Looking for an Oriental woman near Pittsburgh

[Jeff]

Hi, I am married to a Russian girl, so I never read this forum, but a good friend of mine keeps bugging me to find him an Oriental woman and I figured maybe someone here could hook him up.  He is in his 40s and is an environmental trainer, and he lives near Pittsburgh in Monroeville.  If anybody knows of someone suitable for him, let me know.  If not, he'll have to work on it by himself!

[kevin]

... in response to Looking for an Oriental woman near Pitts..., posted by Jeff on Jun 14, 2002

I know of someone to introduce him to, but she's in the Philippines.  I was talking to her cousin yesterday (she works in the same building with me)and about introducing her.  She's 37 years old.  If he's interested, please have him e-mail me, and then I can tell her cousin and take it from there.

- Kevin

[Humabdos]

... in response to Looking for an Oriental woman near Pitts..., posted by Jeff on Jun 14, 2002

You must mean Asian women. Maybe he should get some Oriental food?  Doesn't Pitsburgh have a china town?
Humabdos

[Nathan]

... in response to Oriental woman?, posted by Humabdos on Jun 14, 2002

Hold on folks...Asia includes a vast area and the ethnic roots are sometimes quite different. Actually, Arabs and Jews are Asian as are Indians and Persians, yet they see themselves as quite different from the peoples of east Asia. East Asians have closer genetic roots with one another. I have never heard Filipinos take offense at the word Oriental. There may be another word to specify the peoples of East Asia that is more specific than the very general term Asian, which actually tells one very little about orgins and can include people from Central Russia all the way to the South Pacific.
  I must have something more important to do this Saturday afternoon...

Nathan

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Oriental woman?, posted by Nathan on Jun 15, 2002

Hi Nathan,

Now I'm really confused. ROFLMAO! Thanks for taking time off from your Saturday to share this with us. )) What, is it raining there too? As you can tell, I'm bored...the wife is in the Philippines. (

Dave H.

[Jeff S]

... in response to I'm Asian Too?, posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

From the long nosed Asian tribe. LOL!

-- Jeff S.

[Dave H]

... in response to Oriental woman?, posted by Humabdos on Jun 14, 2002

Is "Asian" the PC term for "Oriental?" I'm not trying to upset or offend anyone, I would really like to learn why some people find the term "Oriental" offensive. Orient means East, where the sun rises, as opposed Occident, which means West, where the sun sets. The dividing line between what is termed "East" (Asia) and "West" (Europe) is the Ural and the Caucasus Mountains. Both "Asian" and "Oriental" are very broad terms. used to identify many different peoples.

"Oriental" is defined by Webster (Date: 15th century) as "a member of one of the indigenous peoples of the Orient." (East)

Webster defines "Asian" (Date: circa 1890) as "a native or inhabitant of Asia."

"Asia" is defined as a "continent of the eastern hemisphere N of equator forming a single landmass with Europe (the conventional dividing line between Asia & Europe being the Ural Mountains & main range of the Caucasus Mountains); has numerous large offshore islands including Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Malay Archipelago, Taiwan, the Japanese chain, & Sakhalin area 17,139,445 square miles (44,391,162 square kilometers)"

The US Census Bureau's definition is; "Asian. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. It includes "Asian Indian," "Chinese," "Filipino," "Korean," "Japanese," "Vietnamese," and "Other Asian."

To me, the US Census Bureau's definition sounds very similar to Webster's "Oriental."

My wife prefers to be called a Filipina, since it is more accurate and she has little in common with the other nationalities in Asia, but has no actual problem with either of the other terms. I'm of "Scots-Irish" descent, which is the new PC term. We used to be called "Scotch-Irish" (most of my life) but some people took offense. They said that "Scotch" was a type of whisky and that it was used as a derogatory reference to the Scottish and Irish fondness for alcohol. "Scotch" also means to put an end to (as to scotch rumors), to cut, gash, score, or wound, a superficial cut, a chock to prevent rolling, to hinder or thwart, inclined to frugality. I never minded being called "Scotch-Irish." They're only words...man (and woman-PC)gives them their definitions.

