I was talking to someone just last week that thinks the term Oriental and Orient are both derogatory, I pointed out the origin of the term meaning ?east' or more accurately ?to rise? as in the rising sun but they didn?t care. It?s wrong because we think it?s wrong and any original meaning or non-derogatory usage doesn?t make it not wrong.
I asked if Far East was wrong? they said no. I asked if the Japanese word for Japan, Nippon, which means land of the rising sun was wrong; they said no. I honestly don?t get how we can have these emotional responses to words that are just scribbles on a page or vibrations in the air even when the meaning isn?t offensive.
I'm of chinese decent, raised in Canada. I haven't heard the use of that word often, I don't find it racist. But it is a colonial term that's out of touch with a multicultural society we live in. Oriental and Asian seems to be a catch all phrase. North American, european, hispanic, south asian isn't much better to describe a large and diverse ethnic group.
I understand some would take offence to it. I still see the use of the word in signage in the west and east by asian shopkeepers. It's the legacy of colonialism. Many in the east are educated in a british educational system where such words are still in use. Also, some are just not english speakers and simply picked the word from the english dictionary.
The reverse is also true. I was reading the South China Morning Post, an english language paper. The journalist described a black american as a "negro woman" Lazy journalism? Perhaps. Racist? Not likely. Colonial education? Probably.
I find that western born asians find oriental offensive. Real asians use the term because of ignorance with no malice. And yes I realize using "asian" as a catch all phrase doesn't help my point.
Let's not forget that the West did not exactly pay them royalties for paper, gunpowder, ceramics, Delft-ware, noodles (pasta), etc.
They must have had very high respect for the Chinese back then!
You do realize that pretty much all of those were co invented in several cultures around the world. I mean how come Egypt doesn't have to pay china for paper? Because they also invented paper. Pasta was also co invented same with ceramics.
i don't agree with that. while apple may not have originated every idea they do seem to take an idea and go their own way with it. and ms has always played catch-up. its they way they operate.
Ya you could say that about MS too, they go their own way with an idea.
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What's Apple doing to protect developers?
I was talking to someone just last week that thinks the term Oriental and Orient are both derogatory, I pointed out the origin of the term meaning ?east' or more accurately ?to rise? as in the rising sun but they didn?t care. It?s wrong because we think it?s wrong and any original meaning or non-derogatory usage doesn?t make it not wrong.
I asked if Far East was wrong? they said no. I asked if the Japanese word for Japan, Nippon, which means land of the rising sun was wrong; they said no. I honestly don?t get how we can have these emotional responses to words that are just scribbles on a page or vibrations in the air even when the meaning isn?t offensive.
I'm of chinese decent, raised in Canada. I haven't heard the use of that word often, I don't find it racist. But it is a colonial term that's out of touch with a multicultural society we live in. Oriental and Asian seems to be a catch all phrase. North American, european, hispanic, south asian isn't much better to describe a large and diverse ethnic group.
I understand some would take offence to it. I still see the use of the word in signage in the west and east by asian shopkeepers. It's the legacy of colonialism. Many in the east are educated in a british educational system where such words are still in use. Also, some are just not english speakers and simply picked the word from the english dictionary.
The reverse is also true. I was reading the South China Morning Post, an english language paper. The journalist described a black american as a "negro woman" Lazy journalism? Perhaps. Racist? Not likely. Colonial education? Probably.
I find that western born asians find oriental offensive. Real asians use the term because of ignorance with no malice. And yes I realize using "asian" as a catch all phrase doesn't help my point.
Back on topic!
Let's not forget that the West did not exactly pay them royalties for paper, gunpowder, ceramics, Delft-ware, noodles (pasta), etc.
They must have had very high respect for the Chinese back then!
You do realize that pretty much all of those were co invented in several cultures around the world. I mean how come Egypt doesn't have to pay china for paper? Because they also invented paper. Pasta was also co invented same with ceramics.
i don't agree with that. while apple may not have originated every idea they do seem to take an idea and go their own way with it. and ms has always played catch-up. its they way they operate.
Ya you could say that about MS too, they go their own way with an idea.