Why I love a country that once betrayed me | George Takei

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
  • When he was a child, George Takei and his family were forced into an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, as a "security" measure during World War II. 70 years later, Takei looks back at how the camp shaped his surprising, personal definition of patriotism and democracy.
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ความคิดเห็น • 3.8K

  • @darkhank942
    @darkhank942 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2698

    The real hero in this story is George Takei's father. He is the one who set fundamentals of the current Mr. Takei's views. The amazing man that didn't blame US and stopped the poisonous hatred chain. The story did make me tear up. I can only imagine what happened at that day in the camp.
    Great speech

    • @Redpoppy80
      @Redpoppy80 8 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      We need to hear more of these speeches! It would do all of us good.

    • @nelson-al4663
      @nelson-al4663 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I wonder if the fight that Japanese unit won were against Japanese Army. Not sure if they would kill other Japaneses because they traditionally have strong culture roots, even remotes descendants.
      Imprisonment of Japaneses was practiced for several countries during WWII because in that time to reveal Army, Air Force or Navy position for a enemy inside your territory was a huge disadvantage. In other words, one Japanese informing via radio any American army position to Japanese Air Force could be catastrophic. As you couldn't individualize that one person's behave, the only way was arrest every Japanese and their descendants unfortunately. But Japan did worse with foreigners and Chineses and Koreans. That people was mostly killed by Japanese forces.
      Today maybe it wouldnt be necessary because fights are technological and you command everything from computers rooms and satellites.

    • @thebigitchy
      @thebigitchy 7 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      gotraingo the 442nd and 100th were deployed to Europe. There were over 6000 Japanese-Americans in the Military Intelligence Service who were sent to the Pacific.

    • @ValrickWelch
      @ValrickWelch 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      That is correct, the Japanese American forces were not allowed to fight in the Pacific theater.

    • @1969cmp
      @1969cmp 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Valrick Welch Understandable.

  • @SkepticalChris
    @SkepticalChris 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1052

    To hold onto hatred is easy.
    To forgive is a sign of an enlightened and loving person.
    George Takei is not a delusional man for loving America even though America imprisoned him and his family.
    He forgives them, but he continues to speak of those crimes, hoping that his nation will never repeat them again. He hopes for America to change, which is not a sign of hatred, but of love because he knows that his country is capable of re-achieving greatness.
    Btw, I'm Canadian.

    • @Matrix-wg2iq
      @Matrix-wg2iq 9 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      to hear this from a Canadian is laughable

    • @Trans909
      @Trans909 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Hey, Corey. That's what I meant by a thoughtful, well-constructed reply. I tend to agree with you on nearly everything you presented. I agree that an "effective" world government would be a whole lot better than the systems we have now: wars, unfair trade, worker abuse, etc. etc. The question is, of course, what constitutes "effective?" Nationalism--and pure human obstinacy--being what it is (annoying, mostly), we'll probably never see it. I think we both agree: there are a lot of crazy, fearful, angry people out there who can't make sense of this hypercomplex world because their brains haven't evolved enough to deal with it.
      But I'm really glad to see that there's at least one more goodhearted and smart person who can grasp the Big Picture. Stand tall and hang in there. Corey. You're one of the Good Guys. Thanks.

    • @SkepticalChris
      @SkepticalChris 8 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Canada, and all those nations that have committed these criminal acts have to be brought to justice and many have, including the Canadian Government. Everyone has skeletons in their closet that they have to resolve not just for others, but for themselves and to clear their consciences.

    • @skysthelimitvideos
      @skysthelimitvideos 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I laughed when I read that you were Canadian.

    • @rosesandsongs21
      @rosesandsongs21 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      +skysthe limitvideos You laughed when you read he was Canadian? Ok, and why is that? Do you think we don't have an army up here, or japanese people? Do you think we did not fight in WWII, that we aren't allowed to have an opinion, that we don't have heroes AND idiots like you... I mean like you do up here? Yes, we have all of that so what's your point exactly, if you have one of course...

  • @billheuer7640
    @billheuer7640 6 ปีที่แล้ว +559

    Mr. Takei, I applaud your lack of bitterness. I don;t think I could forgive what was done to you.

    • @randynundlall2601
      @randynundlall2601 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Bill Heuer thank you. That is how the Japanese descendants are! Look at the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the survivors are not bitter, they have forgiven the "hero" harry truman, the biggest c°,@≥#t!!!!

    • @blowme6345
      @blowme6345 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Bill Heuer boo hoo

    • @jaydani1996
      @jaydani1996 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@randynundlall2601 he was a hero nothing less

    • @saladfingersasmrparty9768
      @saladfingersasmrparty9768 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      David Moore I think what he means is he’s amazed by how George Takei doesn’t seem to hold any ill will towards the people who interred him, and that, if he were in Takei’s position, he’d be too overcome by (definitely justified) anger that he wouldn’t be able to forgive them.

    • @andrewtoombs3867
      @andrewtoombs3867 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Very difficult times to navigate

  • @Bill_of_Rights
    @Bill_of_Rights 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1196

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.
    Mark Twain

    • @Mikey-fo9mm
      @Mikey-fo9mm 5 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @Vote him Out Bro, Tom did mention "When it deserves it".

    • @seagoat1918
      @seagoat1918 5 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @Vote him Out You got that wrong. Nationalism is the belief that the existance of nations are legitimate. There are many types of nationalism, ethno-nationalism: each ethnicity should have their own nation built around that ethnicity (ethno-state), civic-nationalism: anyone can belong to a nation as long as they share the values of that country (example: the US), cultural nationalism: the nation is built upon people sharing the same culture, Pan-nationalism: creating a larger ethnic or cultural nation transcending traditional borders (example: pan-germanism, pan-slavism, pan scandinaviaism).
      Nationalism has nothing to do with supporting your governement, that is closer to patriotism than the other way around.

    • @seagoat1918
      @seagoat1918 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @Vote him Out Nationalism has nothing to do with loyalty, it is an ideology.

    • @seagoat1918
      @seagoat1918 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @Vote him Out Let's just give you this example. A nationalist wouldn't be "loyal" to a globalist/internationalist/imperialist government more than a socialist would be "loyal" to a capitalist governemt. Ofc anyone would be loyal to a government they agree with.

    • @maraudergun282
      @maraudergun282 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@Vote him Out That's because neo-luddite propaganda has convinced you Trump can't lead or unite. I promise he's doing both. I am not affiliated with a party either. But modern democrats oppose private property and national sovereignty. That's fucking treason, whether you are a dem or rep... we must unite under civil rights or be taken away by bolsheviks.

  • @diddy89king
    @diddy89king 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3413

    now this is the stuff the history books in grade school doesn't tell you about.

    • @thedarkknight646
      @thedarkknight646 8 ปีที่แล้ว +175

      The winners write the history books

    • @homelessend8557
      @homelessend8557 8 ปีที่แล้ว +61

      +diddy89king My schools teached me about this. Both in middle and high school. I also see it on TV shows that talk about American history.

    • @KidIndigo1
      @KidIndigo1 8 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      +Nicolas Cage the Extraterrestrial Ummm.... no offense, but "teached" you? Apparently not well.

    • @homelessend8557
      @homelessend8557 8 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      KidIndigo1 I'm sorry, but I don't see why you would say that. This discussion is over.

    • @evelyn9219
      @evelyn9219 8 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      +diddy89king My school taught about this....