Don't misunderstand me, I am not speaking of words that are clearly used to offend and degrade people, such as the "N" word, which I find extremely offensive. I have recently learned of the derogatory term "FLIPS" in reference to Filipinos. Neither my wife nor I had never heard the word, as was defined before. I have no use for such a word!

Dave "Scotch" H.

[may10]

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

...knowing that even mere words can hurt another person.

That one simple word or words can hurt another is A DIFFERENCE in itself, Dave.

The manner and speech by which one conducts oneself reflects on one's character.

So,  for some words are just words...for others, words are more than just words.

Asian and Oriental, these are just words.  As a Filipina,  I, for one, see no difference in either.  I am indeed both an Asian and an Oriental.  But, I would prefer to be called or referred to as a Filipina.  It is more closer to my heart.  *smile*

[Dave H]

... in response to FEELINGS........for one, posted by may10 on Jun 15, 2002

Hi May,

True! But I was just trying to get to the heart of the matter. Oriental doesn't seem to bother some people, while it enrages others (what I've read on the Internet). Not so many Asians here that I have first-hand experience. I'm just trying to learn, so I can use the "right" words. *s* I've had to teach my wife PC terms for the US, that are not used in the Philippines.

Dave H.

[may10]

... in response to FEELINGS...wo...wo...wo...feelings..., posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

GREAT song, Davey.  *smile*

I never felt you meant anything by your post.  You are too much of a gentleman to offend anyone.  *smile*

[Dave H]

... in response to bravo........*grin*, posted by may10 on Jun 16, 2002

Hi May,

Thanks for that! I thought that you had misunderstood. I should have known better. *s*

Dave H.

[joemc]

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

Hi Dave Scotch,
 About a year ago a white police officer here in Seattle,
 got into some hot water debate using the word oriental.
 Funny thing about it he use the word in chinatown,
 he use the word [oriental]to decribe some asian jaywalkers crossing the
street.  

                                      joemc

[Eman]

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

From American Heritage Dictionary -

Usage Note: Asian is now strongly preferred in place of Oriental for persons native to Asia or descended from an Asian people. The usual objection to Orientalmeaning “eastern”is that it identifies Asian countries and peoples in terms of their location relative to Europe. However, this objection is not generally made of other Eurocentric terms such as Near and Middle Eastern. The real problem with Oriental is more likely its connotations stemming from an earlier era when Europeans viewed the regions east of the Mediterranean as exotic lands full of romance and intrigue, the home of despotic empires and inscrutable customs. At the least these associations can give Oriental a dated feel, and as a noun in contemporary contexts (as in the first Oriental to be elected from the district) it is now widely taken to be offensive. However, Oriental should not be thought of as an ethnic slur to be avoided in all situations. As with Asiatic, its use other than as an ethnonym, in phrases such as Oriental cuisine or Oriental medicine, is not usually considered objectionable.--------------

(Translation: it's not politically correct, and we're not sure why)

[Dave H]

... in response to Words, words, words., posted by Eman on Jun 15, 2002

...and words are all I've got...

Thanks Eman,

I need to buy an American Heritage Dictionary! That  explains it all!

Dave H.

[SteveG]

... in response to It's only words..., posted by Dave H on Jun 15, 2002

.....to take your heart away!!   Dang you, Dave, you dug up a BeeGee memory there.  
  Personally I think all this PC stuff about race is a bunch of garbage when it gets to the point that you can't even mention in any way that people are different without breaking some silly rule.   The black vs. white thing in America is ridiculous when you stand back and really    look at it and that, in my opinion, is what spawns most   of these PC rules about how to correctly identify other nationalities/races.   A black friend of mine even asked me once if Melly wasn't offended when she was referred to as a Filipino!?!?  I said, "Why on earth would she be?  That's what she is!"

                  SteveG