FROM THE MARGINS: If Mel Gibson came to Glendale

Every once in a while I get e-mails from well-meaning readers regarding the negative contributions of Armenians to our city. Some questions that come my way are: Why are all Armenians on welfare? Why are Armenians rude? Why are Armenians racist? Why are Armenians criminals? And last, why do Armenian men beat their wives?

Being the sensitive guy I am (really, I am like a cactus, thorny on the outside, soft on the inside), there was a time that such comments would ruin my day. This is not because I am Armenian, but because having lived in America for more than a quarter century, and having been exposed to the American ideals, I had suddenly found myself facing statements that had an aura of prejudice. I had automatically, and wrongly, assumed that if people don’t dare make public generalizations about the Irish or the African-Americans, then Armenians would also be spared.

Mel Gibson’s drunk tirade last week made me think. According to a deputy’s written report, Gibson said: “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in this world.”

The problem with this statement is that it assumes that an ethnic/religious group has the inherent aptitude for a generating disaster. And by singling out the Jews, he showed a propensity for animosity against a particular group. This, in spirit, is the definition of racism. (But Jody Foster claims Gibson is not a racist, so we have to take her word for it … )

Gibson could have easily blurted out other bigoted statements, such as “Germans are responsible for all the wars in the world” or “the two World Wars started in Europe, therefore Europeans are the most violent people in the world.” But, he didn’t.

Let’s transplant this situation to Glendale. What would happen if Gibson had claimed: “Armenians are responsible for all the crimes in the world.”

On a local scale, would there be such an outrage against him? Would he feel compelled to issue an apology to the community? And lastly, would the deputy in charge write down his unpleasant statements so diligently?

My guess would be a “no” to the first two questions, and a wishful “hope so” to the last.

But, despite the fact that Glendale is one of the safest cities in the U.S., and despite the fact that most immigrant Armenian families remain on welfare for only one generation, and despite the fact that rudeness is not a uniquely Armenian trait, and despite the fact that racism was not coined by Armenians (I don’t know of any Armenian slave ship owners operating the West Africa-Liverpool route), there are unchallenged negative stereotypes about Armenians in our city.

Why this double standard? It would be easy to blame racism. But what if we looked within for causes of passivity toward these attitudes?

First and foremost, the Armenian-American community in Glendale is relatively new. And as such, newcomers often focus their efforts on economic success. Traditionally, political activism is a luxury most working people cannot afford. In due course, this should change.

Second, the Armenian leadership, as well as community organizations, possess an immigrant mentality. They still behave as guests in a host nation. They function well within the “ghetto,” but when it comes to presentation of self to the outside, they freeze. Without involvement in the city and the community at large, rights remain symbolic and bookish. Possession of an American Passport is not the same as practicing the rights of American citizenship.

And last, despite all their achievements in recognition of Armenian Genocide, Armenians have not invested much energy in coining themselves as a rightful patch of the American quilt.

Efforts to publicize the genocide are not synonymous with raising the image of Armenians.

How do I dare compare Armenians with the more established minorities in America? I only dare, because in spite of our short and selective memory of American history, in essence, we are all the same.