Category: journalism

Stuff having to do with the world of journalism.

If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say, Don’t Say Anything At All.

yrreskrap1 Comment

For the first time in a very long time, I was shocked and shaken to the very core. I was ashamed to know that I share the world with such narrow minded people and I was reminded of the ignorance and blind arrogance that plagues and clings to our society like a heavy, dirty rag.

A few days ago, my friend shared a YouTube video with me. It was a video of a blonde girl, Alexandra Wallace, from UCLA, singling out a group of people, stereotyping all Asians. Let me tell you, it was nothing short of disgusting. Click here to watch the video.

In her rant, she complained about the burdens of having Asians in the dorms on the weekend. Their family members come on the weekends to cook for them and she claimed that their parents were not letting them grow independent. Apparently, having parents who care for their children enough to come and cook homemade food for them is a huge nuisance for her. At this point, Alexandra left me thinking “Why does it matter to you?”

It only snowballed from that point.

Rolling her eyes, Alexandra continued to rant about Asians in the library. Apparently while poor Alex was studying her political science, Asians were always on the phone. She raised a mocking hand to her face and opened her flagrant mouth: “OHHH CHING CHONG BING BONG TING TONG.”She heartlessly disclaimed the severity of the earthquake in Japan and proudly mounted herself on a rocky pedestal of fool’s gold when she called herself “the polite, American girl.” She publicly and very ironically announced that Asians needed to learn “American manners.” Sadly, this queen bee, this high and mighty girl who studies political science has forgotten that America, a salad bowl of cultures, was founded on its immigrants. “American manners” is in part Asian manners as well as manners of Hispanics, Africans, Germans, Italians, and more.

What shocked me the most was the her complete dismissal of the disaster that has shocked Japan. In her few short words, she had repudiated the heartbreak and worry that the earthquake brought onto many. My friend, Minako Otake, could not sleep all night when she heard of the news because she was worried for her family at home. She was tense, waiting for the call to hear the comforting voice of her mom and dad telling her that they were okay and to know that they weren’t a part of the thousands that were reported to be injured or dead. My boyfriend’s family lives in Japan. As Alexandra called it, “the tsunami thing” is a very good excuse to answer a phone call in the library.

The motives for her video were racist, debasing, and facile. I am sure that Asian families aren’t the only “hoards” of people that come to visit on the weekends. I am sure that Asians aren’t the only ones in the library that are using their phones and I am sure that she has probably realized the magnitude of her words. In these 2 minutes and 52 seconds, Alexandra Wallace of UCLA proved her sheer ignorance.

I am Korean American and proud of it. I know that when I get into college, wherever that may be, my family will come visit me on the weekends too and bring me food and maybe do my laundry. It is not because I am Asian. It is because I know my family will try to make my first year of college as comfortable as it can be. I know that I will probably be one of the many people from different ethnicities that might use their phones in the library. I know that my language might sound like a harsh din of rushing vowels and clanging consonants to the foreign, prejudiced ear but it is most definitely not something to be mocked or ashamed of.

In a world where people strive to be different and find beauty in the rarity of things, it is remarkable and eye opening when I find someone so narrow minded and audacious as she. To label a group of people because of their roots is wrong. What kind of world would we live in if we were all one generic race, one generic language, and one generic look? Hopefully, Alexandra Wallace (and many others) will come to terms with the many cultures that constitute our diverse home that we call America. Until then, I hope, at the very least, the magnitude of her words and their ramifications has taught her that if she doesn’t have anything nice to say, she shouldn’t say anything at all.

Under-appreciated in the NBA

smackyjackjack1 Comment

Many of the NBA’s best players go unnoticed throughout their careers. The Best example of an under-appreciated player is Derek Fisher.

Fisher is the team player. He has put up solid stats for his whole career. This season, the 36 year old Laker has averaged over 6 ppg. But what Fisher brings to the court is more than talent, he brings heart. This inspires all of the other players to be better.

Another under-appreciated player is John Wall. Wall is the poster boy for being under-appreciated.  The rookie gets edged out of the spot light because of the fan’s favorite rookie, Blake Griffen. Wall would get the rookie of the year award if it weren’t for Griffen. John Wall is the player no one wants to guard. He is quick and has a good jump shot. He will have quite a career if he can get off of the Wizards.

The final player I want to talk about is Joakim Noah. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Noah is one of the best centers in the league. He is the Derek Fisher of the East. He brings not only heart to the floor, but also talent. 