  • @G1NZOU
    @G1NZOU 6 ปีที่แล้ว +655

    This is true partriotism.
    To love ones country, to be open to talking about its flaws, and most importantly being prepared to work to constantly improve one's country.
    No country is perfect or has a clean record, but with citizens who care enough to make it better, each country can become greater.

    • @ervinzhou8251
      @ervinzhou8251 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Not to mention they were not even citizens, and were kept in squalor and imprisonment by the very country they fought for

    • @blainetanner5531
      @blainetanner5531 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Harry Eaton easy for you to say

    • @crackerjack4833
      @crackerjack4833 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      That will only happen when all races realize... and I mean seriously realize what it *truly* means to be a *humanbeing* ... If someone is going to take advantage of another by any all means, or outright kill another person for whatever ... You will know who does not know what the true meaning of being human really is.
      Until that day comes... There will only be the few of us with that morality and mentality. Still, I am doing what I can to give the hint to the solution by making these very comments.
      Still, it never ceases to amaze me at how closed off so many people are to accepting diversity and progress as a species.

    • @MonicaSĪGÑofJõñãhYUNIS
      @MonicaSĪGÑofJõñãhYUNIS 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@crackerjack4833 Amen...Ameen....
      Beautiful words... Thank You....

    • @January.
      @January. 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      *its

  • @Dabednego
    @Dabednego 8 ปีที่แล้ว +961

    Considered a traitor for his ethnicity, considered a pervert for who he married. He's so kind, and wise, and introspective. Thank you Mr. Takei.

    • @Monochromicornicopia
      @Monochromicornicopia 7 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      +Wenbo Luo
      Neanderthals and humans interbred 40,000 years ago. We split from modern apes millions of years ago

    • @wenboluo5146
      @wenboluo5146 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      GDI OK then, he is a traitor for betraying his ancesters millions years ago.

    • @Monochromicornicopia
      @Monochromicornicopia 7 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @Wenbo Luo
      How? In what way is he a traitor?

    • @JazukaiX
      @JazukaiX 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      He is a traitor and a pervert

    • @ASleepyMoose
      @ASleepyMoose 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Well now that he is a known sexual predator I’d say he is quite a pervert.

  • @davidkosa
    @davidkosa 7 ปีที่แล้ว +161

    My uncle fought in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. As the oldest living survivor of that regiment, he recently died at 103. He was an amazing man. A police officer at one time, then a surgeon. I salute you, Uncle Y. Kudos to George Takei for this wonderful speech.

    • @Paraselene_Tao
      @Paraselene_Tao ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Thank you for sharing your story. I am not a religious theist, but I bless the folks who serve our community and do good while they're alive on this planet. Bless your Uncle Y, and may we all emulate his great character.

  • @Yo_uj
    @Yo_uj 5 ปีที่แล้ว +247

    People fell to their death and no one cried !!!WOW!!!
    RESPECT is all they deserve

    • @gendoruwo6322
      @gendoruwo6322 5 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      they didn't expect anyone would mourn them.
      they didn't expect anyone would thank them.
      they bore it all quietly and fight on.
      not just respect, they deserve greatest honors.

    • @EIBBOR2654
      @EIBBOR2654 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@gendoruwo6322
      What you stated is true about anyone that serves in the military. No one in the military expects anyone outside our family to mourn us if we are killed in war or doing our duty in pace time. No one in the military expects to be thanked for what we do or what we sacrifice during our time in volunteering for that service. Those that decide to make military service a career sacrifice a great deal more and never expect to be thanked.
      This is not meant to take away anything from the Americans of Japanese decent that served in the 442. As stated, the 442 was the most decorated unit of the war and suffered the highest casualties of the war. They proved themselves through all the prejudice, much of it stirred up by the government, news media and Hollywood. Unfortunately a lot of it turned out to be true because of the Japanese military and it's indoctrination to the Bushido code of behavior. Most of this stuff is not taught anymore but the information is still out there. Read about the Japanese Unit 721 sometime or the Rape of Nanking.
      Ujjwal Kumar
      For those that fell silently to their deaths, they did so as not to betray their comrades. Being in a unit like the 442 you develop a bond with the others you serve with and it is something closer than family. Unless you serve in the military it is very hard to understand and appreciate that bond. They knew if they screamed as they fell it would have given away the only advantage they had, a surprise attack from the enemies rear. It may sound strange to many but a Soldier fights for their brothers and sisters in arms first their country second.

    • @EverTheTwain
      @EverTheTwain 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@EIBBOR2654 lots to mull over in your comment

    • @rborne11xraytaz4
      @rborne11xraytaz4 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I lost one of my men in the mountains of Afghanistan the same way. We all prepped ourselves psychologically before the mountain night patrol. He didn't even whimpered. We all heard that thump almost 1000ft below us. And we kept going. But when we returned to our outpost three days later. Grown warriors cried like little boys, including myself.

  • @Arm4g3dd0nX
    @Arm4g3dd0nX 10 ปีที่แล้ว +785

    We look back at the Japanese-American internment with shock and incredulity. "How could we have ever been so naive?" And yet, if you listen to much of the rhetoric from the media about Muslims, you can see that we haven't grown much wiser.
    Thank you Takei. Hopefully people will be able to recognize the parallelism and attempt to understand one another complexly. To realize that propaganda controls only a portion of a people, and even those that are controlled by propaganda, were it not there, would be good people.

    • @minimaxhall
      @minimaxhall 10 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Spot on. :)

    • @Arm4g3dd0nX
      @Arm4g3dd0nX 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Jim Jansen If freedom of speech weren't a thing, I'd try to have you imprisoned for your extremely dumb statements.

    • @Hwyadylaw
      @Hwyadylaw 10 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Jim Jansen
      "they aren't killing anyone"
      Ok.

    • @Hwyadylaw
      @Hwyadylaw 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Jim Jansen
      Not sure if troll or intellectual

    • @Hwyadylaw
      @Hwyadylaw 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Arm4g3dd0nX
      The problem with that comparison is that the people you're talking to are 12 year old Nazi fanatics

  • @AlexanderArts
    @AlexanderArts 10 ปีที่แล้ว +287

    This is a story we need to be reminded of and George Takei was a great person to relay it.

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      No, this story needs to die with all the rest that were in that war. It will fade away a little more when Takei fades away.

    • @PizzaTimeGamingChannel
      @PizzaTimeGamingChannel ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@richardjosephnovak Horseshit. We need to remember history, warts and all, so that were are not doomed to repeat it.

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak ปีที่แล้ว

      @@PizzaTimeGamingChannel He is a man filled with vitriol, hate, and prejudice. The war is over. Unfortunately he was not wearing a red shirt on Star Trek.

    • @PizzaTimeGamingChannel
      @PizzaTimeGamingChannel ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@richardjosephnovak how is him describing the discrimination and racism he and his family faced through no fault of their own hatred or vitriol? Sounds to me like you would rather live in ignorance than actually acknowledge real history because it makes you uncomfortable. I wonder why...

    • @stephenwright8824
      @stephenwright8824 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@richardjosephnovak The only person Takei has anything like hatred and vitriol towards is that Jewish-Canadian anti-vaxxer butt-lick William Shatner.
      And before anyone accuses me of Anti-Semitism, I'm the great^2 grandson of a Jewish-Canadian woman..

  • @desuburinga
    @desuburinga ปีที่แล้ว +17

    George Takei's father is a true legend, to have that kind of injustice happened to him and still able to uphold his belief and educated a young George Takei what the essence of democracy means to him, is truly an amazing feat.

