Sulu would be proud.
Openly gay actor and activist George Takei, best known for playing Sulu on Star Trek and being sassy on the internet, has started a Care2 petition in support of Muslim Americans, and it’a clearly striking a nerve.
Related: George Takei: Star Trek’s Gay Sulu Scene Didn’t Go Far Enough
In Takei’s “Stand Up for Muslims in the U.S.” petition, he uses his family’s history of internment in the United States to illustrate his concern regarding the incoming administration’s xenophobic rhetoric regarding Muslims:
How about we take this to the next level?
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We were prisoners in our own country, held within barbed wire compounds, armed guards pointing guns down at us. It was an egregious violation of our rights under the U.S. Constitution, all in the name of “security.” During that time, fear and racism drove government policy, creating a living hell for over 120,000 innocent Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens.
On Trump’s calls for an immigration “ban” he says:
It starts with a registry, with restrictions, with irrationally ascribed guilt, and with fear. But we know well where it might lead.
The fear of a Muslim internment camp or registry isn’t as far-fetched as it seems. A Trump backer appeared on Fox News last fall and argued the Japanese internment set a “precedent” for a potential Muslim registry.
The petition’s goal is 65,000 signatures, but with 62k already signed and counting, it’s well on its way to surpassing that mark.
Related: George Takei gives Trump a reminder of the profound horror of nuclear weapons
Once the goal is met, Takei plans to present the petition in person to government authorities, as well as the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
ChrisK
I wonder how muslims would handle a “stand with the gays” petition in their home countries. Hmm…
Heywood Jablowme
Sympathy should not let us forget the fact that there were NO acts of terrorism or sabotage by Japanese-Americans during WWII, even in Hawaii (where they were not interned at all).
By contrast, Muslim-American citizens in recent years have actually committed a few acts of terrorism. There’s a difference that shouldn’t be entirely overlooked.
KaiserVonScheiss
I don’t agree with an outright ban on Muslim immigrants, but they need to be vetted, and there should be restrictions from more extreme countries like those with high Salafi populations.
Muslims, as human beings, have rights; Islam, as an idea, does not have rights. Islam, like all religion, is a terrible idea. Anyone with half a brain knows this to be true, but so many are afraid to admit it because it isn’t politically correct to criticise the religion of peace.
The “leave the religion out of it” argument is absurd. The religion plays a large role in homophobia, terrorism, female genital mutilation, and a lack of rights for women.
How can we expect Islam to reform if the bad parts aren’t criticised?
asa1973
@ChrisK: The USA is the home country for most Muslim Americans…
asa1973
@KaiserVonScheiss: There is already a very strong vetting process in place.
grero
Google “52% of British Muslims in poll think homosexuality should be illegal.” It’s on CNN even! Why are gays so adamant about supporting a group that on average is SO MUCH against same-sex everything??
MikeColling83
It is possible to both criticize a religion and protect people’s right to practice said religion. As long as practicing the religion does not infringe on the rights of other Americans.
wade.l
@grero: What would be the the percentage of British Christians in the same poll?
ChrisK
@grero: The same poll (pewresearch.org/) shows that 92% of atheists support SSM. I support people finding a way out of their insanity. Nothing will change till then.
1EqualityUSA
Assimilation is key. Our too near past had everybody hating the other. Keep beliefs from encroaching on any persons. Blurring the lines between religion and politics is dangerous. Neither enhances either. The precedent set, problematic, unless Church and State remain disentangled. The government cannot fund religion. Churches should stand or fall based on talent. Empty pews, bad news. Unable? The capacity to win hearts cannot thrive in Congress, nor in futile laws, overturned for coercion. Strife, though we’re fortunate to have such a diverse pool from which to problem solve. These different minds researching diseases, innovating, pulling the cart as a team. It’s not all that grim. Just keep your beliefs. I do not want to adhere to your vision, nor would I expect this in return.
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
I do NOT stand with a cult that kills gays and all others where ever it spreads.
monroerob69
We don’t even take care of our own citizens and they want to bring in more. Our VA is a wreck, people dieing waiting for appts. Suicide rate is beyond belief. Yeah, let’s bring in people who want to kill us.
DarkZephyr
@grero: Its not so much “supporting that group” as it is supporting freedom. Not all Muslim Americans are anti-gay.
@monroerob69: unrelated to the issue of Muslim Americans.
