"Orient" and "oriental" aren't slurs. If anything they're just extremely outdated, but they aren't slurs.
@AnonymousAlright, well, I guess it’s kind of muddy and a matter of opinion there. I suppose it depends on who and where you are.
But from what I’ve understood it can be belittling and disparaging. I don’t personally feel offended by it (obviously), but I know there are people who do.
Some people liken the use of the word “oriental” to describing objects of the Orient, but not people, and they find that using it in such a way is dehumanizing.
However I understand that others are perfectly alright being called as such.
Either way, I think it’s a little insensitive and self-righteous to say it isn’t a racial slur when it has had a history of being hurtful.
Go ahead and call me up-tight and overly sensitive if you disagree. :P
Here’s some further reading that I agree with.