Moammar Gadhafi: Enemy, Dictator… Friend?

sennymcflyLeave a comment

“He gave us life. I am ready to die for him. He is a father, a brother and a friend to whom you can confide. You have no idea how humble he is.” (Fatia, 27).

When you think of the name Moammar Gadhafi, you don’t necessarily think “humble”. Well, supposedly, while the rest of the world sees this pernicious dictator as a threat to the safety and overall freedom of Libya, the women of his growing army see him as the father they never had.

The girls, or women rather, are recruited by Gadhafi himself and enrolled in a three year training “school” where they are transformed from proper, virtuous, daddy’s girls into highly trained, bazooka blasting, high heel-wearing, ninja warrior, Gadhafi girls.

These young women are literally made into modern day Charlie’s Angels. “Trained killers” is what Lauren Frayer, contributor to AOL News calls them and that is positively what they are. Throughout their training they are educated in martial arts and rocket launching and are unconditionally devoted to their Libyan leader. Women who will literally [like Jesus] die for him. I mean really willing to die. For example, as Gadhafi was being shot at, one of them jumped in front of him and took the bullets and died! That, my friends, is loyalty.

“Revolutionary nuns” is what they call them. Yes, “nuns”. And whatever ideas you can draw out of that…it’s true. I won’t go on any further.

So, could this be the work of Gadhafi’s “Casanova” prowess, or does Lybia’s fearless leader actually have some fraction of a soft side?

A Relay Lost

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Next month, OVS will be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at Buena High School in Ventura. I, for one, am very excited to see our school be so involved in something that could quite possibly change one in five of our lives in the future. I cannot wait to see people of all different worlds join together to fight one of the biggest killers today and have fun while doing it. To top it all off, this will be the first cancer-related cause I have attended, and I’m quite nervous. I’ve always avoided them because I have a problem confronting what has thoroughly turned my life upside down more than once and stolen the one person who, above all, meant the world to me.

My mom was a remarkable woman. Standing at 5’10 with tight curls the color of embers she wasn’t a woman you could easily forget. She fought for what she believed in and would seldom take no for an answer, which only made her all the more admirable to all that met her. We were all shocked when the news finally reached us. My mom had ovarian cancer and had up to two years to live.

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(My mom second from the right)

How could someone so strong let cancer take a hold of her?

For three months her body deteriorated from a combination of chemotherapy and the cancer itself to a frail shell of a woman with only one spot of her once fiery hair barely holding on. A woman who had once stood so tall and who was so outspoken was confined to a wheelchair and an oxygen mask at all times. It was at that time I was taken to go live with my dad after living practically my whole childhood with my mom.

No more than four months after her diagnosis I was called into the hospital to see my mom propped up onto a hospital bed unconscious and on a morphine drip. My heart must had fallen through the floor and my stack through the roof. This was my mother. A once divine and beautiful woman was spending the last few moments of life in a lifeless shell. How could something do this to her?

This disease, this cancer had taken everything from her. It had taken everything from me. A perfectly good woman was drained of everything and left to suffer, and left those around her to suffer. No one meant as much to me as my mom did. She was my only friend and the only person I could talk to, that I can still talk to. For ten years she served as my idol, now seven years later she serves as my inspiration.

Cancer isn’t just a disease that affects one person, it affects everyone around that person. It’s ruthless and merciless and won’t stop at anything once it grabs a strong enough hold of you. If there’s any way to help those who suffer from it, or have been closely affected by someone who suffers from it, it’s to get the word out. Cancer kills. Help others, help yourself.

Teenage Driving

yourgingerkid2 Comments

For most teenagers, a driver’s license represents freedom. It’s the ability to drive ourselves where we please and not be confined by our parents inability to transport us and their uncooperative moods. However in my case it’s a rather scary step up.

This last break I passed my drivers test and got my license and it’s needless to say that I am a happy kid. However the idea of driving on the open road honestly is terrifying.

Maybe I’m the odd one out when it comes to the average teenagers opinion on driving, but it’s scary!

According to this site, “The number of drivers ages 15-20 involved in fatal crashes totaled 5,864 in 2008, down 16% from 6,982 in 2007 and down 26% from 7,987 in 1998.” That should be enough to scare any new driver.

When I drive with my friends or even by myself I feel like everyone else out there is only thinking about themselves and their destination. It pretty much looks like this image below.

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Prom Dress Post…Again

yrreskrapLeave a comment

Well, I could not get my hands on that beautiful French Connection Samantha Sequins dress that I previously blogged about. It’s really such a shame. I called the corporate office and a snobby sounding woman snapped at me, telling me that seasons change and as a result, the clothes come and go. My dress had long gone.