  • @dowddash
    @dowddash 10 ปีที่แล้ว +402

    Turn that clock off, Mr. Takei can talk as long as he wants. :D

    • @SlimThrull
      @SlimThrull 10 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Amen, brother.

    • @spunz83ify
      @spunz83ify 9 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      Amen! This guy and Morgan Freeman can talk as LONG as long as they want.

    • @cheesecakelasagna
      @cheesecakelasagna 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      suraj punjabi Oh god they need to be in a movie together!

    • @cheesecakelasagna
      @cheesecakelasagna 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      dowddash where did you get your profile pic though? (I know I'm late lol)

  • @jasonpatowsky6929
    @jasonpatowsky6929 8 ปีที่แล้ว +822

    Googled the 442nd and discovered that Daniel Inouye was in the 442nd also. Long story short, the guy was a combination of Rambo, Robocop and the Black Knight from Monthy Python and The Holy Grail.

    • @henderson4310
      @henderson4310 8 ปีที่แล้ว +49

      I believe that is why he was Hawai'i's Senator for so long.

    • @OverlordZephyros
      @OverlordZephyros 8 ปีที่แล้ว +46

      LOL I also googled it... a tear came out though, their bravery was over 9000 *salute*

    • @mukagila2940
      @mukagila2940 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      WTF i just read?! Is this real?

    • @maxaranyos7609
      @maxaranyos7609 7 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      yeah its real he lost his arm but kept fighting

    • @MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive
      @MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive 7 ปีที่แล้ว +59

      MerryWeatherGaming He pried a primed grenade out of his own severed arm and threw it at the guy who blew off his arm.

  • @janus2059
    @janus2059 5 ปีที่แล้ว +232

    "They all fell silently." Damn....

  • @aadhavaarasanraviarasan9614
    @aadhavaarasanraviarasan9614 8 ปีที่แล้ว +175

    His voice, omg, so majestic

    • @stoopidyoutubehandle
      @stoopidyoutubehandle 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      He played a character as Emperor Yoshiro in Red Alert 3(game)

    • @christianmahary3697
      @christianmahary3697 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He is also mulan's lead anscestor

    • @the_number_one
      @the_number_one 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Indian Americans need to learn it

    • @Wulf2604
      @Wulf2604 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Kamalakannan A R bruh lmfao

  • @OverlordZephyros
    @OverlordZephyros 8 ปีที่แล้ว +876

    442nd ... MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THEM!!

    • @harmlesstech1524
      @harmlesstech1524 8 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      one movie would be an understatement.

    • @JamieRobles1
      @JamieRobles1 8 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      You mean- many movies about 442nd? That's an idea I can back! :D

    • @ratanaklan
      @ratanaklan 7 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      They made a couple of movies
      > Go for Broke! (1951)
      > Nisei 100th Battalion 442nd Regimental Combat Team

    • @hmp0149
      @hmp0149 7 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Sad that many Americans don't know about them.

    • @Rensune
      @Rensune 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Lord Zephyros Video game would be Better.

  • @vignesh0208
    @vignesh0208 ปีที่แล้ว +82

    I came here after reading 'They called us Enemies', an autobiographical graphic novel based on George Takei's childhood. It details the events he describes here in much detail.
    It's a great read, I recommend that you read it, as it's a deeply emotional and enlightening work.

    • @carterdunlap9957
      @carterdunlap9957 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      They Called Us Enemy? We’re reading that book in my US History class and I love it as well!

    • @marionexley607
      @marionexley607 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      im reading it now, its an incredible book.

  • @juanmanuelpenaloza9264
    @juanmanuelpenaloza9264 8 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    This message needs to be shared with the Hispano-Americans and Muslim-Americans of today. If the Japanese-Americans made it from being hated to incorrectly associated with karate, karaoke, manga and anime, then who's to say the same won't happen for us. Takei is right in hanging on to our ideals for the nation we grew up in and love. The 442nd showed us the way, so let's follow.

    • @GGG-jd5mx
      @GGG-jd5mx 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What about black Americans

    • @maremaarten
      @maremaarten 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Well, please understand that black Americans and native Americans etc. have been part of the US WW2 war effort just as much as these 442nd troops. WW1 was even more so truly multi-ethnic. The lesson is general.

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      What is a Hispano?

    • @AG-JustYourAverageGuy
      @AG-JustYourAverageGuy 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Muslim Americans will never assimilate in America. It's impossible. Their culture is incompatible with everything but themselves.

    • @The_king567
      @The_king567 22 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      Nah most Japanese people supported the empire for a reason read a book

  • @aliciaacosta1750
    @aliciaacosta1750 8 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Mr. Takei, thank you for your wisdom and for sharing your amazing life story.

  • @fazbell
    @fazbell 5 ปีที่แล้ว +178

    Whst a great testimony. George Takai is a great speaker.

    • @torbjornlekberg7756
      @torbjornlekberg7756 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      That he is. A great speaker with a great voice.

    • @realscience948
      @realscience948 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      No more Star Trek movies left for George!!
      No more income??

    • @americasingapore822
      @americasingapore822 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      well, this concentration camp takei was talking about was brought to you be demoKKKrat named FDR...

    • @elcidgranada3549
      @elcidgranada3549 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @chjaka do elaborate?

    • @garydavis476
      @garydavis476 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @chjaka is n the closet.

  • @K8E666
    @K8E666 7 ปีที่แล้ว +137

    Amazing speech by an amazing man who was lucky enough to have real life heroes as parents ....

  • @wanderer8038
    @wanderer8038 7 ปีที่แล้ว +289

    Even tho I'm not an American but I respect this man so much.

    • @Super241946
      @Super241946 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      He's a dyed in the wool Anti-Trump er, communist queen! Should be banned. Just look at his twitter account!

    • @MrToontuber
      @MrToontuber 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      If he was a North Korean actor, this would be called propaganda.

    • @mariagomezacebo
      @mariagomezacebo 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      girghis yatooma And?

    • @swordoff7
      @swordoff7 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@mariagomezacebo
      You said it before me.

    • @HiTechOilCo
      @HiTechOilCo 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "Tho"? The hairy Ostrich? Tomorrow ham onions? What is this secret code, or do you mean *though*?

  • @castillelarkin
    @castillelarkin 5 ปีที่แล้ว +208

    8:28 the people's democracy is as flawed as its people. So important to understand. Thanks for sharing your experience, great talk

    • @americasingapore822
      @americasingapore822 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      nah, it's just the demoKKKrat...after all, it's the demoKKKrat FDR that put this guy in concentration camp...

    • @veronicaalleyne
      @veronicaalleyne 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      the unforgivable part is the energetic resistance toward improvement, rights are not pie, someone else gaining their rightful full measure lessens yours in no way at all, resistance is just done out of meanness

    • @sjwtard3709
      @sjwtard3709 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I fully agree and that's why I am so grateful the U.S. is not a Democracy.

    • @americasingapore822
      @americasingapore822 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@sjwtard3709 how is US is not a democracy?

    • @sjwtard3709
      @sjwtard3709 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@americasingapore822
      It is a contitional Republic.
      As stated in the Pledge of Allegiance
      ".....and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands, etc, etc."
      The founding fathers never wanted the U.S. to be a democracy. They saw it, and rightly so, as mob rule.
      Here is a short video that may help explain the difference;
      th-cam.com/video/SmY6svzI2mw/w-d-xo.html

  • @danukil7703
    @danukil7703 8 ปีที่แล้ว +185

    Why doesn't Takei run for the President of the United States? He holds dear ideas of model citizenship, and he certainly is qualified (at least constitutionally, but maybe in reality as well), so why hasn't he done so?

