By Jane Han
Korea Times Correspondent
NEW YORK ― For those wondering why the word ``Oriental'' became a derogatory, politically incorrect term, ask Washington State Senator Paull Shin. He's the one who had the word banned from all government documents and legislations in the U.S.
``Sponsoring a bill that would prohibit the use of the demeaning term ― that's one of the first things I did when I became Senator,'' Shin said in an interview with The Korea Times.
The two-term senator backed a bill in 2001 to eliminate the use of the word ``Oriental'' in all state and local legislations. The bill was passed in 2002, lawfully stating that the word ``Asian'' must be used to describe people of Asian descent.
Shin made a lasting impact for all future Asian generations in the U.S, but what drove him to stand up for the change?
```Oriental' is a juvenile word that's linked to an era when Asians had a subordinate status,'' said Shin, who remembers people labeling him an Oriental when he first ran for office. ``I didn't want to be discriminated, nor did I want my descendants to be judged simply by their skin color.''
The 75-year-old recalls living through all kinds of discrimination since he came to the U.S. in 1955. From being called a ``Chinaman'' to getting kicked out of a whites-only restaurant, Shin ― a Korean War orphan adopted by a U.S. soldier ― said fighting racial discrimination was one of his biggest challenges.
The prejudice was so hurtful, Shin said, that it was the very reason he decided to become a politician.
``I knew that politicians have the power to make and change a law so that's what kept me going,'' he said.
After tough campaigning in a traditionally ``white district'' with 97 percent of voters being Caucasian, Shin was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in 1992. In 1999, he was voted to his first term as Senator. Shin is currently serving his second term after getting re-elected in 2006.
Shin has now found his place on Capitol Hill, but the early years of his political career also weren't free of discrimination.
``At the time, there were no Korean politicians, let alone Asians,'' he said, ``but the perception slowly started changing as I proved myself over the years.''
Shin's accomplishments were closely followed by the Korean media not only because he was the first Asian to enter the U.S. Senate, but because of his unusual childhood.
He was orphaned at the age of four and lived as a street beggar until he was picked up by a U.S. combat soldier to become a houseboy. The soldier ― Ray Paull ― became his adopted father when Shin was 16.
Shin arrived in the U.S. when he was 19 with no education, not even kindergarten schooling.
``I started memorizing the English dictionary page by page,'' he said. ``One of the words I hated was `impossible.' I disliked it so much that I tore up the page with that word in the dictionary. But when I tried to put it back together, I realized the word became `I'm possible.'''
Shin's can-do attitude and instinct for survival ultimately put him through education, all the way to receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
Prior to becoming a politician, he taught at the college level for 31 years.
``I still have a heart for teaching and for the youth,'' said Shin, who hopes to dedicate more time to reaching out to Korean adoptees around the world. ``I want to show that blood isn't thicker than water, but love is thicker than blood.''
He also shared his passion for fostering young Korean politicians in the U.S.
``We're seeing many Koreans set foot into politics in the U.S., but I'm going to continue to provide support and guidance,'' said the senator, who plans to run for another term next year.
Currently serving as vice chair of the economic development, trade & innovation committee and chair of the international relations committee, Shin says he's going to keep working to make changes.
``As long as I live, I'll always have a new dream after I accomplish an old one,'' said Shin. ``The process is never ending but that's the joy of life and living.''