did not “pass” the loyalty questionnaire, the family was later transferred to Tule Lake War Relocation Center.[5]
Taitetsu Unno (born 1930), a Buddhist scholar, lecturer, and author.
Can we assume he’s also upset about the IRS targeting people because they’re conservative?
He went to Tule Lake after Rohwer. People who refused to sign the loyalty oath were sent there in 1943/1944.
Tule Lake's buildings were intact as late as 1969. I have a friend whose property includes what was part of the camp.
In 1988, Ronald Reagan signed legislation that apologized for the internment on behalf of the U.S. government. The legislation said that government actions were based on “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership”.
The U.S. government disbursed more than $1.6 billion in reparations to Japanese Americans who had been interned and to their heirs.
Ha! You beat me to it!
I hadn't heard that before.
lol
Maybe he’s secretly straight and doesn’t want it to come out. Or he listens to Rush Limbaugh.
Yes, and that has nothing to do with GT fears about this act happening again, and put into place by another democrat.
He has over four million followers on Facebook.
Well demographically that is more than every male homosexual in the country. DO THE MATH:
300,000,000 Americans
49% male 147,000,000 males
77% over 18 years of age: 113,190,000
2.75% homosexual (MAXIMUM): 3,112,725 gay males over 18 years old.
More like Phasers on fabulous!
“The U.S. government disbursed more than $1.6 billion in reparations to Japanese Americans who had been interned and to their heirs.”
This is partially true. Those interned and living at the time of the reparation received payment. If the person was deceased at the time, their heirs received nothing.
My parents received $20000 each and a letter signed by President GW Bush. My uncles passed before the reparations took place so my cousins received nothing.
It mentions that. Hence his sensitivity about such things.
I have met George Takei and Jim Ishida before. Both are very pleasant people.
I met George Takei and Lenord Nemoy when I was in college and they were very nice. We got a kick out of meeting them.
My Dad was in Tokyo just as the Occupation got under way in Oct., 1945. One of the first orders from Gen. MacArthur was to treat the Japanese with respect and never, never refer to them or call them “Japs”.
or maybe this is just ONE issue where SANE Americans from ANY part of the political spectrum CAN AGREE ON?
Sorry, those polls that came out indicating most Dems find this program OK so long as Bush is not in charge are making me ill.
That said, the bunch currently in charge makes FDR look like Barry Goldwater.
His page is fairly free (though not entirely) of HS Agenda stuff. It’s mostly humorous images. His following is a lot more than gay men. Trust me. I’m sure a fair amount of Freepers follow him.
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