[ibotty]

> Europe & elsewhere use the term freely without any negative connotations.

You are wrong, some do, some don't. I would debate that its reduction is usage is because of the negative connotations, but let's leave it at that.

Edward Said has been hugely influential also in Europe's academia and intellectual discourse. I would also be astonished if there had been no influence in "the orient".

[esyir]

I'll go one step further against this idea that "oriental" is some offensive term. Where I am, smack dab in Asia, oriental is used without an issue, being included in the names of buildings and companies.

I'm betting that the "offensiveness" of the term, if it ever takes root here, would likely be a invasive American import than homegrown.

[blacktriangle]

America used to export culture, now we just export outrage and microagressions.