PUTTING ISSUE IN PERSPECTIVE
By Dan Kimber
Glendale News Press
Aug 22 2008
CA
Bulletin: Local councilman infers that one segment of the local
population smokes more cigarettes than other segments of the local
population. Councilman Dave Weaver’s indelicate reference to smoking
and Armenians has some in the "offended group" raking him over the
coals for his ethnic insensitivity. The high state of cultural (and
let’s not forget racial) awareness in our community has yet again
been activated at this most egregious affront and mindless stereotype.
I met Weaver only once, and I doubt that he remembers it. Our
"conversation" was a monologue with him talking and me listening,
an occupational hazard no doubt with politicians whose long service
has them being more over, than of, the people. He might want to
consider, soon, going back to being of the people. I would add,
though, that he is also deserving of our respect and gratitude for
his steadfast service to the community. This latest jab at him is
completely undeserved.
Let me say more directly what Weaver only alluded to: Armenians
(specifically the men) in Glendale do smoke more than non-Armenians. I
base that partly on 25 years of observing and working with students
who smoke in high school and of having some sense of the environment
around me. So shoot me for stating the obvious. Most of the kids in
school who have already begun the addiction, specifically Armenian
boys, come from families where male members, dad/uncle/brother/grandpa,
also smoke.
I come from a similar family. Dad smoked and so did all five of his
sons. The correlation is undeniable. All but one of us gave up the
habit. Most of my smoking buddies in high school have also quit. We
got the message drummed into us that an addiction to tobacco will
pretty much rule out a long life. That’s what we all grew up with,
and eventually the truth of that message came through.
People who come from other parts of the world to America have
historically had to adjust, not just to long-standing tradition,
but to current trend as well. Smoking in public is currently taking a
beating, not from an overbearing government but from increasing public
awareness of the health hazard, not to mention the outright annoyance,
of second-hand smoke.
But let’s try to put this ethnic thing into perspective. Our school
district, and others throughout the state, has targeted Latino
Americans for their consistently low scores on standardized tests. It
is a fact that they, as a group, perform well below other groups. Is
an acknowledgment of that fact grounds for Latino groups to rise up
in indignation, or is it an honest attempt to address a problem that
has an undeniable cultural component?
Should we all close our eyes to the fact that a preponderance of
smokers in public areas in Glendale are Armenian males?
In attempting to educate our children in our schools about the evils
of tobacco, should we address that ethnic component or pretend that
it doesn’t exist?
And while we’re on that subject, why doesn’t the Armenian National
Committee try wrestling with a real problem, like the disproportionate
number of young Armenian boys/men choosing an addiction that will
cut short their time on this Earth. Wouldn’t that be a more valuable
public service than being in a perpetual state of alert and waiting
to seize on the next perceived "racial" incident?
Old habits die hard, old customs harder yet. In Armenia, 70% of males
over the age of 15 smoke. It is the highest rate in all of Europe. If
that falls under the category of custom or "national pastime," then
it can only be hoped that coming to America will in time drastically
reduce those numbers.
As it is now, many of our children see smoking as a rite of passage
instead of the self-destructive, disgusting habit that it is.
The will to change that is not likely to come from statements made by
public officials but from men in the families who fully understand
the power of the example they set for the little boys who watch and
learn from them.