No Gaga, I am NOT Lebanese, NOR am I ORIENT!!!

[RRR 3,996]

When she said in BTW, "You're Lebanese, You're Orient!," I screamed I need to tell her I am neither of these things, so why does she insist on saying that I am? Does she know something I don't know? I can pretty much guarantee she is not right with this. Am I wrong?

[Bonkers 28,470]

Wrong.

You ARE orient.

You ARE lebanese.

 

[weed 71,987]

I think we’re ALL Lebanese 

[Kimmo 79,772]

Because you’re a chola!

[NFRatwell 23,290]

I’m still screaming at the fact that she referred to the Arab world as Lebanese  

[Gohan 16,242]

 

[ToxicHot 6,444]

I remember back then that lyric got so much backlash because people said the term “orient” was outdated or something

[pussycat 3,514]

YOU ARE BORN THAT WAY ACCEPT IT BITCH!!!!!!!!!

[JazzGa 14,564]

I, am a lesbeanese

[Bonkers 28,470]

1 minute ago, NFRatwell said:

I’m still screaming at the fact that she referred to the Arab world as Lebanese  

Did she tho?   The Lebanese people I've asked about it loved it.  The other arabs I know, I don't know what they think because it never occurred to me she was trying to include them.

[NFRatwell 23,290]

2 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

Did she tho?   The Lebanese people I've asked about it loved it.  The other arabs I know, I don't know what they think because it never occurred to me she was trying to include them.

She was trying to list all the races/ethnicities and probably couldn’t fit Arab in there. Lebanese was the Arab representation I guess. I’m not mad about it, it’s just funny sometimes 

[Bonkers 28,470]

3 minutes ago, ToxicHot said:

I remember back then that lyric got so much backlash because people said the term “orient” was outdated or something

I'm old enough to remember whe people in the west referred to all Asians as "orientals",  Then there was a period of blowback, and then people suddenly (mistakenly) thought "orient" and "oriental" were words you shouldn't say, even when talking about people who are from the orient which still exists.  It started with people being dumb, and ended with people still being dumb.

[LaLa 19,265]

5 minutes ago, ToxicHot said:

I remember back then that lyric got so much backlash because people said the term “orient” was outdated or something

I mean I'm not going to make it a whole thing, but referring to people as "oriental" ABSOLUTELY is outdated

[Bonkers 28,470]

2 minutes ago, NFRatwell said:

She was trying to list all the races/ethnicities and probably couldn’t fit Arab in there. Lebanese was the Arab representation I guess. I’m not mad about it, it’s just funny sometimes 

Hmmm, I thought she was just giving shout outs to a few groups like she does sometimes. 

[Franch Toast 26,008]

https://dunx.tumblr.com/post/3283017579/the-racism-in-born-this-way-and-why-it-matters

You might be saying right now, “Orient and chola? What’s the big deal about those words?” Well, let’s have a history and etymology lesson, shall we? Ahem:

“Oriental” is a word referring to anything “Eastern.” Note that I said “anyTHING.” Calling someone oriental is dehumanizing because you are basically saying that they are akin to oriental rugs and other “Eastern” merchandise. Oriental should refer to objects, not people. Not only that, Orient is also an antiquated insult because of its connotations with white imperialism and oppressive European rule over many Asian countries.To call someone Oriental is to recall years of white colonialism and commodification of Asian culture.

“Chola” and “cholo” originated in describing people of Hispanic and Native American descent. After a couple hundred years, some white Americans used cholo interchangeably with people of Hispanic descent as a derogatory term. But more recently, “cholo” and “chola” is often used to refer to Latino people in gangs and drug culture, who wear certain types of gang attire and prescribe to certain types of gang behavior. So, when Gaga says “chola descent,” that is basically what she is unknowingly referring to. Not a very appropriate way to give a shout-out to Latino people, is it?

You’re probably saying now, “Shut up, Lady Gaga isn’t racist!” First of all, that’s very rude, and second of all, of course not. No one is saying that Lady Gaga is racist, but rather that her choice of lyrics reflects a level of indifference to the history of the oppression of people of color and ignorance of her own white privilege. Plus, if she didn’t know the historical and cultural significance of either word, it only shows how people, particularly white people, are not educated on racial oppression and history. And now millions of people will be singing those words left and right without realizing the history behind them.

[...]

 

And now you’re probably saying, “Well, I have Asian/Latino friends who don’t find Oriental/chola offensive.” or maybe even “I am Asian/Latino and I don’t find Oriental/chola offensive.” Of course; I have friends like that too. But I also have friends and family members who only hear the history of oppression that has affected their families and themselves when they hear those words, and that cannot be ignored. For every “That’s not offensive,” there’s a response of “Of course it is offensive.”

Again, this is not to suggest that Lady Gaga is racist, or a call to ban Lady Gaga, but it is a call to understand the ways in which racism pervades normal American life so much, that even our most mainstream and popular of artists are susceptible to promulgating it. Lady Gaga has worked hard to present herself as an empowering figure. She has a lot of influence and power, and has shown it by gathering support and spreading knowledge, particularity for her young fans for the benefit of queer folks. However, if she wants to fight on the side of the oppressed and marginalized, then she should recognize her privilege as a white person and fight actively against racism along with heterosexism and homophobia. Just because someone is a staunch advocate for one marginalized group does not mean that they have proven themselves to be an advocate for other groups and get a free pass for ignorance. To be a strong voice for the queer community but show indifference to the marginalization of people of color, particularly within that community itself, defeats the purpose of being an advocate for anybody.