'Asian' v. 'Oriental'
>> 29 May 2008
I returned a missed call from my good friend Nartker a couple of weeks back. He had a question that he categorized as "a little embarrassing, now that you've called me back." He wanted to know my feeling on the usage of 'Asian' as opposed to 'Oriental'; I guess his old man was had been using 'orientals.' Was one more offensive than the other? Nartker felt that 'oriental' was reserved for food, but not race.
This has been a disputed topic at the annual big meetings since the 1967 San Francisco Incident, but no consensus has been reached.
To illustrate my stance on the topic, I told Nartker a high school experience of mine that irrevocably changed me. One day during my Sophomore year, I walked into Chemistry and all of the students were grinning at me expectantly, as if they had been waiting for me to walk in and start a party. I looked at the blackboard at the front of room and found out the reason why. In Mr. Lemberg's chalkmanship: "If you spin Josh around in circles, does he become dis-oriented?" (emphasis added)
(Keep in mind that this teacher was the king of horrible puns. When the Science Olympiad team went to Chicago to compete in nationals, we were driving alongside Lake Michigan and my best friend, who had a yacht-detailing business at the time, was staring in amazement at the lake and said out loud: "Dude, check out all those ferries..." Mr. Lemberg turned around angrily in the driver's seat and said in a stern voice: "JARRAD." There was an awkward pause as we tried to figure out what had him so upset. He said: "...I think they prefer the term 'homosexuals.' " Hilarious.)
Anyway. Back to the story that deeply affected my life. It was an ACLU-fueled lawsuit waiting to happen. I could have sued his labcoat-wearing, chemical-mixing, bunsen-burner lighting butt.
But I could have cared less. It was a good pun. Mr. Lemberg and I had a good rapport and we all got a good laugh about it and started class. So I guess nothing really came of it, and I just felt like telling Nartker a funny story.
Through a bit of discussion, Nartker and I concluded off of our gut instincts that 'Oriental' felt a little old-fashioned, like something pre-20th century straight from the Opium War or something. We concluded 'Asian' sounded more correct for our time and age. But then again, we're not experts.
Speaking of experts...Are there any on this topic?
9 ideas preached:
I'm not an expert in any of the above, but some grammarians would point out speeching is not a word in our language...its speaking.
this is why you need to be around when i'm typing these things out, J.
Ah yes, Mr. Lemberg's pun is a true testament to the lack of diversity at our school...
As for Orientals, I believe the terms is used to describe things like rugs, not people.
You mean you "could NOT have cared less." To say you "could care less" means . . . that you do care.
this must have been a complete grammatical mess of an entry. i need to hire a proofreader.
Sorry, Hate to disagree, but It was not a mess. It was fun and cool. Plus I had no idea that there was such a huge fight over it. Touchy, touchy, huh?
That last comment was from Peg, sorry, people log in on my computer and I just am so nice to let them take over.
You aready know my take. . what's with the Tanner boys proof reading instead of giving a take on the substance of the post?
As a fellow Asian--I prefer that the word 'oriental' be used in association with food and rugs....NOT people. Someone asked (my) Josh the other week if his wife was the "Oriental" one. He just sort of cringed and told her what was PC. She felt like an idiot, but didn't intend any harm. Anyways, I think 'Asian' is the way to go :)
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