On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:42:17 -0700, sf wrote:

>On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:14:12 -0400, Tracy > wrote:
>
>>I thought carpets/rugs were "Oriental" and people were "Asian". I don't
>>think my Japanese SIL likes to be called an Oriental.
>
>Rugs from China are called Chinese rugs. You know what Persian rugs
>are - the area is debatable, but centers in Iran. Rugs from India and
>the surrounding areas are called Oriental, but tagged by country of
>origin.
>
>The people of Asia are called Asians as a whole or identified
>individually by their country of origin (if you know it). I'm an
>American first, a North American second, "of European ancestry" a
>distant third.
>
>I don't blame your SIL. Calling people Orientals reeks old fashioned
>Colonial attitude.
>
>Just my 2¢

plus, he's leaving out 'wily' or 'inscrutable.'

your pal,
mr. moto