George Takei calls Clarence Thomas "A Clown in Blackface."

[Tiggeroo]

1 - what Takei did is different then Trump. He is not attacking a group of people or judging them. He does not demonstrate racism in his life at all. He is criticizing one person and wad not embarrassed to do it publicly. That person can choose to reply.
2- Takei has no real financial relationship overtly with anybody that I can see. He has a popular fb page and twitter feed that may generate add money based on his numbers of followers. His followers are a pretty diverse group. Some might stop following him amd if so I guess it would cost him money. He's not running for office.
I don't like Trump because of his financial dealings in NJ. But he spoke out and his business relations made what they think was the right money decision. He would have done the same thing.
I don't like forcing anybody into pc speak. But I do agree with a free market handling it, most of the time.

 

[Kalliope]

It was about race and it was racism. They didn't inter Americans of GERMAN heritage.

In fact, the Germans involved in WWII were able to call themselves a totally separate name: Nazis. Meanwhile the Japanese during and after the war were and always have been known and referred to only as JAPANESE.

I hope you're joking, as you're wrong. People with German heritage were interred in camps in the US.

 

[Mkrop]

I'm not saying he should get a free pass. But the level and experience of racism that George has experienced is far different and extreme than Clarence Thomas or a black from NJ nowadays. I think the backgrounds and experiences of people should be taken into account in regards to the comments they make.



I will paraphrase Whoopi Goldberg for when she was criticized for having differing, dissenting comments about Spike Lee, decades ago. People were saying, he was black and a brother, so she shouldn't be making comments against him. Her reply, which I saw on The View, so I'm not sure it there is a quote on the web anywhere, was (paraphrasing) that "Just because someone "is Black" and "a brother" doesn't give them a free pass and that they shouldn't call each other out when they disagree or think what they said/did is wrong."

I could not disagree more...and how do you know what kind of racism Justice Thomas has experienced? People are influenced by how they grew up, no doubt about that, but a racist comment is a racist comment, plain and simple. My FIL played baseball in the segregated South, he had friends who had to stay at other hotels bc of their race, he had friends who had to walk in the back entrance to the ballpark. And yet sometimes he makes racist comments...regardless of his background, his comments are still wrong and racist when he makes them today.

 

[Imzadi]

I haven't heard that at all, anywhere. (bolded)
If I remember correctly, he had a business deal go south with a mexican company and takled about that. (underlined bit)
To my understanding the outcry is about his comments regarding illegals. Now if you take the time to listen to all he said, he named other countries where illegals are coming from as well. In the beginning of him talking he did specify Mexico as sending not their best and brightest over the borders illegally, but the ones with problems. Gang members, drugs, thieves, rapists etc...He also qualified that there were some good people coming as well, but that there were an awful lot NOT so good. Then he expanded to name the other countries as well.

Did he say it eloquently? No. But, the facts are the facts. There ARE decent folks coming across illegally and we need to fix immigration so the decent folks have an easier time coming in LEGALLY. But a lot of them? Trumps not far off. Now let's stop talking about him. Defending him is weirding me out.

I hadn't been paying attention to all that. I figured he was just spewing stuff to prove why he'd be a good president. I did hear he wanted to bomb all the oil fields in Iran (or somewhere like that.)

I heard about him barring them from his golf course, but that was his response to them AFTER Univision's refusal to air the pageant.

That's what I was referring to.

Then my opinion would be it's a tit for tat business move and nothing to do with their ancestry.

Okay, the news blub I heard inferred it was about them being Hispanic and soon afterward NBC fired him.

I usually don't get in on these err, more current event topics. Wow, they really go in different directions.

Have to go back to work. Everyone play nice. We don't want people getting banned/suspended over this. (Not meaning that I'd report anyone who disagreed with me. I just don't want to lose any of you for squabbling with each other. )

 

[pat fan]

They didn't inter Americans of GERMAN heritage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_German_Americans

 

[TLSnell1981]

Okay, the news blub I heard inferred it was about them being Hispanic and soon afterward NBC fired him.

I usually don't get in on these err, more current event topics. Wow, they really go in different directions.

Oh no, biased "reporting"? I'm totally shocked!

 

[CPT Tripss]

To be fair, what happened in WWII had zero to do with race & all to do with heritage. It wasn't right, but it wasn't racism.

As for George himself, I'm not going to get too outraged over a single comment.

If it wasn't about race and was all about heritage, then where was the sweeping relocation of entire families, entire communities and confiscation of property and businesses as well as all the concentration camps for American citizens and legal residents of German heritage? The limited number of "Germans" punished were individually investigated and most received due process. That wasn't the situation with the Japanese. They got summary judgement based merely on race and national origin.

 

[CPT Tripss]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_German_Americans

OK, 0.09% of the ethnic Germans in the U.S. using the same criteria used to define Japanese. And they were individually investigated with there being evidence that many of them engaged in espionage. By and large the men among the millions of ethnic Germans were permitted to join the Military and fight in Europe in units not specifically limited to "Germans."

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm not saying he should get a free pass. But the level and experience of racism that George has experienced is far different and extreme than Clarence Thomas or a black from NJ nowadays. I think the backgrounds and experiences of people should be taken into account in regards to the comments they make.



I will paraphrase Whoopi Goldberg for when she was criticized for having differing, dissenting comments about Spike Lee, decades ago. People were saying, he was black and a brother, so she shouldn't be making comments against him. Her reply, which I saw on The View, so I'm not sure it there is a quote on the web anywhere, was (paraphrasing) that "Just because someone "is Black" and "a brother" doesn't give them a free pass and that they shouldn't call each other out when they disagree or think what they said/did is wrong."

