Oriental - is it a four-letter word?

well there you go, more stupid stuff

 

Let's see. Orient means east (ie. eastern Asia - China, Japan, Korea, ect.), and Oriental means eastern - a person from the Orient. Does not sound offensive or derogatory to me.

 

It's a matter of language evolution. It's similar to the use of "colored" in the past. It used to be acceptable (cf. the NAACP), but now it's not.

 

The language/thought police did not tell us folks in Minnesota this. When did it become unacceptable.

 

I'm a "youngun" (product of the 1980s), so I honestly do not recall a time when I ever thought of the term as acceptable.

 

I've never thought of "Oriental" being as a racial slur. I have heard other terms that are far worse than that.

I'm sure that in time that "Hispanic" will be thought of as offensive. We'll probably have to use the term "Latino".

 

Placing it in the frame work of "language evolution" in no way removes the idiocy of the entire thing. I have never known anyone to be offended by it under any circumstances. Good grief

 

I use several words that are now considered offensive for some unknown reason.

Frankly, I stopped caring whether or not they were offensive when I realized that nobody can explain the moral difference between "colored person" and "person of color".

 

I concur. I'm part asian, too. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Even if the word did cause offense, it's unnecessary to use legislation to control the word's usage.

 

Funny...down here, there are many businesses, run by Asians, who use "oriental" in their business names, signage, ads, etc.

'Tis a shame that "governor" Patterson couldn't have banned some other words and phrases:

• The words "governor" and "Patterson" should never appear together. The root word of "governor" is "govern," and Patterson is obviously incapable of such an act.
• We should ban all words that describe race or gender. Everyone can be referred to as "it." Better yet, we should all be called Beverly. If you have a problem with it...shut up, Beverly.
• Some medical regulations need to be clarified. The government normally doesn't offer treatment for cranial rectitis, but in Patterson's case, the disease is so advanced, suggestions are welcome.
• In all constitutional documents describing the rights of the governed, "Freedom of speech" needs to be replaced with the phrase, "Freedom to make everybody feel nice," and "Freedom to say what the government tells you to say...because they know best for you, Beverly."
• Basic point: any word that makes Patterson mad, cringe, retch, vomit, or wish he was a republican should be banned, and any use of that word should be a capital offense.

Memo to Patterson from American citizens: We would thank you for the comic relief. Unfortunately, since you're actually serious...this ain't even funy any more.

Maybe a New Yorker will run against you that believes in freedom more than you do.

I found a New York phone book. That was a real time saver. It has everyone who believes in freedom more than Patterson listed...in alphabetical order, no less!

 

This situation is looking more and more like a fire drill of what would originally be called an asian derivative, but can no longer be addressed in such manner, thus we shall, by governor's edict, refer to such for both now and in perpetuity, as a

"Beverly fire drill."

 

So why do liberals want to ban words but not books? How is one different from he other? Where is the consistency in that?

 

I wondered the same question. There's no reason to ban either.

 

I am sure there is some agenda behind it. Maybe honest Robert will let us in on it.

 

We have a local restaurant called Oriental Gardens. I guess it's a good thing it's not in New York.

 

Maybe we should refer to Europeans as Occidentals.