“YOU SAY ‘TOMATO,’ I SAY ‘TOMAHTO.”’ But who is right? Calm measured discussion is one way of approaching the differences; another way is “You say ‘tomato,’ I say ‘shut up.’”
A pinch of anger and a little fight over taste clears the air and solves the issue. Whether it’s a good way of resolving conflicts depends on the situation and the tools you have at hand. What an amazing formula.
Unfortunately, we do this so often that we lose the track of our thoughts and the circumstances that drive us to the point where we scream and yell at each other. Some people say that differences are good because they add to variety, they give us new experiences and new ways of understanding life.
Others do not agree with this because differences are the reason for all of the arguments and misunderstandings. Perhaps it would be easier to be around people who always agree, never doubt or maybe never think differently, but our world would be a disaster.
We may not know exactly why it is so difficult to understand one another but this issue seems always topical, especially in California, because of our culturally diverse population. Glendale mirrors the state in this regard.
History
Every city in the world has some kind of diversity, but this hasn’t always been the case. On June 2, 1929, the Los Angeles Times named Glendale an “all-American” city, free from foreign elements, and all that implied.
This changed quickly. It was hard to imagine at that time that the city would change so drastically. By the 1920s, the census already recorded a big increase in population. In 1910, there were 2, 746 residents and in 1920 the population grew to 13,576.
Not only did the number of people increase, but the ethnic make-up changed dramatically. The homogeneous city began its transformation into one of the most diverse cities of the U.S.
According to the census results, in 2000 the population consisted of “white,” which also included a large number of Armenians who migrated here as early as the 1920s; “Black” or “African American”; “Native American”; “Asian American”; “Pacific Islander”; and also “Hispanic” or “Latino.”
The sudden population boom in the 1920s caused the state of board of education to permit Glendale to organize the college, which opened in 1927. The population continued to rise, and with it cultural diversity.
Eventually, Glendale turned from an “all-American” city into a pan-cultural way station for different ethnic minorities. With the changing demographics ethnic clashes, gang fights, and racial discrimination became major concerns for city officials.
Gang Violence
In 2000, a 17-year-old Latino student from Hoover High School was stubbed to death in Glendale and the police arrested an Armenian gang member as a suspect.
In the same year, an Armenian man was killed in Hollywood in response to what happened in Glendale, which in its turn was another response to earlier shootings between these groups.
Some people don’t like Glendale as much as they used to. There is even a Facebook page named “I hate Glendale,” where someone suggests to his friend to light a match and burn the place before moving out of the city.
Although there haven’t been any serious racial clashes reported at Glendale Community College, there is still tension between the students.
But sociology Professor J. C Moore is one who believes that differences can be overcome.
“Faculty don’t pay enough attention to diversity issues present on campus,” says Moore. “They hide these issues under the rug because they are too negative to talk about.”
Diversity Program
Moore has been coordinator of the diversity program on campus and through her efforts a black culture festival was started and the program expanded. The program brings students of all ethnic backgrounds together through workshops, festivals, open conversations and much more. Unfortunately, budget constraints have put the program on indefinite hold and it may not return.
The problems don’t go away.
According to Shaina Zadoorian, an Armenian student at GCC, it would be wrong to say there are no racial problems on campus. “When I go hang out with Hispanics and Armenians would find out and they would be like, ‘why would you hang out with them?’ They’ll talk really bad and when I go hang out with Hispanics they will be like ‘ooh, we know you are Armenian — you’re cool but still ….’ “
Zadoorian adds that this prejudice is not limited to her age group. She doesn’t remember a Hispanic person ever setting foot in their house, as her father doesn’t like them. Zadoorian is also a member of STAR (Students Talking About Race) and she notices these problems are not limited to her family and close personal acquaintances; other students mention similar issues.
Solutions
The program of cultural diversity used to address those concerns through several channels. Professor Moore has been working on fundraising for the programs such as festivals, literary evenings for the students, panel discussions and workshops.
