Why, Mr. Sulu? WHY?

George Takei of Star Trek fame made a wild accusation in an interview with Phoenix-based Fox affiliate.

The televised portion of the interview went as you’d expect: long-time gay rights advocate is thrilled with advances in gay rights. “We’re overjoyed, we’re proud, and we feel fully American,” said Takei. George discussed having to stay in the closet so he could have a career in Hollywood and the disappointment he felt when Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed California’s gay marriage legislation.

“We’re doing this for the straight couples of today because they’re going to having the gay babies of tomorrow and they won’t have to have those discussions.”

The televised interview:

Takei’s racist tirade was edited out of the televised interview and relegated to the station’s YouTube channel.

Discussing the Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision with a local news correspondent, Takei lashed out at Justice Clarence Thomas. “He is a clown in blackface sitting on the Supreme Court. He gets me that angry. He doesn’t belong there,” said Takei angrily.

“For him to say slaves had dignity. I mean, doesn’t he know that slaves were in chains? That they were whipped on the back? If you saw the movie Twelve Years As A Slave [sic], they were raped. And he says they had dignity!”

“This man does not belong on the Supreme Court. He is an embarrassment. He is a disgrace to America.”

I refuse to live an Overly Politicized Life. I don’t boycott actors who’s political ideology isn’t congruent with mine. They’re entitled to their opinions. As long as they make good movies I don’t really care what those opinions entail.

I also whole-heartedly reject the Outraged Life. That is to say, the compulsion to be outraged over every stupid thing a public figure says or does. Life is far too short to be perpetually pissed off by attention-seekers. Plus, stress gives you wrinkles and no one wants more wrinkles than they’ve earned honestly.

But (yes, there’s a but here), because of rampant over-polarization, we are required to run Takei’s remarks through the “Imagine if a Republican Said This” test. There they fail miserably. Had a right-winger used the words “black face,” in any context, they’d have been tarred, feathered, and sacrificed upon the altar of Political Correctness.

Black-faced clown? Really? REALLY? Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t that, dare I say, racist? And all the while Takei has been preaching tolerance and equality. That’s some major self-awareness fail right there.

Seriously bad form Mr. Sulu.

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