The State of Washington pioneers a new PC breakthrough

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KRON4.com, July 1, 2002

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New law outlaws term "Oriental" for people of Asian descent

Olympia, Washington-AP -- State lawmakers in Washington have banned the word "Oriental" from official documents as a description of people of Asian descent.

The switch affects statutes, codes, rules and regulations.

The bill was introduced by state Senator Paull Shin. He modeled it on Martin Luther King's efforts to outlaw the word "Negro" because of its link to slavery.

Shin says the term "Oriental" was first used to describe everything east of London, then to describe people with certain physical features and mysterious ways. He says it's considered offensive.

Many lawmakers says they had no idea "Oriental" is perceived as a slur.

Six lawmakers from Eastern Washington opposed the change.

-- (lars@indy.net), July 01, 2002

Answers

After 40 years, I have to start calling my rug "asian"?

-- (lars@indy.net), July 01, 2002.

You are mistaken, Lars, the state of Washington has not pioneered a PC breakthrough since Windows 3.0. And 3.1 was better.

-- Little Nipper (canis@minor.net), July 02, 2002.

"Paul Shin"? A gook with a honkie first name? Whas dat about?

-- (de shin bone@de leg.bone), July 02, 2002.

We are Siamese if you please

We are Siamese if you don't please

-- (Chang and Eng @ orientar.preasures), July 02, 2002.


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