“They used to eat each other’s food. Can you imagine? How much closer could they get to each other?” said Moore. The cultural events calendar that she prepared, together with her colleagues, depicted all the projects they carried out before.
But she bemoans the fact that even when she functioned as the coordinator of the diversity program, there didn’t seem to be much support by the college. The problem racism is there and obvious to students though. Students don’t know and appreciate each other’s’ cultures? “They come with their friends and they stick with their friends,” says Karen Koocharian-Pekacheky, another student.
Often, it is parents of students who are culturally insensitive, immigrants who find it hard to transcend their own traditions and languages.
And so the work must be done by others — teachers, clergy, neighbors — people who can make a difference in teaching students about tolerance and understanding.
A Recurrent Problem
Considering that we live in an era when Orange County Republican official Marilyn Davenport can send an e-mail containing a doctored photo depicting President Barack Obama as a chimpanzee then protest that she wasn’t aware that act might be construed as racist, improvements could be made in educating the public.
“We do not help our students to use their potential,” says Moore. “There is a bit of an animosity toward the Armenians from the non-Armenian population; there is a wall between them; we have to break it. We should involve students through workshops in cultural diversity. We give them knowledge by inviting lecturers, panel discussions.”
It is nice to think that there are solutions to gang violence, hate crimes and racially motivated violence. It’s nice to think that there might be foods to be tried and friends to be made outside our own familiar routines. But we need to listen. We need to listen to others — the voices that make us aware of problems and suggest solutions.
These are hard times for everybody. People lose their jobs, classes are cut, education becomes more expensive and so on and so on. Hopefully, this crisis will not affect programs that enhance our ability to discover new cultures, understand our neighbors next door and around the world, and enhance our ability to find common ground.
It is, after all, our relationships with others that give life its meaning. Fortunately there are others who help us, who are still willing to sacrifice their family time, their studies, even their reputation among their friends, to identify and address these critical problems. That gives us hope for the future.
—Verzhine Nikoghosyan
Twice award winning article
- Second place in competition held by Journalism Association of Community Colleges for Magazine Opinion Story
- Third Place in competition held by California College Media Association for Magazine Opinion Story
http://www.glendalecollegeinsider.com/?p=125
A pinch of anger and a little fight over taste clears the air and solves the issue. Whether it’s a good way of resolving conflicts depends on the situation and the tools you have at hand. What an amazing formula.
Unfortunately, we do this so often that we lose the track of our thoughts and the circumstances that drive us to the point where we scream and yell at each other. Some people say that differences are good because they add to variety, they give us new experiences and new ways of understanding life.
Others do not agree with this because differences are the reason for all of the arguments and misunderstandings. Perhaps it would be easier to be around people who always agree, never doubt or maybe never think differently, but our world would be a disaster.
We may not know exactly why it is so difficult to understand one another but this issue seems always topical, especially in California, because of our culturally diverse population. Glendale mirrors the state in this regard.
History
Every city in the world has some kind of diversity, but this hasn’t always been the case. On June 2, 1929, the Los Angeles Times named Glendale an “all-American” city, free from foreign elements, and all that implied.
This changed quickly. It was hard to imagine at that time that the city would change so drastically. By the 1920s, the census already recorded a big increase in population. In 1910, there were 2, 746 residents and in 1920 the population grew to 13,576.
Not only did the number of people increase, but the ethnic make-up changed dramatically. The homogeneous city began its transformation into one of the most diverse cities of the U.S.
According to the census results, in 2000 the population consisted of “white,” which also included a large number of Armenians who migrated here as early as the 1920s; “Black” or “African American”; “Native American”; “Asian American”; “Pacific Islander”; and also “Hispanic” or “Latino.”
The sudden population boom in the 1920s caused the state of board of education to permit Glendale to organize the college, which opened in 1927. The population continued to rise, and with it cultural diversity.
Eventually, Glendale turned from an “all-American” city into a pan-cultural way station for different ethnic minorities. With the changing demographics ethnic clashes, gang fights, and racial discrimination became major concerns for city officials.