Juanjo
I am always amused at the “I hate Muslims” crowd who trot out cherry picked statistics to support their hatred. In the US 45% of Christians believe that gays should not be allowed to marry or adopt children. Just under half, 48% think homosexuality should be illegal. And guess what? In the United States, the number for Muslims on the exact same issues are essentially identical.
http://reason.com/blog/2016/06/13/in-america-muslims-are-more-likely-to-su
As for the claim that there were no acts of espionage or other support for Japan by Japanese-Americans at all is not quite correct. There were a very small handful but there were some. Of the 158,000 Japanese-Americans on Hawaii in 1941 [40% of the population of the territory] there are a few instances prior to and after the attack on Pearl. One Japanese-American who lived on a hill overlooking Pearl Harbor had kept a daily account of the ships arriving and departing which gave the Japanese a good idea of what ships were there at any given point in time and more importantly, where they were moored. He even took photos which he passed to a driver for the Japanese consulate along with his observations of ship traffic. Japanese pilots were instructed that of they were shot down over Oahu they were to phone one of a couple of numbers and someone would pick them up and take them to a safe house until a submarine could pick them up. But pilots were also told that if possible they should make it Niiahu which the Japanese believed was uninhabited. In fact there were roughly 120 people living there including two Japanese-American men. One of those men assisted a pilot in taking over one of the village and holding the inhabitants at gunpoint for a part of a day and a night until they were overcome by one of the villagers who took them by surprise and was badly wounded in the fight.
But the fact is that the number of unfaithful Japanese-Americans was minuscule as is the number of Muslim Americans who have committed acts of terrorism. Of the roughly 4 million Muslim-Americans acts of terror by that group are identified as 109 acts in a 20 year time period.
Muslims in the US tend to be a highly educated and professional group of people who hold political and social views mirroring the remainder of American society. You are far more likely to be killed by a Christian extremist in the USA than by a Muslim.
grero
@DarkZephyr: Sure, right now, we have few Muslims. We probably have the better ones in the US, that’s often how it works with immigrant groups. The first waves are motivated, etc.
Look at Britain, France, Germany and the problems they’re having. In Britain, Muslims are about 5% of the population. Germany 6%, France 8%. US, still only 1%.
grero
@Juanjo: “Muslims in the US tend to be a highly educated and professional group of people who hold political and social views mirroring the remainder of American society.” Sure, but what guarantee is there that the Muslims coming in the future will be of that sort? Check out Europe. The Muslims they’re getting now are not of that sort.
Mo Bro
George Takei started a pro-Islam petition?
Wow, he really IS the bravest American out there.
Well, I guess there certainly will be no more Muslim terror attacks on U.S. soil.
Actors—they can resolve any global threat, am I right?
1EqualityUSA
Let’s take the names of the Republicans who are voting for Senator Jefferson Beauregard “Jeff” Sessions III. This is where we start.
1EqualityUSA
If one were to advise Russia on when to encroach, planning future exports, a businessman could win an award and access to oil deposits. Obama was chided for not showing strength when Crimea was annexed. Wouldn’t it be House-of-Cards-twisted if this advisor, now, rebuked?
Black Pegasus
George is damned fool. Muslims are among the most evil people walking the earth. Their women are subjugated, gays among them are killed or jailed, and they hate western culture because with extend liberties to women and gays.
Stilinski26
Gays defending Muslims is like Jews defending the Nazis
RiBrad
Maybe George’s time would be better spent fighting to defend the gays and women who are unjustly murdered in Muslim countries. Muslims have never been persecuted in the US, but gays in Muslim countries are thrown off buildings and women are stoned to death for adultery. Get some perspective, George.
Daggerman
…the Muslim religion IS the most nonsensical religion. In reality they cannot face the facts of life and feel nature is something which needs dismissing. Their ignorance of accepting homosexuality is beyond unjust attitude. I believe they need to face up to reality…and stop destroying any natural tendencies ie: true love between real people.
GayEGO
In America, Muslims are becoming better educated as education is what helps people to learn and evolve. Unfortunately in some foreign countries their leaders suppress their people from being educated about the facts because their leaders are afraid of losing control. As long as Muslims stand up and denounce terrorism and help us, we must help them achieve the American dream.
ChrisK
@GayEGO: I know what you mean. Places like Great Britain have done so much to keep their population ignorant. No wonder their Muslims hate gay people.
ChrisK
@RiBrad: Yeah, but not sure I’d want to be the one to take the message over to enlighten them.
rcktetr
What an embarrassment to gay people. I like that comment it’s like the Jews defending nazis. There are some great Arabic people. I have even dated a few. But we have to be realistic. THis religion is not our friend. And yes, spend some time defending gay Muslims stuck in the Middle East. Like I said, there are a lot of great Arab people outthere. Even gay ones (trust me I know). But realistically the only country is the entire Middle East I wouldn’t fear for my life is Israel. Christianity And Americans there are a lot of work to do as well.
Ogre Magi
Muslims are worthy of nothing but our hate
1EqualityUSA
Who is next?
Stilinski26
@ChrisK: Umm no! I am from England and people here are very welcoming, Muslims hate gays because its considered a sin in their religion.