Dear Philadelphia: Go See Mr. Sulu TONIGHT

Photo courtesy George Takei

That's right, everyone. George Takei, who so famously, importantly, and awesomely played Mr. Sulu will be speaking at Drexel, for free, tonight. Drop everything and go. Seriously. If you need reasons on why you should go, we think that's silly, but here they are anyway:

1. The man was Mr. Sulu!
2. It was significant that he was Mr. Sulu at a time when America was paranoid of everyone not American and other Americans they didn't think cut American snuff. George Takei was Asia, and he was cool.
3. More on that note—he represented Asia for all of us even after he was placed in Japanese Internment camps with his parents during WWII. He saw the worst of the country and still helped us hope for a future of peace and spaceships and tribbles.
4. He's an out actor campaigning for gay rights. More importantly, he's been doing this for a long time, and that's the reason he's come to town. It was just National Coming Out Day, and there is still so much work, healing, and celebrating to be done.
5. Hiro Nakamura's Dad.
6. And Mulan's Dad, and credits on The Young and the Restless, Will and Grace, Hell to Eternity, Return to the River Kwai, Malcom in the Middle, Scrubs, Trekkies...
7. Need another reason? It's free! You should go! Tell your parents you met Mr. Sulu and watch them seethe with jealousy, or just bring 'em.

To wrap up, he'll be speaking tonight about what it has meant to be who he is and to have played the roles he's played in Hollywood throughout a significant career. Mr. Takei will be answering questions from the audience that were delivered beforehand, but that he hasn't seen. Who knows what people will ask—but he says he'll answer anything and that nothing is off-limits. Kickass. He's gonna boldly go...

George Takei
TONIGHT, at 7:30 pm
Drexel University
Edmund D. Bossone Research Center's Mitchell Auditorium
3128 Market Street
FREE!