New York State bans use of 'Oriental' term

timesofindia ^ | 10 September 2009

[JoeProBono]

NEW YORK: New York Governor David Paterson on Wednesday signed into law a bill that bans use of term "Oriental" in documents used by state agencies, public authorities and municipalities when referring to persons of Asian or Pacific islander heritage.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Grace Meng and Senator Craig Johnson, was earlier unanimously passed by both houses of the New York State.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Paterson said that New York State champions the rights of immigrants and "I wonder why it was not passed earlier".

Assemblywoman Grace Meng said the word "Oriental" is derogatory and offensive in the category of race. No state agency, public authority or municipality shall use the term "Oriental" to identify or denote persons of Asian or Pacific islander heritage, she said.

[Doogle]

Anyone want to take up my cause?

I hear Van Jones is looking for work

[Jewbacca]

[seoul62]

Okay, not hungry yet and getting a signal: I have been called worse names than that. Being half Asian, I have a dog in this fight: Ms. Meng has too much time on her hands.

[jaydubya2]

I heard the term Asian refer to people from India as well as orientals from the orient.

[Responsibility2nd]

Parker Bros. just issued a press release.

They are recalling all 200 million Monopoly games ever made.

To be refitted with Asian/Pacific Islander Ave. instead of that offensive term.

[Doogle]

utter?

[Oztrich Boy]

New York? What about

Oriental Hotel Bangkok

Oriental Hotel Penang

Oriental Hotel Surabaya

Not to mention Manila, Hong Kong, Seoul, and other points East.

[sheik yerbouty]

Patterson really is a half wit wanker..

[SlidingW]

I was in a real estate pre-licensing class a few years ago when an instructor used “Oriental” in an example. A classmate informed us “Rugs are Oriental. People are Asian.” She was of Vietnamese descent so we took her word for it.

[fso301]

I think it has to do more with the fact that peoples from different parts of Asia take it as an insult being equalized under a common geographic name.

[jimfree]

So what is the penalty when I order party supplies from Oriental Trading Company?

[swarthyguy]

Asian in the UK means someone from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, SriLanka and even Nepal or Afghanistan.

Here in the US, we focus on the Orient and call them Asians.

A Russian from Vladivostok, a Mongolian, an Indian, a Iranian, and even an Iraqi and a Kurd are Asians also, if you go by the geographical meaning of the word.

Are we gonna start excising the word out of books, movies etc, etc, and even signs in Chinatown?

[Jewbacca]

“think it has to do more with the fact that peoples from different parts of Asia take it as an insult being equalized under a common geographic name.”

You mean, like Europeans?

[Desron13]

Since when has the term “Oriental” been considered derogatory? It simply refers to someone from the Orient. This bozo is a complete PC ass clown.

[swarthyguy]

Becuz the Injuns are going, WTF, ain’t we Asian too?

[swarthyguy]

Sexual Orientalation

Made my day! Danke.

[ktscarlett66]

Because India is also an Asian country?

[Palladin]

This is too ridiculous.

Wonder what this guy and his family would say:

[jonrick46]

Let's next go after the derogatory term “South Americans.” It denotes that these Americans are less than other Americans and it implies that as human beings, they have gone south. Heh heh!

[ScottinVA]

Gov. Paterson... THIS is what you have to concern yourself about? My man, you’re taking your eye off the ball again!

Oops... so sorry.. never mind.