[boris]

"I was taught in a gradeschool History class that 'Orientals' were the people from China, Japan, etc. and 'Occidentals' were people not from these areas. Never understood how it was offensive to call Asians 'Orientals'."

I dunno. A few years ago I walked into a Bank of America branch. While waiting for a teller, I noticed that the entire staff was 'oriental'. I commented on this to the teller, who became insulted. "We have an asian staff, sir," she said, very angrily. That was the first time I noticed that "oriental" had become a pejorative.

--Boris

[unspun]

Whatever in world they happened to be called by whom, KEEP THE CHINESE OUT OF OUR AIRPORTS.

[Williams]

I'm wondering if "Asians" traditionally gave their region of the Earth that name OR is that a Westerm term for the region? If so, being called Asian should be just as pejorative. After all, you are lumping all "Asians" together by race, rather than calling them Vietnamese, Chinese, etc. Like saying "All your tellers are Caucasions or Blacks or Europeans." The word game is all nonsense.

The fact is that insecure groups will ALWAYS be offended by any name they feel is "given" to them. Best example is that "negro" or "colored" was once accepted. Then there was a demand "Say it aloud, I'm Black and I'm proud!" Then it was decided that black was pejorative, to be replaced by "African American." Now I wonder the origin of the word "Africa?"

One thing I can guarantee you, in 20 years the term "African American" will be considered pejorative, as whites are now using it more and more. My guess is the next stop will be just "African." Interestingly, "people of color" (acceptable) sounds awfully close to "colored" which is no longer acceptable. The problem is seeking an identity but not wanting to be labeled.