Only several years ago did I hear that the term "Oriental" was racist and demeaning, but I didn't understand why. Finally, my PC daughter explained, "Would you want to be referred to like a piece of furniture or a rug?"
Huh? Oriental rug makes the term "oriental" racist..... Ok, following that logic "white" is demeaning because we might use terms like "white elephant", "white lightning" or "white sale". Right? .....Guess not.
I've never been called an occidental, but I don't think I would get upset.
*sigh*......