From: rhlu@ux5.lbl.gov (richard lu)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american
Subject: Re: ORIENTALS???????
Date: 13 Aug 92 02:27:26 GMT
Reply-To: rhlu@ux5.lbl.gov (richard lu)
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory



John Scott <jscott@Aztecridge.LosGatos> ("My, what a long alias you have there,
					 grandma!"  :)  )
writes:  
  >Whenever I call an oriental "oriental", I always get told to say Asian
  >instead.  I just don't understand what the big deal is with you
  >orientals!!!  I always ask for a legitimate reason but never get one.  I
  >hope someone on this newsgroup could give me a reasonable explanation.
  >Otherwise, I see nothing wrong with calling Korean, Chinese, and Japanese
  >people "oriental." 

Hooboy...the above post is going to ruffle alot of scaa feathers, fer sure,
fer sure.  "John," since this may be your first post to this group (this is
definitely my first time  -be gentle  :) - I would hate to see you get flamed
for what may be an innocent question.  Maybe if I could rephrase your question?

Let's give "John" the benefit of the doubt and turn his rude posting into
a legetimate query:
  :Whenever I call an asian "oriental," I'm always told to say "asian" instead.
  :I just don't understand what the big deal is with you "asians!!!"  :)  I
  :always ask for a legitimate reason but never get one.  I hope someone on
  :this newsgroup can give me a reasonable explanation.  Otherwise, I see
  :nothing wrong with calling Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese people "oriental."

Ya know what, "John?"  I actually wondered about this thing too.  Personally,
I take no offense whatsoever when I hear the term "oriental" used to describe
people, and even less (if that's possible :) ) when used to describe salad
dressing.  But I have been told that "asian," not "oriental," is the PC 
(politically correct) term to use.  Maybe by that same reasoning, nobody has
called you, "Mr. Scott," an "occidental."  :)

Now, if ever you _are_ called an "occidental," and you don't like it, then
perhaps, you can imagine why asians who dislike the term "oriental" prefer to
be called "asians."  Now, I'm not one who regularly keeps up with his PC
guidebook, so I'm sure there's gotta be more to it.  I'm sure the most-excel-
lent scaa-ers out there can tell us both more!

Oh, one last thing-- I'm not your ma, but I gotta tell ya why you are going
to be flamed (by those aforementioned owners of those feathers you ruffled):
your post came out sounding really immature and uncompassionate.  I realize
it is _very_ hard to convey moods through the keyboard, but you insist on
calling asians "orientals" even when they ask you not to.  I dunno about you,
but when someone teaches me about how to be respectful towards them, I assume
that to be "legitimate" and "reasonable" enough for an explanation. 

If ya don't believe me, just check out your own post (reprinted above).
You use the term "oriental" three times, even though you admit to having
been told by asians that this is something "wrong."
If this is just a faux pas, I hope I have answered your question.  If not,
I hope you find the answer and then enlighten all of our inquiring minds!  :)

Hope to see your next post here soon!

Take care!

-rich
 (your "neighbor" @ux5)  :)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american,alt.culture.us.asian-indian