Your blog will only let me leave one comment so I will try and answer your question here. Why is the term "orientals" suddenly taboo? The Orient is a region and does not contain all of the said "orientals" therefore making it an inadequate term. That point alone does not make it offensive, I know. As the times change, our voacbularies change. We don't say negro or colored anymore even though, at one time, these were considered common and neutral labels. Personally I feel like "orientals" sounds ignorant, not offensive. Race issues are new ground to this white bread girl. I'm trying to figure this stuff out, too.
I've been told that Asian is a person, Oriental is a rug. And that was by someone who lives in East Asia...
ReplyDeleteOriental has its origins in Latin - means East. I don't think it really matters, except to the listener.
Interesting comments on this topic: Here
For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian