George Takei, the actor turned social activist best known for his role on the hit show Star Trek: The Original Series, wrote Tuesday in The Daily Beast about the importance of not succumbing to fear in the wake of Donald Trump's presidential victory. Takei wrote of the Japanese principle of "gaman," which means "to endure, with dignity and fortitude," as he likened his personal experience in Japanese internment camps in the 1940s to the fear some Americans may feel in the face of the coming Trump administration.
"We had legitimate fear of angry mobs," Takei wrote, "but amidst all the unfounded hate and suspicion of us, there were also many good Americans who came to our aid." Takei refers to the people who tended to the homes of their neighbors who had been interned and mentions the "lawyers who filed suits on our behalf and saved tens of thousands of us, including my own mother, from being deported," listing off various ordinary people who went beyond their duties to help their peers in need. Takei then urges Americans who supported Trump to understand that the fear felt by those who opposed him originates from a place of hope and patriotism, and encourages Trump supporters to take the opportunity they have to "blunt the harshest elements of [Trump's] candidacy and now soon his presidency":
The business of governing is a serious one, and if they wish to see their candidate succeed, they can and should decry neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other terror groups who hope to capitalize on fear and division and are a real impediment to their candidate's legitimacy. [George Takei, via The Daily Beast]
Trump supporters must "stand up to any who would take their candidate's election as a license to hate," Takei urges. Read the full essay at The Daily Beast.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
‘Are we just going to stand in passive witness to the degradation of our democracy?’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Do Republicans have a health care plan?Today's Big Question The shutdown hinges on the answer
-
The new age of book banningThe Explainer How America’s culture wars collided with parents and legislators who want to keep their kids away from ‘dangerous’ ideas
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young RepublicansSpeed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votesspeed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictionsSpeed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new MideastSpeed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia JamesSpeed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in ChicagoSpeed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leadersSpeed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-offSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
