Posts by ShinEui Park:
Program recognizes students
May 7th, 2012
As the school year nears its end, Granite Bay High School juniors have begun preparing for the SAT and college applications to submit in the fall. However, two students out of this 572 are preparing for something else as well: Boys’ and Girls’ State.
Read the rest of this entry “
Totalitarianism and cruelty runs in the family
March 26th, 2012“He’s dead? He’s finally dead? What great news! Ha!”
Now, don’t be surprised when I say that my 80-year-old grandma said that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my grandma laugh so hard and smile so wide in my life.
And don’t think “Wow, that seems like such a cruel thing to say,” because let me mention exactly who I’m talking about.
I thought 2011 was about to end like any other year, but sudden news swept across the world like wildfire. The “eternal leader” of North Korea (also known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) died of a suspected heart attack on Dec. 17.
Unlike everyone else, the citizens of North Korea appeared to be torn apart by their leader’s death, mourning and shedding tears for weeks on end. Whether this was staged or not (YouTube search “North Koreans mourn Kim Jong-Il” and see for yourself), the influence of North Korean propaganda and government seemed all too real.
Also according to CNN, Huffington Post and any other major news sites, word got out that anyone who was not found weeping and shouting hysterically over this death was most likely sentenced to jail or a labor camp for six months. Just saying.
These people who have been starved, abused and deprived of societal wants are required to stick to their leader until the very end. What has he even done for North Korea anyway? Absolutely nothing.
The only thing this man liked to do was watch elaborate musicals and performances by strictly trained boys and girls, while having issues like poverty roam somewhere in the back of his mind. And shall I even dare to say that if these boys and girls made a mistake on stage, they would be sent to jail as well?
These are exactly the reasons why a person like my own fragile grandmother would be absolutely ecstatic about someone’s death. But I don’t think she understands what kind of consequences will result in the future because of this table-turning event.
I know Kim Jong-Il was bound to die eventually. He was an aging man with health issues, just like a normal human being. Even though his country viewed him as some sort of deity, being dictator wasn’t going to give him supernatural powers to live forever.
The thought that really scares me, however, is his succeeding son. Kim Jong-Un is the youngest of three – a power-hungry 28-year-old with barely any governing experience.
Kim Jung-Nam, the eldest son of Kim Jung-Il, was supposed to be the successor, but Kim Jung-Nam was ruled out after being caught with a fake passport to go to Japan to visit Tokyo Disneyland. The second eldest was ignored by his father because he was apparently too feminine.
Government workers of North Korea say Kim Jong-Un is “exactly like his father” and “strong-willed.” Everyone else around the world is assuming he’s even crazier than his father and will abuse his power even more.
How are we supposed to know whether or not Kim Jong-Un will one day spontaneously press the nuke button and demolish North Korea’s neighboring countries? Outside sources know barely anything about him, besides the fact that he really, really likes NBA basketball.
Even Kim Jong-Nam (the Disneyland escapee) wrote in his new book, “My Father, Kim Jong-Il, and Me,” about how he feels as if the North Korean government and economy will fall. He even wrote: “I have my doubts about whether a person (referring to his younger brother) with only two years of grooming as a leader can govern.”
Scary, right? Two years of learning how to govern over a nation full of 24 million people — a nation that is currently stripped to the bone of its basic freedoms.
As a kid, my peers always came up to me and asked, “Are you North or South Korean?”
Then I would bitterly answer, “If I was North Korean, I wouldn’t even be here. They’re communist. Think for once,” and proceeded talking about how much I disliked North Koreans and how it was so great coming from a country like South Korea.
As I grew older, I began to watch what I say. Previously, I blaemd North Koreans for their country being communist, but it’s not the citizens I should blame. They have no choice, power or will to make change. It was their dictator who was the problem. He gave them a chance to even have a voice.
And now that he’s dead, the thought of just having this crazier successor whom barely anyone knows about makes me believe that North Korea is headed toward a grim, dark future. It sort of seems as if the idea of the world ending in 2012 is a lot more plausible now.
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ShinEui Park, a senior, is a Gazette Lifestyle editor.
Leaving a Legend of Seniority
September 20th, 2011
Spirited, smart, athletic and talented—these are just some of the adjectives used to describe the “perfect” senior Class of 2011. After a successful last year at Granite Bay High School, the graduates have begun to leave for college. What they have left at GBHS is what some students and faculty members call a legacy. Read the rest of this entry “
Random Facts!
September 7th, 2011Source: www.allrandomfacts.com
The aorta of a blue whale is big enough for the average grown man to fit inside it.
Prince William and Kate Middleton got married on the same day as Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun.
The first non-human to win an Oscar was Mickey Mouse.
Every time you create a text message you increase your chances of arthritis.
The “sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick” is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.
A cat’s urine glows under a black light.
Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors.
Statistically, you are more likely to be killed by a cow attack than a shark attack.
The largest toy distributor in the world is McDonald’s.
The only letter not appearing on the Periodic Table is the letter “J”.
Extras just in case you need them:
Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand.
Canada eats the most macaroni and cheese per capita out of every other country in the world.
Teaser: Following the Class of 2011
August 23rd, 2011Great spirit, amazing athletic seasons and unbelievable academic records define the Class of 2011. Did they only succeed or did they set the standard too high for the following class?
While comparing the number of students from the junior and senior classes who have received the Academic Merit Awards for the 2011 to 2012 school year, the senior class had proportionally higher numbers who received the award. Read the rest of this entry “
Movie review: The Last Exorcism
September 14th, 2010
I hate exorcisms.
When people mention demons, ghosts, devil possession and especially exorcisms, I go ballistic.
But I decided to (wo)man up and face my fear by watching the much anticipated movie, The Last Exorcism, directed by Daniel Stamm.
Looking for approval
April 20th, 2010 Granite Bay High School has an array of California Interscholastic Federation sports, such as swimming, soccer, volleyball and basketball. But talented athletes don’t just compete in these teams, but in club teams as well.
Granite Bay Rugby is a team started two years ago by John Kimble, who is now the coach. Being a former rugby player himself, he wanted to start the program and teach the GBHS students how to play. Read the rest of this entry “
GBHS students get the opportunity to go to camp
April 20th, 2010On Feb. 1, the school bus departed from Roseville to Nevada County. Every year, 6th graders at Excelsior Elementary school, spend a week at Outdoor Education Camp.
The camp, called Shady Creek, is one of the most popular events that the kids look forward to – but they were not the only ones.
Students at various local high schools, including Granite Bay High School, have the chance to sign up to be a camp counselor for the week. Read the rest of this entry “
Random student of the month: Riley Unverferth, senior
March 22nd, 2010
Gazette photo/JON SETIAWAN
One of 2,085 GBHS students is randomly selected every issue: Riley Unverferth, senior
Gazette: What is your favorite Winter Olympic Sport?
Skeleton, because it looks the most fun, and I try to do it on my long board.
Music Review- HIM Screamworks: Love in Theory & Practice
March 22nd, 2010
Screamworks is in stores now.
With the unique voice of the lead singer of HIM, a creepy CD cover and a new sound that still defines this one of a kind band, HIM has done it again, coming out with its new album, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice. Read the rest of this entry “
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