So, as of today, I am still on the search for “the one.” This is the only prom that will really matter since my date will be the only one that matters! So this is the big hurrah, shopping for my dress. I found one on Bloomingdale’s website called the Kimberly Taylor Long Sleeve Button Down London Dress. But, the slight problem is that my good friend Wendy was also contemplating this dress.

AHHH there is always seems to be a problem when I find a dress that I like! Today’s goal: ask my good friend Wendy if I can buy the dress.

Assuming that I will buy the dress online, I will most likely be shopping for shoes and earrings this weekend with my mom. My mom is taking me out this weekend before she makes her big move to Denver, Colorado. A really random move. I already know I want nude colored heels and turquoise earrings so I can’t wait till tomorrow!

The Moment

theycallmedameLeave a comment

One step forward.
Seven steps back.
The train is still moving,
But it’s running off the tracks.

One stunning truth.
Twelve useless lies.
We can never be trusted
If we can’t even try.

One real friend
And another with a knife.
They’ll stab you in the back
To take away your life.

One more day
‘Til your life begins.
Live in the moment,
This isn’t a game you can win.

Haiti’s Possible Call for a Coup D’etat

vabenissimoLeave a comment

After the earthquake, cholera outbreak, and hurricane, Haiti is suffering through another revolution, a presidential election mainly between two candidates.

The first candidate is Michael “Sweet Micky” Martelly who used to be a popular “bad boy” komba singer. He throws night parties or “presidential campaigns” to raise his popularity successfully.

Another candidate is Mirlande Manigat who had been the first lady in 1988. Her image is much more trustworthy and responsible than the one of Sweet Micky.

Seems pretty clear about who should become the president, right?

But apparently, Haitians are confused between these two: on one side, they want a fun and easy-going president to ease their grief momentarily while the other side desires justice and orders.

How did they end up in this mess?

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A Lady In What?

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

A lady-in-waiting.

Yep, that’s right.

And no, that does not mean a lady waiting in the line to the restroom or in any line perhaps.

A “lady-in-waiting” is the classic English term deemed for the right hand women of a royal princess.

In this case, I am referring to the British princess-to-be Kate Middleton. The upcoming wedding has brought about much interest in the royal family and specifically into the life and rule of Prince William’s beloved wife.

Serving as basically the princess’s assistant, this “lady in waiting” is responsible for handling mail and traveling with the royal family during official visits.

Past princesses have given this position to a close family member or friend. However, rumors have circulated that Kate will follow in the footsteps of Diana and bring in an expert in “castle culture” for the first few years before bringing in her own family.

For now, the famous pair of William and Kate are looking forward to their wedding day and acclaiming more and more fame for their soon-to-be lovely royal family.

Expulsion Expulsion Expulsion…

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

So I am currently listening to an abundance of voices discussing their opinions regarding our school’s interdisciplinary policies. In other words, expulsion.

Before I entered high school I had always believed that one must do an absolutely horrible crime in order to be expelled. A knife fight or a drunken rendezvous were the kinds of things that occupied my mind regarding this subject.

I could blame my middle school; it was small and thus expulsion or any other type of disciplinary action was rare. In addition, my own innocence allowed me to believe that the on-screen fighting seen in popular movies was only met by, at the most, suspension. And let me not forget my belief that drugs and alcohol were common in high school and were thus somehow accepted.

However, throughout my years in high school I have realized a lot regarding this subject. My ninth grade year I recognized how serious bullying is through a classmate’s expulsion after expressing harm towards a fellow peer. My tenth grade year I realized the significance of violence when I experienced a dangerous brawl between two seniors. I had understood why these people were expelled and completely sided with the schools in their decisions.

It wasn’t until my eleventh grade year that I did not quite agree with the disciplinary action at my high school, and truthfully believed expulsion was used as more of a strict ultimatum rather than an agreeable decision.

I go to a private independent boarding school and thus I understand that students are expected to properly follow specific guidelines or otherwise face consequences. I understand the arguments that the school is giving you an opportunity, that this is a privileged experience, and that each student has signed a contract. I believe that it is more than fair to kick someone out for drinking, drug use, violence, or cheating, especially in a school that is aiming to create a campus filled with intelligent and mature young adults.

Though as a second semester high school senior awaiting those lovely letters of college acceptance and rejection, I would like to bring one argument up for questioning.

“EXPULSION.” These words plastered upon ones college resume is, to state lightly, not a very good addition.

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