Posted on 09/10/2009 11:01:40 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofindia.indiatimes.com ...
You know of course that that actor was Swedish, right?
Yes, of course...Sidney Toler.
I enjoyed those movies so much as a child.
I suppose they are politically incorrect now.
Oriental works for me. The language police and any other form of thought monitors can go straight to hell.
That series is one of my favorites. They tried to bring it back as a vehicle for Lucy Liu (as number one daughter) but the hollywood bozos lack the balls to do it. They would have ruined it anyway.
They all look alike.
(Don’t hit me. I love Chinese people...Swedes, too. Have them in my family.)
btw....I have both Swedes and Chinese in the family.
I don’t see how oriental is derogatory in any way....can somebody explain it.
It’s old-fashioned, and I say Asian. But, how is it derogatory....it’s not the N word.
Assemblywoman Grace Meng said the word "Oriental" is derogatory and offensive in the category of race.Ten years from now, the term "Asian" will be derogatory and offensive in the category of race.
Here's one explanation I've come across. Way back when "Oriental" was in common usage, prejudice against Asian people was prevalent. Although the term itself may not be used with derogatory intent, it reminds some Asian people of that time when most other people saw them as inferior. Therefore, they are not comfortable with the word.
Still doesn't make any sense to me, but I'm not Asian. Growing up I usually heard the word when someone was politely trying to refer to an Asian person...when people wanted to be offensive, they used much worse labels. In fact, I can't ever recall hearing "Oriental" in anything but a bland, descriptive matter. But maybe that's just a regional thing.
Makes me wonder how long we have before "Asian" becomes unacceptable, and what the new term will be.
Ohhhh, you’re so baaaad. ;’D
;-{)
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