Oriental? Foreign?

A couple of days ago, I was at my boyfriend’s house having dinner. His parents had just got back from vacation to Hearst Castle/Morro Bay area. His mom and dad were telling us about their visit to Hearst Castle. Then they proceeded to talk about being stuck with the people in the tour group, calling them “Orientals” (they were Japanese tourists), and how “foreigners” were smoking everywhere. Being “Oriental” and coming from a “foreigner” family, I didn’t take this with a grain of salt. I demonstrated to them that “Oriental” is indeed a derogotary term for Asian people, representing oppression and submission. It’s not like I’m coming up to them saying “crackers were all over the place!” If I recall, the only people allowed to call themselves “native” to this land are Native Americans. Everyone else (yes, this includes you fellow Caucasians!), is a…. wait for it…. FOREIGNER!  I don’t understand the need for Caucasian people to feel as if America = white. Last time I checked, my birth certificate says I was born in LA + which is in the U.S. + which makes me American = I’m not white. Hmmm… I guess I have to check my math, because being Asian, I should excel at that.

Am I overreacting? HOLLA at yo gurL!