Air Force Academy distributes George Takei's 'They Called Us Enemy' to cadets

[babylonsister]

Kudos for this; education, let the light in!


Air Force Academy distributes George Takei’s 'They Called Us Enemy' to cadets
As part of a new reading initiative, the academy handed out Takei’s bestseller about being one of the 120,000 people of Japanese descent incarcerated during World War II.
June 29, 2021, 5:38 PM EDT / Updated June 29, 2021, 5:49 PM EDT
By Cynthia Silva


The U.S. Air Force Academy has distributed actor and activist George Takei's graphic memoir "They Called Us Enemy," which recounts his family's incarceration during World War II, to cadets as part of a new reading initiative.

In the bestselling book, Takei, known for playing Lt. Hikaru Sulu in the original "Star Trek" TV series, describes what it was like to be a 5 year old who was one of the approximately 120,000 people of Japanese descent who were forcibly removed from their West Coast homes and put into concentration camps in the 1940s.

The academy's dean of the faculty, Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre, shared her excitement for the program's book selection this year as she welcomed the new class of cadets on social media.

"Our shared institutional read this year focused on dignity and respect," she said on a separate Instagram post. "We are getting our basics ready for what’s ahead."

In 2019, Takei said on NBC's "TODAY" show that he wanted to educate young people about this "dark spot" in American history. As someone who grew up enjoying comics, he said he felt this would be the best way to share the childhood trauma he experienced.

more...

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/air-force-academy-distributes-george-takeis-called-us-enemy-cadets-rcna1294

[Wounded Bear]

1. Real Critical Race Theory...

taking an honest and critical look at American history and it's racial tendencies.

[TheRickles]

2. Especially impressive that this is happening at the Air Force Academy.

It's been a haven for Christian fundamentalism, so this is a nice surprise.

[Aristus]

4. I was thinking the same thing.

n/t

[3catwoman3]

6. Agreed. My husband is a 1968 AFA grad, and is most distressed...

...at some of the crap being spewed by other AFA alumni.

The US military academies should not be havens for any particular religious philosophy.

[uponit7771]

7. +1, alarmingly so ... rarely see a non Christian white officer

[machoneman]

3. Just wait: a Christofacist blow-up and Right wing Senators calling for Academy firings in 3-2-1.....

[wnylib]

5. I'm afraid that some of the RWers in the military

would consider the book a blueprint model of what to do instead of what not to do.

[Brother Buzz]

8. This is cool, and it's a good start, but I hope they don't stop with a graphic memoir

Tell me there is a supplemental reading list to augment this. Air Force Academy cadets still read, no?

[demigoddess]

9. as an AF brat and AF wife, I hope this goes well. But I do know the churches in the area

worked hard to get the cadets under their power. And it was working. Good work George.