They Called Us Enemy: Pages 170–204

by George Takei
In this graphic memoir, actor and activist George Takei recounts the internment of his Japanese-American family during World War II.

Here are links to our list for the memoir: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. barrio
    a Spanish-speaking quarter in a town or city
    We moved into a Mexican American barrio in east Los Angeles...
  2. epithet
    a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
    The guilt which surrounded our internment made me feel like I deserved to be called that nasty epithet.
  3. unscrupulous
    without principles
    How its guarantees of due process and equal protection had been decimated by forces of fear and prejudice...unleashed by unscrupulous politicians.
  4. reconcile
    make compatible with
    I couldn't reconcile what I read in these books about the shining ideals of our democracy with what I knew to be my childhood imprisonment.
  5. profound
    far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect
    During its nearly year-long run, the musical had a profound effect on countless audience members.
  6. profess
    confess one's faith in, or allegiance to
    On the one hand, we have proudly professed the principles of democracy, but on the other hand, we have sadly practiced the very opposite of those principles.
  7. implement
    pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue
    Now, more than ever, America is challenged to bring her noble dream into reality...and those who are working to implement the American dream are the true saviors of democracy.
  8. spontaneous
    said or done without having been planned in advance
    I liked the man and his spontaneous, unaffected manner.
  9. unaffected
    free of artificiality; sincere and genuine
    I liked the man and his spontaneous, unaffected manner.
  10. buffoon
    a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior
    Hollywood and television had a long history of unflattering stereotypical depictions of Asian men. As buffoons, menials, or menaces...
  11. menial
    a domestic servant
    Hollywood and television had a long history of unflattering stereotypical depictions of Asian men. As buffoons, menials, or menaces...
  12. sheepishly
    in a manner showing embarrassment or shame
    Gene Roddenberry sheepishly apologized for this legacy...and offered me the best opportunity I'd ever had.
  13. redress
    a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
    In 1988, the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, on behalf of the United States government...apologized for a grave mistake and signed the act granting internees a $20,000 redress.
  14. dissent
    the difference of one judge's opinion from the majority
    Against this abomination, Justice Sonia Sotomayor was a voice of dissent...
  15. animosity
    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
    But to sanction a discriminatory policy motivated by animosity toward a disfavored group...the court redeploys the same dangerous logic underlying Korematsu...
Created on Thu Jan 09 10:12:41 EST 2020 (updated Fri Jun 20 18:33:34 EDT 2025)

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