    • @csxconductor100
      @csxconductor100 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      i missed the part where he was born in the usa

    • @EnthrallingBass140
      @EnthrallingBass140 8 ปีที่แล้ว +54

      Born in Los Angeles

    • @ushksya1577
      @ushksya1577 8 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      he says 1:13 that he was born in la

    • @juanmanuelpenaloza9264
      @juanmanuelpenaloza9264 8 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      Would be nice to have Mr. Sulu instead of the guy from The Apprentice

    • @danukil7703
      @danukil7703 8 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Juan Manuel Penaloza I think we all would rather have had President Takei. Well, except for some people.

  • @bonebard6178
    @bonebard6178 7 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    "they hated us because we looked like the enemy" sounds familiar

  • @sharonrose340
    @sharonrose340 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    👏👏👏 I'm giving George and his father a standing ovation.

  • @McMurchie
    @McMurchie 10 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    "you fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice and you won". That made me cry

  • @heyaapl
    @heyaapl 10 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Thank you for sharing your story George.

  • @restoretheearth2829
    @restoretheearth2829 5 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    Wow, Lieutenant Sulu, I was crying for the entire last half of your talk. You show the effects of rising above adversity. Love and hugs from Texas.

  • @silver2zilver
    @silver2zilver 8 ปีที่แล้ว +386

    I didn't like George Takei before, I felt he was short changing the truth. This is an incredible story, and a powerful perspective from George. Thank you.

    • @ethankarr1239
      @ethankarr1239 8 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      It's good to see people supporting the truth.

    • @quineloe
      @quineloe 8 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      short changing the truth about what?

    • @Exportionist
      @Exportionist 8 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      I think it is some times hard to be fully transparent when you have seen your race discriminated against and your sexuality. Maybe his short changing the truth is him protecting himself from racism and homophobia. Thankfully the younger generations aren't as racist or homophobic. But these are still two very problematic areas for some. We are getting there.

    • @DronZizzle
      @DronZizzle 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      i still don't like him because of his hypocrisy towards trump. Takei admitted to molesting underage male models on the howard stern show with zero backlash from media

    • @jpjp9111
      @jpjp9111 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      How could someone not like George takai?

  • @HillaryCampbell
    @HillaryCampbell 7 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    George has faced so much opposition in his life. I am amazed by his ability to turn his pain into love. He is my hero.

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Your kidding right. He is an elitist multi millionaire bigoted hate monger who spews nothing but hate. Find a better mentor before it is too late.

  • @Monstrikster
    @Monstrikster 5 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    There are still legendary people out there. Probably more than we think.

  • @Emz351
    @Emz351 9 ปีที่แล้ว +344

    This left me shaking my head in disbelief. I had no idea that this happened during WWII! Absolutely shocking, and certInly not something they teach in school! What all those innocent families must have felt like being treated like criminals :(

    • @magicsinglez
      @magicsinglez 9 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      Emz351 I hate to shock your sensibilities even more. German and Italian Americans were interred in the USA during WW2 also. You should start a movement insisting we apologize.

    • @magicsinglez
      @magicsinglez 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      wow, let your true feelings out. Conventional wisdom is very much on your side. There is a possibility, however, this can't actually be blamed on japanese militarism, or even the 'unique evil of japanese militarism'. There is a possibility, that the most disciplined troops were the ones Least likely to commit war crimes during the war. The only evidence of this would be that the worst war crimes occurred early in their military campaigns. So perhaps their over discipline was a response to these war crimes and an attempt to prevent it in the future. They were not the evil themselves. Never-the-less, you make your point. I guess there are times leftists/those in the mainstream don't like Really like cultural relativism. Those times would be all times while they are promoting the idea White European men - bad. Everyone else amazingly good.

    • @ArcaneCowboy
      @ArcaneCowboy 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Colin Silver Schools can get away with not spending more then ten minutes on this. Depends where you went to school.

    • @FishJJFish
      @FishJJFish 9 ปีที่แล้ว +49

      Emz351 They do teach it in school, though.

    • @tuns-fk1lb
      @tuns-fk1lb 9 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      They teach this in school. It's just different hearing it from someone who experienced it first hand

  • @gothatfunk
    @gothatfunk 9 ปีที่แล้ว +428

    George Takei is an impressive man.

    • @lennyfais5040
      @lennyfais5040 9 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      +gothatfunk Indeed he is!

    • @stolasish1184
      @stolasish1184 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Indeed

    • @NightridewithNikki
      @NightridewithNikki 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      gothatfunk he is the only person from Star Trek: TOS that I would consider an honor to meet

    • @garywilson3042
      @garywilson3042 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      chiuansheng that is not proven. People like you who fall for sensationalist propaganda are a stain on human social evolution. Please re-educate yourself and THINK for yourself.

    • @anthony452
      @anthony452 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Guy is just another weasel who's only concerned with morals when he is judging others.

  • @undeadfrak
    @undeadfrak 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    This is something that deserves a movie, the 442nd deserve their own movie.

    • @The_Viscount
      @The_Viscount 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      There's a movie, although it isnt a big budget film. And, sadly, isn't a great film. I'd love a good big budget film.

    • @bbryant2485
      @bbryant2485 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      They did make one decades ago cant remember the name.

    • @AvePalanthe
      @AvePalanthe 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "Come see the paradise", a 1990s movie with Dennis Quaid, watched it as a child in Germany. Couldn't believe it happened, looked it up as an adult.

    • @tulayamalavenapi4028
      @tulayamalavenapi4028 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "Go For Broke".... saw it on Utube... Good watch!

  • @zeroeffects88
    @zeroeffects88 10 ปีที่แล้ว +829

    This is what true patriotism sounds like, not the fucking annoying fools who confuse it with nationalism.

    • @TheWaxonator
      @TheWaxonator 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Beau Bassett Ja! This person is kinda correct! we need to increase Nationalism. BUT everything in moderation unless we want another Facist europe.....

    • @LadyB_miniatures
      @LadyB_miniatures 9 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      +Jung Sung Bak wtf? Racist much

    • @roc2576
      @roc2576 9 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      +Simone Lymbery Not exactly wtf. From his name, he would appear to be Korean. Korea suffered beyond description at the hands of the Japanese during WW2. Look up Japanese war crimes on wikipedia.
      You have to understand, there are still people alive in these countries that went through these events. Regardless of how you think about their beliefs, its hardly surprising that they exist.

    • @jjkent4551
      @jjkent4551 9 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      +iHatebologna59 Patriotism and nationalism are not two words for the same thing, all nationalists are patriots, but not all patriots are nationalists. Patriots are proud of their country and prepared to die to defend it. Nationalists believe that every culture should have a country of their own, they are proud of their own culture and prepared to die for the country of their culture.
      Thus nationalists can't be multiculturalists while patriots can. The men Takei admired who were part of the 442:nd unit were most certainly patriots, and most certainly not nationalists. There were however most likely lots of other american soldiers who likewise died for their country in WWII, but who were nationalists. If you were to ban all the nationalists from the army you'd have a much smaller army, in European countries you would likely exclude most soldiers.

    • @suakwon3602
      @suakwon3602 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Jung Sung Bak Jesus Christ, your Korean and you hate what they did to your country, but that's in the past

  • @jennamarcus4283
    @jennamarcus4283 9 ปีที่แล้ว +716

    George Takei should run for president.

