Looking for an Oriental woman near Pittsburgh

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: It's only words..., posted by SteveG on Jun 15, 2002

It happens around Southern California as well. Some of the PC leftists think "Mexican" is a racial slur and try to change it to Hispanic (I thought Hispanola was the island the Haiti and the Dominican Republic occupied,) Latino (I've never heard one speak Latin) or some other innane substitute. The basic problem is that the Mexicans around here are proud of being Mexican and prefer being called Mexican. The things some people worry about...

-- Jeff S.

[NW Jim]

... in response to What's the difference?, posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

The term "Asian American" is preferable to "Oriental" which connotes rugs, spices, and other objects of western colonialism in Asia rather than people. The "Orient," after all, is a concept generated by the colonial experience. In contrast, the continent of Asia is an actual geographic location from which many people in the U.S. trace their origins.

The term fl*p has been around for 40+ years; figured most folks would have heard that one. You must keep good company.

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: What's the difference?.., posted by NW Jim on Jun 15, 2002

Hi Jim,

Thanks! I think that "Flip" must be "West Coast" or perhaps military in origin.

What do "Asians" in Asia call their continent or region? I know, probably different names depending on their language. Isn't "Asia" also a Western name, perhaps Roman or Greek? Aren't names like the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, China all "colonial" or Western names? I'm sure some names like Japan (Nippon)were probably Anglicized. I read years ago that Marco Polo coined the term "China."

I did find on the Internet that the term "Asian-American" was coined by student activists in California in the 1960s. However, it would seem to be purely an Anglo name. I suppose Americans whose ancestors are from non-English speaking countries, must Anglicize their nationality to some degree so that others understand what their origins are...Japanese-American, Chinese-American, French-Americans, German-Americans, etc.

Not trying to be a pest, just curious. I will have to dig into this deeper.

Dave H.

[bigjiro]

... in response to But..., posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

i was a military brat and first heard the term 'flip' being used by kids at school who were half filipino to describe themselves, but i don't think they cared to be called that by people outside their circle.

[Jeff S]

... in response to But..., posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

The term China came from the "Chin" dynasty - the first emperor of what eventually became China - about 3500 BC - about 5000 years before Marco Polo.

So by your reckoning then an "Asian" would refer to a Caucasian Asian as well as a Mongoloid - like an Indian or Russian. Remember the caucasus mountain region that we round-eyes were named for, is in Asia!

To keep things simple around our household we use the terms slanty-eyed and round-eyed (just kidding!) My wife usually uses "Oriental" and I "Asian." When I point out Asian is preferred these days she usually just says "hai, hai, hai..." (blowing me off.)

-- Jeff S.

[Dave H]

... in response to Actually, posted by Jeff S on Jun 15, 2002

...reminds me of the song by DEVO.

Hi Jeff,

I have read several versions on the origins of the name "China." But your info predates what I have read. One version has it as a corruption of the name of the Qin Dynasty, of the third century BC. I also read that the term was found in Sanskrit writings from about two thousand years ago. The earliest European usage is said to be by Marco Polo, not surprising. The earliest cited English usage dates from 1555.

By my reckoning, that is absoultly correct about the term "Asian" refering to both a Caucasian Asian, as well as a Mongoloid and not a race of people. But, I have been known to be wrong before. )))  Thanks for the info!

My wife and I play the Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc., guessing game (I instigate it). The only thing is that I'm the only one that occasionally has the balls (rudeness) to ask. Then if I'm wrong, I go back and lie to her. ))) I met the typical Filipina the other day...turns out she was Vietnamese. She thought my wife was Vietnamese also. ;o)) This all started in the Philippines when my wife (fiancee then) pointed out "Americans" to me. You never want to call out to a drunkin Brit, "Hey Joe!!!" =8oO

Hey Jeff, how come Lucy Lui's eyes are slanted? When I tell my wife that she also has slanty-eyes, she says she doesn't and she's right. I mean they're slanty, but not slanted...does that make any sense? I know that you will probably get into trouble trying to answer this one! ROFLMAO!

Dave H.

[Jeff S]

... in response to Mongoloid..., posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

It was 350 BC, not 3500. And not really a corruption of Qin, just a different translation method (Ch'in.)

http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/imperial.html#first

Remember when it was Peiking, or Peiping? Now it's Beijing. I guess the sounds don't translate that well. The Chinese language has four possible tones to say each sylable, each with a different meaning, so I guess unless you can read Kanji, you're out of luck trying to Ramanicize it.

-- Jeff S.

[Jay]

... in response to Mongoloid..., posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

Hi Dave,

I just call the whole lot of 'em "slants" myself. :0 Just kidding.

Criselda's slanty, not slanted, eyes are the FIRST thing that literaly caught my eye as I walked past her the first time. I called her "Spy-Eyes" then. Very hot, IMHO.

Jay

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Mongoloid..., posted by Jay on Jun 16, 2002

Hey Jay,

Marife caught me with her eyes and it was all over for me. Hot Hot Hot! Funny, she liked my blue-green Billy Joel hound dog eyes. Her 3 year old cousin is fascinated with me, but thinks I'm some sort of witch because of my eye color. LOL He always asks how the witch is doing. 8o)

Dave H.

[kevin]

... in response to Witch Eyes, posted by Dave H on Jun 16, 2002

You were in the Philippines on October 31, 2000.  Did you scare Marife's cousin.  I suppose you didn't have to dress up for Halloween.  But I think the chocolates you brought were probably gone long before Halloween arrived.

- Kevin

[Dave H]

... in response to Come to think of it . . ., posted by kevin on Jun 16, 2002

Hey Kev,

I didn't need a costume. )) Actually, her cousin was only 2 then. He was the only one who could look me in the eyes. He asked about my eyes, my nose, and my skin color. I used to carry him and my niece around.

Dave H.

[kevin]

... in response to Witch Eyes, posted by Dave H on Jun 16, 2002

Too bad you couldn't just hop on a broom and fly to the Philippines!

- Kevin

[stefang]

... in response to Re: Witch Eyes, posted by kevin on Jun 16, 2002

They won't burn blue eyed left handed people will they for witch craft?

[bigjiro]

... in response to Mongoloid..., posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

to me, the term mongoloid is more associated with people with down syndrome and its usage to describe people of far eastern roots is outdated. i think nowadays the term asian is the accepted form and even though technically it would encompass all the peoples of asia, it is widely identified with people of east asian descent. as for me, whenever i fill out a form that asks for race, unless it has 'other' as a choice, i check the block next to 'white' and the one next to 'asian'. for some reason this gets employers totally confused.

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Mongoloid..., posted by bigjiro on Jun 16, 2002

Hey Bigjiro,

When filing out forms for my kids, I usually end up checking around 2-3 (sometimes more) boxes. You're right about it confusing people )))

When I hear the term mongoloid, Down syndrome comes up in my mind. Asian seems like the best term at present. What is it the government uses, "Asian/Pacific Islander?" I just can’t get used to the idea that people from the Middle-East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and all of the ???istans,  India, etc. are also Asians. When I hear Asia, I think of countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and the Himalayas.

Dave H.