ChopstickHero said:
Although some people view 'Occidental' as the opposite of 'Oriental,' meaning the white Europeans, (the term originally meant the eastern European or western Asia)... What was left of the Roman empire was split into two, the Occidental Empire and the Oriental Empire. 'Orient' is a Latin term for 'east' and 'occident' is a term for 'west.'"
Ah history, nice stuff, call me Occidental all you like sound cool to me.
ChopstickHero said:
The accepted rule is that "Oriental" is a word for inanimate objects from Asia, but not for people.
I don't know a single person that accepted that at all.
Regardless of everything else it is a geographica term not a term defined to describe only certain nouns like a rug and not someone.
ChopstickHero said:
If you're describing people from Asia, use the word "Asian" -- or better yet, take the time to discern beyond the racial distinctions and find out what country or heritage people are from.
On a one on one basis talking to someone, The word asian or oriental is uneeded. If the conversation came to race you can bet actual country of origan would be more apt to be discussed.
ChopstickHero said:
There's a natural inclination to simplify the world and file people under broad categories. But few people would without a thought lump Italians and Swedes or French and English together culturally and ethnically, just because they all happen to be Europeans.
Sure as s*** do. Hell we do it ourselves, ever here the term European? I am sure you have. I also know you have used it on occasion. No one uses oriental to lump people in any other way then geographicly. The idea that oriental cares a religious or culture tone is paranoya at best.
ChopstickHero said:
For some reason, it seems easier to assume that all Asians think alike and act alike just because they look alike (of course, we don't all look alike either, but that's another column).
Yep sure is espcialy since your from the same area of the word and we are discussing a geographical term. It in no way implies actual race, religion or history, just location. Anyone that think it means more is either too damn sensitive and simply wrong or a racist themselves and being lumped into a group offends them becuase they in a way hate or detest another part of that group.
ChopstickHero said:
No one calls Eastern Europeans "Occidentals," and "Oriental" today is considered by Asians to be a derogatory term because it reflects centuries of a western-centric view of the world, which assumed that civilization and knowledge flowed from Europe to the rest of the world. The cultures of Asia, of course, in particular China, are much older and was refined long before Europeans wandered to other continents.
No one cares two damns enough to emply half the BS you think they do especialy with more directly understood slurs in the language. If someone in any way intends to insult you, you will clearly know it. I don't know a single person that thinks all relevant creations or advancements came from europe.
Sounds like you are using Eastern-centric views to me chief. (thumb)
REFINED, CHINA, ARE YOU NUTZ!(wow)
It wan't even established as a set Governement or culture. China has gone through as many political, religious, and cultural changes as anywhere else if not more.
ChopstickHero said:
In addition, the word "Oriental" is confusing because the word is used to describe the "Middle East" as well as the "Far East" (two more words used to indicate geographic locale relative to Europe). Hence, rugs from Persian are today still called "Oriental rugs." At the same time, a Vietnamese shop owner might put a sign reading "Oriental groceries" above his door. That bring me to another point -- that these evolving terms for ethnic groups in the North America sometimes are evolving even within the ethnic groups themselves, not just with Americans at large. Many Asians, especially older Asians, still use "Oriental" to describe themselves. Partly, that's because for years that's what they were called by society at large, and on legal and official forms. I heard the term "Oriental" when I was a kid, but it is not as prevelant now. When somebody does call me that, I try to gently correct them.
OK so via this it is my resposibility to fallow the evolving "view" of ALL terms by any group of people however large or small? :wtf:
:bs: I don't have the time or give a crap what regional term pisses someone off becuase they are racist themselves. Pride my ass! Being offended by being catagorized with another group means you are racist against that group if a simple description can offend you as it "may" also include or imply them aswell.
No one half rational and with anyone Occidental.
Call me white.
Call me Cuacasian.
Call me European.
Call me scandinavian.
Call me Honkey.
Hell call me cracka!
Its all good!