Gang Violence
In 2000, a 17-year-old Latino student from Hoover High School was stubbed to death in Glendale and the police arrested an Armenian gang member as a suspect.
In the same year, an Armenian man was killed in Hollywood in response to what happened in Glendale, which in its turn was another response to earlier shootings between these groups.
Some people don’t like Glendale as much as they used to. There is even a Facebook page named “I hate Glendale,” where someone suggests to his friend to light a match and burn the place before moving out of the city.
Although there haven’t been any serious racial clashes reported at Glendale Community College, there is still tension between the students.
But sociology Professor J. C Moore is one who believes that differences can be overcome.
“Faculty don’t pay enough attention to diversity issues present on campus,” says Moore. “They hide these issues under the rug because they are too negative to talk about.”
Diversity Program
Moore has been coordinator of the diversity program on campus and through her efforts a black culture festival was started and the program expanded. The program brings students of all ethnic backgrounds together through workshops, festivals, open conversations and much more. Unfortunately, budget constraints have put the program on indefinite hold and it may not return.
The problems don’t go away.
According to Shaina Zadoorian, an Armenian student at GCC, it would be wrong to say there are no racial problems on campus. “When I go hang out with Hispanics and Armenians would find out and they would be like, ‘why would you hang out with them?’ They’ll talk really bad and when I go hang out with Hispanics they will be like ‘ooh, we know you are Armenian — you’re cool but still ….’ “
Zadoorian adds that this prejudice is not limited to her age group. She doesn’t remember a Hispanic person ever setting foot in their house, as her father doesn’t like them. Zadoorian is also a member of STAR (Students Talking About Race) and she notices these problems are not limited to her family and close personal acquaintances; other students mention similar issues.
Solutions
The program of cultural diversity used to address those concerns through several channels. Professor Moore has been working on fundraising for the programs such as festivals, literary evenings for the students, panel discussions and workshops.
“They used to eat each other’s food. Can you imagine? How much closer could they get to each other?” said Moore. The cultural events calendar that she prepared, together with her colleagues, depicted all the projects they carried out before.
But she bemoans the fact that even when she functioned as the coordinator of the diversity program, there didn’t seem to be much support by the college. The problem racism is there and obvious to students though. Students don’t know and appreciate each other’s’ cultures? “They come with their friends and they stick with their friends,” says Karen Koocharian-Pekacheky, another student.
Often, it is parents of students who are culturally insensitive, immigrants who find it hard to transcend their own traditions and languages.
And so the work must be done by others — teachers, clergy, neighbors — people who can make a difference in teaching students about tolerance and understanding.
A Recurrent Problem
Considering that we live in an era when Orange County Republican official Marilyn Davenport can send an e-mail containing a doctored photo depicting President Barack Obama as a chimpanzee then protest that she wasn’t aware that act might be construed as racist, improvements could be made in educating the public.
“We do not help our students to use their potential,” says Moore. “There is a bit of an animosity toward the Armenians from the non-Armenian population; there is a wall between them; we have to break it. We should involve students through workshops in cultural diversity. We give them knowledge by inviting lecturers, panel discussions.”
It is nice to think that there are solutions to gang violence, hate crimes and racially motivated violence. It’s nice to think that there might be foods to be tried and friends to be made outside our own familiar routines. But we need to listen. We need to listen to others — the voices that make us aware of problems and suggest solutions.
These are hard times for everybody. People lose their jobs, classes are cut, education becomes more expensive and so on and so on. Hopefully, this crisis will not affect programs that enhance our ability to discover new cultures, understand our neighbors next door and around the world, and enhance our ability to find common ground.
It is, after all, our relationships with others that give life its meaning. Fortunately there are others who help us, who are still willing to sacrifice their family time, their studies, even their reputation among their friends, to identify and address these critical problems. That gives us hope for the future.
—Verzhine Nikoghosyan
Twice award winning article
- Second place in competition held by Journalism Association of Community Colleges for Magazine Opinion Story
- Third Place in competition held by California College Media Association for Magazine Opinion Story
http://www.glendalecollegeinsider.com/?p=125