Re: 'Do more than be outraged at councillor's remarks' Letter, March 21.

I take exception to Victoria Shen of the Chinese Canadian Council, Toronto chapter, for her derogatory comments about Rob Ford's use of the word "Oriental". Firstly, she refers to an obscure academic tome by Palestinian Edward Wahdi Said who was criticized by author Ibn Warraq in another book who charged that Said's book was poorly researched. Conveniently not mentioned by Shen is that Said's book is a geopolitical and historical view of westerners supposed domination of Oriental culture which Warraq said "had misled readers on the entire history of the Middle East."

Ford's use of the word "Oriental" has brewed a tempest in a Chinese tea cup gladly over-filled by our socialist mayor and his hangers-on. Orient and Oriental are neither racist nor derogatory. If some find its use appalling or offensive then they had better get used to it for awhile yet. The words are still in common use by many in our society and Webster's Dictionary finds its Latin origin and use as noun, adjective or verb neither offensive or appalling.

However, pity the poor companies who will now come under the baleful denunciation of Shen and her ilk for using such a derogatory and racist word (her words). She can attack worldwide "Orient Express" (hotels, trains and cruises). Or the "Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group", 10,000 rooms in 23 countries including Hong Kong, Bankok, Singapore, Miami, New York and Washington DC (one of the Top 100 hotels in the world). Or the 75-year-old Oriental Trading Company of Omaha, Nebraska. Finally she can demand the censure, closure and/or boycotting of "Choice of the Orient Chinese Restaurant" in Woodbridge. I further expect Victoria Shen to be the first to register as a candidate in Ward 2. Get a grip.

Ross Vaughan