out of curiosity I did a Google search:
The political correctness of the term “Oriental” depends on where you
are from and to whom you are speaking. Here in North America it is
considered to be offensive. In Europe and in parts of Asia it is
acceptable and in common usage.
One reason for its perceived offensiveness has to do with the meaning
of the root word, Orient. This term is derived from the Latin word
oriens, referring to where the sun rises in the east. Since oriental
is used to describe places (and people) that are to the East only in
relation to Europe, the term is considered by some to be Eurocentric.
But more likely, the real issue is its connotations stemming from the
times when Europeans viewed the Orient 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 … it is now widely taken
to be offensive.”
See the usage note here:
ANSWERS.COM: Oriental
http://www.answers.com/oriental&r=67