  • @resurrectionx5952
    @resurrectionx5952 5 ปีที่แล้ว +61

    Prejudice is such a low vibration and i know this video will help few people to defeat it and be victorious. Well played Sir. Thank you for sharing with us intimate details of your life.

  • @blackopsguy1023
    @blackopsguy1023 8 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    All these people saying "why don't we teach this in schools" are likely pretty ignorant. I grew up in six different states and seven different schools, and heard about it in every single one. If you took AP US history, it's a 100% guarantee that you would've heard of it. I knew about this even before being taught in school because I don't live under a rock; I read books and was already familiar with this before about second or third grade. Most people never pay any mind, and just forget, all those whiners included. This was horrible, but one benefit was that the Japanese espionage system in America was effectively none.

    • @lucasm4299
      @lucasm4299 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Kurt Roundstone
      I'm taking it now and we openly speak about politics and this nations faults including Native Americans.
      They tell us straight up.

    • @dagmak5988
      @dagmak5988 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Kurt Roundstone, you do realize that Japanese-Americans served not just in Europe, but as code breakers, right? The victories at Midway and the ambush of Admiral Yamamoto were so successful because of the code breaking efforts of the US's ethnic Japanese population!

  • @quickzilver333
    @quickzilver333 8 ปีที่แล้ว +95

    And Yet Some of us Americans never learn from History. Some treated Muslim Americans as terrorist even politicians agreed. We have over 3,000 Muslim/Americans Serving and some even paid the ultimate price.

    • @kraken-sx2ys
      @kraken-sx2ys 8 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      by the way, I didn't know Muslims was an race? tought it was arabs, kurds, etc. (different groups'etc) isn't an person described as an Muslim someone believing in Islam? but I got what your saying tho...

    • @bew7192
      @bew7192 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      there are no races... peoples, nations... but no races!

    • @Jerh1985
      @Jerh1985 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Ryan you can judge people based on belief/ideals/words and that is fine but race/gender and the like is disgusting. Now when I say judging I mean more of an view of them as a person, example if you say evolution is false I am going to judge your intelligence as lacking but I may like you in many other aspects. Now I don't know much about Jews to have any feelings for them either way but if say they had beliefs along the lines of say Mormon's and their magic underwear I would again look down on said belief.
      Note I don't think one belief or view determines the complete value of a person but it certainly plays a part in coming to a conclusion on said person.

    • @curious_one1156
      @curious_one1156 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Kendrik There are1.5 billion Muslims in this world.
      even 1% equals 15 million.
      I guarantee you,the number of extremists is a small minority,lesser than 1%,but that still comes to a considerable number.
      Ever considered the Muslims of Turkey,India and Indonesia,who are not bigoted and mostly peaceful?
      They together form more than 50% of the global Islamic population.

    • @flamma6096
      @flamma6096 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      quickzilver3333 Islam is a flawed ideology

  • @The_Harylaba
    @The_Harylaba 5 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Thank you sir. I never knew you before now but now I know how great you are

  • @DonniesBoStaff
    @DonniesBoStaff 7 ปีที่แล้ว +82

    I want a collection of George Takei audio books. His voice is so smooth.

  • @Wifi_Cable
    @Wifi_Cable 10 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    He has a far better will than I ever could. I envy his ability to forgive and attempt to change his country which harmed in such a way. To have Japanese-Americans eagerly jump into combat is surprising to say the least.
    It angers me when people say "If you don't like it, leave the country." No, because that is the weak persons way out. The actual response should be "If you don't like it, do something about it."

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      He in no way has forgiven, he makes that very clear and has for decades. And why are you surprised that the Japanese were ready for war. They came from a ancient imperialistic waring nation.

  • @6catsinanalley
    @6catsinanalley 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    When we learned about the internment camps my teacher just brushed it off and said that they were all ok and were just moved to another place for a while. As a Japanese American myself I was kinda pissed and even my friends didn’t think it was anything that big of a deal

  • @Jessimus
    @Jessimus 10 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I enjoyed this.
    Whether or not people agree with what he's saying, TED is about sharing ideas and thoughts. George is recounting his tale, and showing incredible wisdom and grace by setting a good example of forgiveness and holding the country he loves to a higher ideal.
    America as a governmental body may be doing that which he, or we all, disagree, but George is saying the foundation is a pure ideal, and the people of the country (and the world) have good in their hearts and must strive for better.

  • @stevensong8784
    @stevensong8784 7 ปีที่แล้ว +132

    11:47 - 13:55
    Marvelous tale George Takei. Thank you for sharing! And yes, people should be characterized by their actions, not ethnicity.

    • @frankom2862
      @frankom2862 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      tell that the SJWs, LGBTQ+, democrats and antifas....

    • @OfficialJPryde
      @OfficialJPryde 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@frankom2862 Seems like you missed the point, the ironically behooves you.

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      And Takei the mutli million dollar elitist has done no good.

  • @mikethehero2
    @mikethehero2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    His parents were heroes! I can only imagine how hard they had to work to get back on their feet for the children!

  • @krabkit
    @krabkit 10 ปีที่แล้ว +141

    this was hard to watch because...i had something in my eye the whole time

    • @dragsigma
      @dragsigma 10 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Me too..

    • @mattattack75
      @mattattack75 10 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      I see what you did there... though i too had something in my eye

    • @howardfortyfive9676
      @howardfortyfive9676 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Too bad it wasn't an ice pick.

  • @mrzack888
    @mrzack888 10 ปีที่แล้ว +164

    these comments are awful. it used to be only non inbred people watched ted videos.

    • @MastaGambit
      @MastaGambit 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      mrzack888 You might actually have game grumps to partly blame for that lol

  • @Choc-Ice
    @Choc-Ice 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Wow, I don't understand why these kind of stories aren't learnt from and passed down in generations. I really do feel for anyone having to deal with the plight of war, especially when it is one you have specifically chosen to distance yourself from and put disbelief in, just to get persecuted for the face that you wear. Well done humanity! Really good show!? 😔

  • @cats-hv2lm
    @cats-hv2lm 8 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    His heartfelt speech... It almost brought me to tears.... I don't cry often, so that's saying something. George Takei is quite an admirable man.

  • @achildfromafrica5456
    @achildfromafrica5456 7 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    I'm one minute into this video and I've come to the conclusion that:
    I LOVE THIS MAN

  • @thomasuata
    @thomasuata 6 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    I find myself humbled and fight back emotion - the ideals of this democracy is dependent on good men making a stand. Wow...what a story of bravery.

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Kabuki Kitsune You got that right. Coming from an ancient imperialistic waring nation they were ready to go kill a bunch of Europeans for sure.

  • @frederick-nrunkkamara103
    @frederick-nrunkkamara103 7 ปีที่แล้ว +131

    Betrayal by the people you love is awful

    • @gialovebellachild4339
      @gialovebellachild4339 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Frederick-Nrunk Kamara It is the WORST of all pain that can be inflicted on a child. Even an adult.
      Today it's normal to be indifferent to our family. To be indifferent to anyone who is suffering.
      I never thought I'd be alive to see it happen. And have it happen to me and my youngest.
      The impression that vast money gives is these are successful people because they do right.
      Wich is completely opposite.
      I watched as my daughter suffered from afar.
      His crimes ignored. Therefore validating the lies my eldest helped my ex created in order to punish me for calling police after he tried to kill me in front of our daughter.
      For 10 years.
      No home.
      No family.
      No holidays.
      No help.
      No idea where my daughter is.

