On Jun 3, 10:47*am, Andy > wrote:
> George said...
>
> > What is the problem with the term Oriental? Many markets even
> > incorporate that into their name such as the "1st Oriental Supermarket"
> > written in large red letters on their large canopy on the store on 6th
> > and Washington in Philly.
>
> George,
>
> I was taught that it was a derogatory reference back in my teens. I never
> used the term again.
>
IMHO, that was somewhat of an overreaction by your teacher. If the UK/
Europe were the center of the world, then Asia would be to your east,
hence "oriental", and North America would be to your west, hence
"occidental." Nowadays people don't think of the UK as the center of
the world so the terms are inaccurate anachronisms. Not particularly
derogatory, just dumb. -aem