Use of word 'Oriental' restricted by law - State of Washington

The Seattle Times ^ | 7/1/2002 | Alex Fryer

[Swordmaker]

Beginning today, state and local lawmakers are prohibited from using the term "Oriental" in statutes, codes, rules and regulations.

Instead, officials must use "Asian" to describe people of Asian descent.

The change is mandated by a bill sponsored by state Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, and is the first such law in the country. Shin said he got the idea from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who sought to outlaw the word "Negro" because of its connection to slavery.

The word "Oriental" was first used to denote everything east of London, said Shin, a Korean War orphan. It was later used to describe people with flat noses, small eyes, black hair and mysterious ways, he said.

"We don't appreciate that," he said. "It's pejorative terminology. It's offensive."

He introduced the bill last year, but it stalled in committee. At the time, many legislators said they had no idea Oriental was perceived as a slur. And some were confused when told it was still OK to speak of Oriental food and rugs but not people.

Shin tried again this year, and the measure overwhelmingly passed. Only six lawmakers — all from Eastern Washington — opposed the change.

The law immediately reforms only a lone statute that requires the solicitation of minority contractors for construction of city water mains.

The law read: "Minority group members include, but are not limited to, blacks, women, native Americans, Orientals, Eskimos, Aleuts and Spanish Americans."

Shin's bill replaced "Orientals" with "Asians" and "Spanish Americans" with "Hispanics."

Since the law is limited to references to human beings, it leaves RCW 18.36A.050 and its mention of "oriental medicine or oriental herbology" untouched.

Shin said he's fielded called from newspaper reporters across Asia inquiring about the change.

He also heard from U.S. Rep. Michael Honda, D-San Jose, Calif., who told Shin he may introduce a similar bill in Congress next year.

[Swordmaker]

Are we Occidentals be next to be offended???

[alnick]

I never did understand why it's considered derogatory to refer to someone as being from the Orient. Is "The Orient" politically incorrect?

[mv1]

Wasn't there Northwest Orient Airlines?
WA state Gary Locke, Patty Murracy Maria Cantwell
And we think NY and California are bad

[Swordmaker]

The word "Oriental" was first used to denote everything east of London, said Shin, a Korean War orphan.

Does this mean that the French and German people are Orientals???? Or does this mean that Shin hasn't got the foggiest idea of history, geography, or the origin of words?

I think the latter. People like this make our laws????

[astudent]

Sound like a great idea. How about a law requiring us to call this lawmaker who calls himself Mr. Shin, a more apopriate name like Mr. Shi_?

[chachacha]

Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Orient, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental,
Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental, Oriental

[headsonpikes]

You had better learn to orient yourself to the New Order, or you may occidentally come to an early demise. ;^)

[mdittmar]

I'm from the Great State of Washington and I'm not:

Oriental,Oriental,Oriental;)

[boris]

A few years ago I walked into a Bank of America branch, and noted that all of the personnel were 'oriental'. I commented to the teller: "I see you have an all-oriental staff."

She became insulted. "An all-asian staff," she corrected me coldly.

That was my first inkling that "oriental" had evidently overnight become a pejorative.

--Boris

[JimVT]

Hey...I'm occidental and proud of it....and they're all my own teeth too!

[APBaer]

"German people are Orientals????"

Absolutely.

Haven't you ever been to a German-Chinese reataurant?

One hour after you finish, you're hungry for power again.

[bonesmccoy]

Yes. LOL

[Swordmaker]

Perhaps we should refer to him as Mr. Front-of-the-lower-leg

[First_Salute]

Fasicts making fascist decrees.

[RonF]

I would say that as a matter of style, "Oriental" is an imprecise term. "Oriental" was used to refer to Egypt at one time. But this is way too, too PC for me.

[bonesmccoy]

Does this mean that the French and German people are Orientals????

To Anglo-Saxons... yes. LOL

[APBaer]

"She became insulted. "An all-asian staff," she corrected me coldly."

You should have added, "I didn't know they were bloody wogs".

[lepton]

It was later used to describe people with flat noses, small eyes, black hair and mysterious ways, he said.

Ooooo-kaaaay. Apparently he's jealous of those who are really REALLY mysterious.

[bonesmccoy]

stop it!

euro euro euro! LOL

[bonesmccoy]

what's a wog?

Is that like a frog with a lisp?