    • @peteraddison626
      @peteraddison626 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Gia Love ... Oh, I am so sorry to read your short but very powerful story. And for 4 months no reply. Well, I hear you and I feel you, and I really hope that you some how find some resolve. And, if you wish to converse, talk, or vent, just answer this message. Good luck to you for now and the future. Love. PDA. xox

    • @magicdolphin8436
      @magicdolphin8436 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @J M So you're saying that people who were imprisoned for belonging to a racial group were mad for being wrongfully imprisoned? Wow, shocker. And stop being a prejudiced asshat, some Japanese Americans left to join Japan, but most didn't. The Germans also declared war on us, so why didn't we send German Americans to concentration camps? FDR was not right to intern them, it's the stain on his legacy, the US Government apologized for it for feck's sake.

    • @duck848
      @duck848 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @J M ah yes. selling the country as the "land of opportunities" (don't forget that some of them came here for a better life) and then violating their rights definitely left a great impression on them. *sarcasm*
      stop being an asshat. the majority of issei men were detained with no evidence and might i add that 18 caucasians were tried for spying for japan and 10 were convicted of it (including a former us navy officer).

    • @liner011f7
      @liner011f7 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Some of the Japanese were spying, drastic measures were taken. Blame Japan.

  • @deadeyenumber2892
    @deadeyenumber2892 8 ปีที่แล้ว +118

    I had neighbors who were born in Pakistan and came to live, all the way in the United States, they were so kind, and when they first moved in they had invited us to diner. From then on while we lived there we were good friends, had dinner together, told stories, one time I forgot my keys to my house and my sister and I were waiting outside and they saw us and said, please, come in. Are you hungry? we have food? I actually miss them, they were so kind, you don't see that too often. I really hate when people judge others just because of their race, just because there are attacks from people of the same religious background doesn't mean they are all bad. I am 19 now, and when I hear my dad saying rude stuff about them I tell him to shut up and just leave them alone, or my friends when they are acting like assholes.

    • @deadeyenumber2892
      @deadeyenumber2892 8 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      forgot to mention that when we moved we told them we were moving soon they prepared a feast for use, it included vegetables, and lots of their traditional food that they would eat in Pakistan and this delicious honey rice cake thing I forgot what it's called, they were great cooks lol

    • @salutic.7544
      @salutic.7544 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Rilakkuma uhhh, Pakistanis aren’t the same as saudis, there not wahhabis

    • @purabh8010
      @purabh8010 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      I need some nan rn can u tell them to hook me up?

    • @mustafak.farouk1071
      @mustafak.farouk1071 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      you're amazing dude

    • @yellowcatchup
      @yellowcatchup 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      wow ur 25!

  • @supergeeky7529
    @supergeeky7529 6 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    I always knew this happened but hearing about it from someone who experienced it is mind blowing.

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Fortunately his time is near and all those bad thoughts will go with him.

  • @Adnanbin1985
    @Adnanbin1985 7 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    442nd sounds like a great idea for a movie.

    • @mikeb6572
      @mikeb6572 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      THey did. Its called "Only the Brave".

    • @5678sothourn
      @5678sothourn 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Mike B I thought it was called "Go For Broke!"

    • @mikeb6572
      @mikeb6572 7 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Go for Broke - 1951
      Only the Brave - 2006

    • @ryanhuang6838
      @ryanhuang6838 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Both pretty minor films TBH. They deserve a major blockbuster like Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan

    • @kevinzhang3313
      @kevinzhang3313 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ^Nah. A day in the life of the 442nd in Europe is more of a blockbuster in itself than Saving Private Ryan.

  • @johnredcorn9695
    @johnredcorn9695 9 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    It is disgusting, isn't it? We let our fear get the better of us, just like we did after the attacks on September 11.

  • @crackerjack4833
    @crackerjack4833 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    My sweet George Takei. You uunbelievable human being. Thank you him and the uploader.

  • @horch3491
    @horch3491 7 ปีที่แล้ว +61

    I'm Japanese living in Japan. I like history so I kinda knew that Japanese American underwent a hardship after the Pearl Harbor attack, but this is the first time I really listened to some story from someone who actually went through it. I don't think my middle school teachers had ever focused on the stories of them, let alone their great job in now-German. they did include the existence as a whole in the textbooks, but that was pretty much it. they shoulda included these stories of speech. but I'm glad I happened to check out this one anyway. this is one of the most invaluable speech I've ever seen.

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      There hardship was not even close to the citizens of Nanjing.

    • @rithvikmuthyalapati9754
      @rithvikmuthyalapati9754 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@richardjosephnovak We shouldn't not compare hardships as if it was a competition

    • @richardjosephnovak
      @richardjosephnovak 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@rithvikmuthyalapati9754 You are clueless. The world was at war like it never has before or since.

    • @LarryWater
      @LarryWater ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@richardjosephnovakNot as difficult as being a Uyghur in China.

    • @Leo_Zeo_Lhang
      @Leo_Zeo_Lhang 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@LarryWater r u rarted?

  • @Kristi314159
    @Kristi314159 9 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Mr. Takei, you are an icon. You will not be forgotten. We loved you in ST, and you helped us recover from the wounds of WWII, and racism in general. America is imperfect, but you help us make it better.

  • @christagambier510
    @christagambier510 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    As a long time fan of yours George I had never heard about your struggles and the 4, forty second and their stunning story. Thankyou and god bless you and your clan.

  • @ethankarr1239
    @ethankarr1239 8 ปีที่แล้ว +228

    I cried watching this.

    • @ethankarr1239
      @ethankarr1239 8 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      I remember reading about internment camps, but it wasn't described like this.

    • @JohnGrahamDoe
      @JohnGrahamDoe 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Same

    • @NOMNOM81
      @NOMNOM81 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      There were German Americans also harshly treated during the war.. There is a lot of American history, that is never talked about, because of political reasons.

    • @ethankarr1239
      @ethankarr1239 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Azure Knight it breaks my heart to know that were lied to by our own people

    • @NOMNOM81
      @NOMNOM81 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ethan/Ethomarr/LeftyGota It does its horrible.

  • @CatalinaThePirate
    @CatalinaThePirate 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    +TakeisTake I was deeply moved by your speech for TED - "Why I Love A Country That Once Betrayed Me." -- Simply beautiful! This should be shown everywhere. Thank you.

  • @wolfbear7
    @wolfbear7 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    You are LOVED by much of this country. Respect and honor belong to you and all who feel as you do.
    With all my heart and soul, I thank you, George Takei, for being the kind of patriot who is needed now more than ever before.
    NOW is the time for ALL good men and women to come to the aid of their Country and Planet.
    May we join together, all of us who are Americans in our souls, and form the Great Patchwork Majority.
    I still think it was you sitting at the table close to ours when my husband and I ate at Palermo restaurant in Los Feliz about 1 1/2 years ago. You denied it but gave us your signature Oh Myyyyyyyyy, and there was no denying it. Thank you for all you have done and are doing. I always had a fondness for your Sulu character.

  • @Kazemahou
    @Kazemahou 8 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    That was so powerful. It made me weep.

    • @mrmoralman1
      @mrmoralman1 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Makes me not wanna trust you in a combat situation

    • @mrmoralman1
      @mrmoralman1 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      If im falling back by squads and tell you to lay down a suppressing fire - and you don't - then we have a problem. I don't trust you - people like you support terrorism. YOU ARE ONE OF THE GUARDS IN THE WATCHTOWER G.TAKEI WAS TALKING ABOUT!

