When I was growing up, and I said the word "oriental", I was always corrected by my sister to, "Say asian. " She said. "Oriental's politically incorrect."
So, I did. At the time I must have been around ten and didn't know the difference, nevermind even know what politically incorrect meant. So it's been imbedded in my head all through growing up to always say asian and to flinch whenever I heard someone say oriental. Even now, I have a friend who demands to say oriental even when I try and correct her. Promblem is, (and I'm sheepish to say) I don't even really fully know what these words mean. So, thanks to google I found this link:http://www.modelminority.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=183 and it's put my mind at ease ( a little).