People can be called out.

But when they use bigoted terminology while doing it, they should be called out and not excused. They don't get a free pass to use bigotry even if they are calling out bigotry.

 

[mnrose]

It was wrong. And, he should apologize.

I don't like Clarence Thomas at.all. I believe it when Anita Hill said he was a sexist pig and that he harassed her. Haven't liked him one bit since then, having absolutely nothing to do with his race. I also don't believe he is, eh, the brightest Supreme Court justice we've ever had.

But, none of that is an excuse for using racially charged words about him or to him.

 

[Sanchez]

It was wrong. And, he should apologize.

I don't like Clarence Thomas at.all. I believe it when Anita Hill said he was a sexist pig and that he harassed her. Haven't liked him one bit since then, having absolutely nothing to do with his race. I also don't believe he is, eh, the brightest Supreme Court justice we've ever had.

But, none of that is an excuse for using racially charged words about him or to him.

Ah yes, the non-excuse excuse. This thread gets more comical by the minute.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

It was about race and it was racism. They didn't inter Americans of GERMAN heritage.

In fact, the Germans involved in WWII were able to call themselves a totally separate name: Nazis. Meanwhile the Japanese during and after the war were and always have been known and referred to only as JAPANESE.

Germany didn't attack the US, Japan did. And the US didn't inter everyone who looked Japanese, only those who were Japanese.

 

[Goon]

George Takei and his family has suffered and knows more about RACISM than most people on this board or in America. I believe he has a right to air his own opinion on RACISM and in calling out others who he feels haven't a clue about what it is REALLY. His family, during World War II was taken from their home and put into the Japanese internment camps and lived in a small shack for many years. Like the other Japanese families, they have NEVER. RECEIVED. FAIR. RECOMPENSE. for the lost years, suffering or lost possessions during those years.

As a a gay Asian male, he has been on the receiving end of more racism & prejudice from his own race, as well the haters who just hate all gays. YET he has been, for a loooong time, a strong advocate for gay rights in America when it wasn't a socially or politically correct thing to do.

Before anyone goes to string him up to a pole to beat him, tie him to a wooden cross to whip him, or drag him by a chain behind a pick up truck,

I'd like to see proof that his first amendment right to speak his opinions against his government have been stripped away YET. AGAIN.

We live in some very dangerous times and are sliding on a very slippery slope when people can't dissent with each other (as inelegantly as his anger was stated) without other people, especially ones who have NOT suffered racism to the level he has, wanting to "rake him over the coals."

Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I am glad to know I can avail myself of my personal and family shared tragedy when engaging in racism...I'll be sure to pass the info on to my Jewish friends; "hey, go hog wild with the N word...after all, your grandpa was in the holocaust!"

Seriously though...if you for a second are implying that it's ok to be racist, or that the whole of society is simply misunderstanding takei because he had a hard life, just be sure to have that same opinion (and openmimdedness) the next time a straight white conservative gets caught saying something like this.

But let's be honest...the real message here is that Clarence Thomas (according to the media) doesn't get the right to be offended because, as a minority, he picked the wrong political party. We all know if rick Perry said this about Obama there would be an uprising of EPIC proportions.

And LOL at anyone saying Takei was simply referring to theatre...thats like saying uncle Tom is a term of endearment.

 

[mnrose]

Ah yes, the non-excuse excuse. This thread gets more comical by the minute.

Sigh.

Apparently, no matter what Mr. Takai says, other than falling on his sword and committing hari-kari will be good enough.

Look, it was WRONG to say what he said (and he has already apologized in a very public fashion). I said it was WRONG to say what he said. But, guess what, I STILL don't like him, nor do I have to.

Snide comments like this won't help.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Uncle George (as he often calls himself) has rightfully apologized.

He still disagrees and stated that disagreement in a non-bigoted way.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1299475283415255&id=205344452828349

 

[Mkrop]

Good to see him apologize....his phrasing was awful despite his anger.

 

[Topper]

As a 52 year old, gay white male, I find Mr. Takei's statements offensive.
I find his explanation offensive
and I find his "regret" offensive.

I would have more respect for people if they would just own their words.

 

[Miskey]

George Takei and his family has suffered and knows more about RACISM than most people on this board or in America. I believe he has a right to air his own opinion on RACISM and in calling out others who he feels haven't a clue about what it is REALLY. His family, during World War II was taken from their home and put into the Japanese internment camps and lived in a small shack for many years. Like the other Japanese families, they have NEVER. RECEIVED. FAIR. RECOMPENSE. for the lost years, suffering or lost possessions during those years.

As a a gay Asian male, he has been on the receiving end of more racism & prejudice from his own race, as well the haters who just hate all gays. YET he has been, for a loooong time, a strong advocate for gay rights in America when it wasn't a socially or politically correct thing to do.

Before anyone goes to string him up to a pole to beat him, tie him to a wooden cross to whip him, or drag him by a chain behind a pick up truck,

I'd like to see proof that his first amendment right to speak his opinions against his government have been stripped away YET. AGAIN.

We live in some very dangerous times and are sliding on a very slippery slope when people can't dissent with each other (as inelegantly as his anger was stated) without other people, especially ones who have NOT suffered racism to the level he has, wanting to "rake him over the coals."

Well said!

 

[Ambear]

This is kinda random, but I've always found his fans calling him Uncle George insanely creepy for some reason.

I mostly like takei but this was just a stupid choice of words. His apology isnt sincere in the slightest. I follow his facebook and he had posts whining and trying to defend his words. He only apologized when the majority of his cult followers found fault with him. But I still like following him cause his minion staff find the funniest crap on the internet lol.

 

[dokey]

Wow! Just Wow