Who Are You Calling Oriental?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it common knowledge, except for the Archie Bunker types and members of a certain older generation who didn't get the PC memo, that we don't use the word Oriental to describe our Asian friends?

Be that as it may, I've been listening to the BBC lately in my car and have heard the term Oriental used to describe people of the Middle East, today it was the people and culture of Iran.

Of course I did a little digging and found that in the United States we adhere to these guidelines:
"Merriam-Webster describes the term as "sometimes offensive,"[6] Encarta states when the term is used as a noun it is considered "a highly offensive term for somebody from East Asia."

But ... "In British English, the term "Oriental" is now used to describe one of East Asian extraction, especially the ethnic groups of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and any other pertinent and surrounding countries, and has no pejorative connotations. The alternative is usually to use "Far Eastern," or refer to the specific country from which an individual or family may have originated, if this is known."

Isn't that interesting? In England the term Oriental isn't insulting when speaking of Asian people? But still, does that explain why BBC news reporters are using the term Oriental to describe people of the Middle East? I mean Chinese people and Iranian people are a little bit different, right?

So I'm looking for answers here. First and foremost, why is Oriental considered offensive here in the United States but not in the United Kingdom? And who decides if it's offensive or not? Did all of the Asian people in Great Britain get to vote and say they didn't mind the term? My guess is that some British Asians might like to get rid of the term. But I could be wrong.

And second, is the word offensive only when talking about people or does it also apply to objects like, "Oriental rugs or Oriental Art?" There seems to be more debate on that issue. I for one always feel uncomfortable when I hear folks use the word because I just thought it was a no-no. But always the journalist, I'd like to know why.

I'm listening.

Peace!

Racist Americans banned from Britain

So the UK is taking a stand against extreme right wing shock jocks by banning them from the country. They also will not allow terrorists, Neo-Nazis and former KKK members in country either. Yesterday, British Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith made public her list of people banned from entering the UK because of their extremist views and/or deplorable behavior. On the list is an American radio talk show host named Michael Savage. I'd never heard of him, but apparently he has the third largest radio audience in the United States thanks to his unrepentant stance towards being a very ugly American. I heard a clip of his show this morning where he basically advocated for deportation of all Muslims.

Jacqui Smith said this about her decision to include Savage on her list of banned individuals, "[Savage is] someone who has fallen into the category of fomenting hatred, of such extreme views and expressing them in such a way that it is actually likely to cause inter-community tension or even violence if that person were allowed into the country."

In response, Savage plans to sue Britain for defamation. And of course the issue of free speech starts cropping up in the discussion too.

Now I'm going to say something here which may get me in trouble with my First Amendment friends, which is, Rock on UK. I'm glad they are taking a stand. I am glad they are able to say we don't want those kind of people in our country. Of course there is a slippery slope to be wary of if one person is in charge of defining morality. But come on people, why can't somebody take a stand and say, 'you're disgusting opinions and disdain for the the diversity of the human experience has no place in our country.'

I wish we could ban these people too. Or at least exile them to a small island where they wouldn't have to deal with colored folks or people who worship a different God, or who speak a different language. Is that an option?

What do you think? Is the UK wrong for banning Michael Savage from entering their country? To read more about the situation, check out this article from The Independent. Then tell me what you think.

Peace.