  • @Butterworthy
    @Butterworthy 10 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Such a phenomenal talk from him. It's disgusting what people can do when those in authority so casually pluck the strings of fear as motivation. To this day, that fear of "the other" is still used to justify doing terrible things.

  • @moniquemonicat
    @moniquemonicat 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Similar story for Italians during the war. There was also an internment camp for Italians in California. To prove their allegiance and avoid the camps, many Italians in the US joined the military and fought for the US in WWII and very patriotic for America. This is what my father did.

    • @anthonyoer4778
      @anthonyoer4778 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Same here. They kept as many Italians away from North Africa and Italian campaigns as they could.

  • @merkywater417
    @merkywater417 8 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Hopefully, we can learn from our past mistakes in the present day and avoid future government betrayals of our citizens. I'd hope, by now, as human beings we'd even be beyond personal betrayals of our fellow men and women. A task for each of us: to boldly propel our families forward to where everyone should already be.

    • @jazzx251
      @jazzx251 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "Trump FAIL" buzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
      Dump the Trump .. then we can all move on.

    • @kenrobinson9462
      @kenrobinson9462 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Ryan Fernum and hopefully those new Traitors and Thieves and DRUG cartels and such will actually wake up & realize that money is not the greatest Success in life especially when they are assisting with Genocide or auto genocide as the case may or may not be, depends on which pharmaceutical drug dealers we are taking about perhaps.

  • @ArcaneCowboy
    @ArcaneCowboy 9 ปีที่แล้ว +92

    Awesome and inspirational talk.
    A pity he wasn't invited to give it in America. TED Kyoto.

    • @83WK
      @83WK 8 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      +Kevin Martin Of course he wasnt invited to talk about that in USA. Dont say America when you mean USA. America is not only USA. So, he will never tell this story in public in USA only for one reason. Just because nobody in USA wants to hear that at that time their politicians were Nazis and racists about the Japanese, just like the German politicians were about the Jewish. USA is full of ignorance and denial. That was like that back then and it's like this nowadays.

    • @okright7636
      @okright7636 8 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      +83WK it's fine to say America in reference to the u.s. Because it's the only country with America in its name. Are you really so pc you can't handle a proper name for something.

    • @DanielPennybaker
      @DanielPennybaker 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      83WK 0404 Because the Americans today are responsible for what our grandfathers did 70 years ago.

    • @bruhmoment11111
      @bruhmoment11111 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      What an amazingly narrow world view, that you would hate a country and continue to hate a country for a crime committed 70 years ago. Bare in mind, since I know they're probably your saviors, that we had a Democrat in charge at the time.

    • @narata1541
      @narata1541 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      83WK 0404 Wow, all the comments have been respectful till you come in making fun of and generalizing Americans. Not every American are as bad as you say. And if I knew your nationality, I know to not consider you as a representative of your nationality.

  • @MichaelBrown-zp1sf
    @MichaelBrown-zp1sf 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    It is very easy for us to sit here in pompous judgment 80 years later at the actions our government took but this is the very nature of War. Atrocities of all types were committed by all sides. We must all learn forgiveness. I do not expect for the Japanese people or the Japanese Nation to continue apologizing for World War II. These are all things that need to be put behind us.

    • @pezvonpez
      @pezvonpez ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The only ones who need to apologize are the exact people who committed atrocities. But, what a nation should do, is teach what happened. Germany is a great example at least from what I've heard, they talk a lot about the holocaust in schools.
      Japan however, again from what I've heard, does not go into much detail about how sadistic and brutal their empire was. Instead they victimize themselves with the nukes. It's a terrible thing that hundreds of thousands of civilians had to die instantly or suffer from radiation, but it was a necessary sacrifice. The Japanese empire massacred millions, and this would have continued if the nukes weren't dropped.
      Still, most Japanese Americans had nothing to do with the atrocities. They didn't deserve to suffer. Just like most Russian Americans today. Just because you're the same ethnicity or nationality does not mean you agree with the actions of your government... how do people not realize this? I think they genuinely just have no critical thinking skills. Objectively dumb people.
      Anyway, uh, I guess I went on a bit of a tangent... but TL;DR, Yes, Japan shouldn't apologize for war crimes, but that DOES NOT mean history should be put behind us. Don't you know the saying "those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it"? Japan needs to TEACH about its war crimes in schools. As should every other country, including the US

    • @Cahrssomething
      @Cahrssomething ปีที่แล้ว

      @@pezvonpezI find it funny how the us and other powers basically purely targeted innocent Japanse civilians, instead of you know, the guys who were one upping the nazis sadisticly?

  • @RibbidyJamGames
    @RibbidyJamGames 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I swear I can listen this guy for hours days week years decades. His voice is so nice

  • @AngryNerdBird
    @AngryNerdBird 9 ปีที่แล้ว +83

    Not ashamed to admit I teared up near the end.

    • @GeneralQuilix
      @GeneralQuilix 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That is not an unreasonable response to the fact that countless young men fell to their deaths without a sound for a country that hated them.

    • @Hereticalable
      @Hereticalable 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +GeneralQuilix Meanwhile other demographics in the USA who have not been put in camps or had their property taken from them are calling for separate laws to govern themselves, curbs on free speech so as not to offend them and a few have engaged in attacks on their fellow citizens in the name of their ideology.
      But despite not going through a fraction of what the Japanese descent Americans did in WWII it's all the fault of the West, of foreign policy and whatever else they can say to avoid facing the fact that they are following a rotten ideology that is completely anti-american and anti-western.
      These Japanese Americans are a testimony to the greatness of assimilation into America. Be very proud of them. Their descendants will be shot and blown up by your fellow Americans who have not suffered 1% of what they did in the name of a political and religious system that people refuse to face facts about.

    • @GeneralQuilix
      @GeneralQuilix 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hereticalable As one of their descendants, I am ashamed of how far this nation has fallen.

    • @GeneralQuilix
      @GeneralQuilix 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Hereticalable It's fuuny, in a way. A sick, twisted sort of way. That mentality you have expressed is the same mentality that put my ancestors in those camps, and you're using it to uplift them but cast down all Muslims. We are fighting an organization, not a religion, or a race. Keep that in mind.

    • @Hereticalable
      @Hereticalable 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      GeneralQuilix We are fighting a religion not a race actually.
      And if you think Islam is a religion like any other I respectfully suggest you need to study more.
      I spent over a decade in the Middle East and I can point you in the direction of native Arabs who will tell you Islam is the core problem behind this.
      Of course this might contradict what our political elites and media tells us. But that same cabal was talking about the 'yellow peril' and denying Americans their freedom and chance to fight simply because of their racial origins...

  • @galas455
    @galas455 5 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    Very, very good George, thank you.

  • @GrafPanzer
    @GrafPanzer 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    His Passion is incredible... and his story is even more soo... America Loves YOU George Takei

  • @acrokill9169
    @acrokill9169 7 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    I understand now why he's so passionate about politics, and calling out Trump.

    • @opalrose3014
      @opalrose3014 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Rich Davis
      Don't confuse "liberal" with "Democrat". Political parties, especially ones that have been around for decades, can and must change their positions on issues. Society changes. Prevailing opinions change. If political parties never changed then they would cease to exist and be replaced by new ones. If you look at the history of politics in the USA, you will see both Republicans and Democrats have flip-flopped on multiple issues. Almost like, "Half-time! Switch sides."

  • @TheDiablotak
    @TheDiablotak 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I will always remember something my grandfather once said to me when I asked why he fought in WW2 with the 442nd RCT when his family was imprisoned and he said “I fought for my country because it was my country.”

