Just finished reading “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei, and it’s been on my mind ever since. The book is about Takei’s family being sent to an internment camp during World War II just because they were Japanese Americans. It’s pretty heavy stuff.

Takei’s story made me think a lot about how messed up things were back then, and how some of those messed-up ideas still stick around today. Like, how easy it is for people to judge others just because they don’t fit into some narrow idea of what’s “normal.”

The podcast by Scott McCloud, where he talks about “othering,” got me thinking even more. It’s like, society’s always trying to put people into boxes based on race or religion or whatever. And it’s not fair.

The Play Mountain podcast we listened to in class hit hard, too. Hearing about racism and discrimination still happening today—it’s a lot to take in. But it’s important to know what’s going on in the world, even if it’s not pretty.

I’ve been looking into AAPI and anti-racist resources lately, trying to learn more about the struggles people like Takei face. It’s tough stuff, but I think it’s important to understand.

Reading “They Called Us Enemy” and exploring these different perspectives has made me realize how complicated identity really is. It’s not just about where you come from or what you look like—it’s about the stories we tell ourselves and each other.

So yeah, “They Called Us Enemy” might not be the most uplifting read, but it’s definitely made me think. And I think that’s a good thing