  • @kasvinimuniandy5911
    @kasvinimuniandy5911 9 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Thank you, Mr. Takei. This brought me to tears. It means a lot to me as my country is going through politically incited racism right now.

  • @Acklacis
    @Acklacis 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    George Takei, that was inspirational!

  • @zfoose5
    @zfoose5 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I am profoundly patriotic, an American history major working on my Ph.D.,, and a retired US Army soldier with a total of 41 months spent in Iraq, a deployment as a NATO peacekeeper in the former Yugoslavia, and 2 years stationed on the Korean DMZ. Oh, and I watched the original Star Trek on TV back in the 1960's. While watching this, I cried near the end. May God Bless America! (warts and all!)

  • @rachelamitrano9094
    @rachelamitrano9094 7 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    pat morita was also in the camps. he told a story that he was in the hospital as a teen and when he came out of the hospital he had no idea that his family had been shipped to one of these camps and he was taken directly there. can you imagine? how horrifying. i hope history does not repeat itself.

  • @evanb.6150
    @evanb.6150 8 ปีที่แล้ว +134

    Did an absolutely AMAZING thing... Most decorated group of WWII... WHY IS THIS THE FIRST I'M HEARING OF THEM??? Glad we spent that time talking about the revolutionary war and ignoring our French aid instead...

    • @juanmanuelpenaloza9264
      @juanmanuelpenaloza9264 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Which state are you in? I learned it in US History in CA

    • @evanb.6150
      @evanb.6150 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Juan Manuel Penaloza VA

    • @LoveOldMusic808
      @LoveOldMusic808 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      If you get the chance, you should look up the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The unit size was about 4 thousand men, they earned 9,486 Purple Hearts and 21 Medals of Honor.

    • @Mrjohnnymoo1
      @Mrjohnnymoo1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It is one of those things you'll find by your own research. In all fairness, the revolutionary war is just as important. That is the seed that grew all of the amazing, heroes in our land that he mentioned.

    • @kino9643
      @kino9643 6 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      The reason why many people don't learn about these groups is that of the fact that they are Segregated, Japanese American Troops. America does not like to think about the fact that the Japanese Americans, who they had been prejudiced against for so long, fought better, harder, and smarter than the people who hated them.

  • @JordiLA
    @JordiLA ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great speech from a Great Man. ❤

  • @NaerenVastir
    @NaerenVastir 5 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    i'm a pretty jaded guy. not much get to me. but man that story hit me right in the feels.

  • @Nomand55
    @Nomand55 9 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    George Takei is awesome. period.

  • @stargazer5073
    @stargazer5073 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Mr. Takei, thank you for your humble talk. Our family is German and were suffering in much the same way in Canada. History and it's sad scars haunt us all.

  • @Formoka
    @Formoka 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    And that's how George Takei cemented his place as one of my heroes, while moving me to the brink of tears. Wow. Just wow.

  • @albertfarah1492
    @albertfarah1492 8 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    That was inspiring.

  • @MrJaxparadize
    @MrJaxparadize 5 ปีที่แล้ว +63

    Reboot the movie on the 442nd, with our current environment... let’s just say it’s needed as a reminder of who we are.

    • @knightoyin6500
      @knightoyin6500 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      If you think this i anyway compares with illegal immigration and detaining those who actually break America's laws at the border, then you're intellectually dishonest at best, inept, lazy or flat out ignorant at worst.
      Idiotic statements like yours increases the divide in today's society.
      If we cannot agree on the basic and fundamental principle of obeying the rule of law, then civil society is bond to disintegrate and people like you will be on the losing end cos your ideology fosters nothing but weakness, chaos and crime.
      Shame on you and those that agree with your lunacy.
      Let me know the day when innocent people are sent to jail just for their race, ethnicity or tribe, then maybe I will take you seriously. Till then, please educate yourself and keep the inflammatory rhetoric to a minimum.

    • @Cryptonymicus
      @Cryptonymicus 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@knightoyin6500 When people are sent to jail for their race, ethnicity or tribe? How about every day since the nation was founded, or maybe you're one of the right-wing extremists who thinks that racism against minorities ended already.

    • @knightoyin6500
      @knightoyin6500 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Cryptonymicus Ah, I see you're a Left wing nut who obscures facts to suit their already preconceived toxic belief. My quote was "when innocent people are sent to jail just for their race, ethnicity or tribe,"
      Please point us to a better nation than America for people of color, and show me a nation that is over 200 years old that doesn't have some mistakes that were made.
      I am as Black as they come and I have been to numerous countries so I am not delusional or ignorant enough to buy into the grievance industry that the Left is selling to its uninformed crowd in America.
      Racism exists everywhere in the world, even against Caucasians but is on the down turn and sin't strong enough to stop an average person of color from progressing.
      Quit your ignorance and delusion.

  • @verdatum
    @verdatum 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I've always loved this man. But, wow: This talk makes me shiver. George did such an amazing job preparing this talk. This is such an important lesson in American history.

  • @Delta4ms
    @Delta4ms 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    What a magnificent speech.

  • @luvzfrance24
    @luvzfrance24 5 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    That is a powerful thing that those in the internment camps went into the military. They are true patriots. It's unbelievable.

  • @oknarub3038
    @oknarub3038 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Thank you for this talk!

  • @letsif
    @letsif 8 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    Achieving equality and love for our fellow humans is a never ending quest.

    • @metalwarrior6668
      @metalwarrior6668 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      letsif equality is just a state of mind

    • @saeedvazirian
      @saeedvazirian 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Except the part where you drop nuclear bombs on civilians, right?

  • @SireniaWolfMelody
    @SireniaWolfMelody 8 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    They should make the story a film. Bring attention to the detriment of racism and also to those incredible heroes.

    • @DurzoBlunts
      @DurzoBlunts 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Aura WolfMoon youre right they should make a movie about the Niihau incident the basis foe their imprisonment.

    • @camerongunter6232
      @camerongunter6232 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There’s actually a 1951 film called Go For Broke about the 442nd. It’s on TH-cam and its pretty good. Check it out!

    • @andrian007
      @andrian007 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think there is a musical based on this. It’s called “Allegiance”.

    • @namegoeshere8458
      @namegoeshere8458 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      john son lol im laughing but as an Asian that actually hurts.

    • @Tupelo927
      @Tupelo927 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      To my knowledge, there has been 2 films made about the 442nd:
      Go For Broke (1951)
      Only The Brave (2006)

  • @AguzSuiCaedere
    @AguzSuiCaedere 10 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    There's people in this world that don't like George Takei? Terrible times, indeed.

  • @SharonClancy-s5p
    @SharonClancy-s5p 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    A thoughtful recount of a truly beautiful legacy. Thank you for sharing.

  • @FoxBatinaHat
    @FoxBatinaHat 8 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    'overnight the world was plunged in a world war' you mean the USA was... The world had been at war for 3 years already. But a young 4 year old's world perception may have been different. His world was changed. Just like Raymond Moriyama (A Japanese Canadian who went through about the same thing) famous for other things. Both loving the country that betrayed them.

    • @btsmith8145
      @btsmith8145 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      "Swept up by hysteria" because most of our Pac Fleet was out of action.

  • @axien3159
    @axien3159 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    George, thank you for the clarity and honesty of you story. This is what we have to understand about ourselves as citizens of this nation. It’s our duty to comprehend our weaknesses as well as our strengths. No, it’s vital to our survival to grasp, comprehend and mend and strengthen our weaknesses. Thank you brother.