Well, given the state of how much work I have, I've determine I might never get a new layout done. So for now we're living with this. Hope no one minds. (If you do mind, you probably have issues though...j/k. Maybe.)
Anyway.
It's Valentine's Day. And I just really wanted to share my beliefs and their roots.
Now before you click away, this isn't going to be some femi-nazi "RAWR VALENTINES DAY FEMINISM" rant. Nor will it be an "I'M SINGLE AND LONELY AND NO ONE LOVES ME" one. Although that might be closer to the truth. (j/k. again) Instead, I just want to share my thoughts on why this holiday is a negative thing and promotes a poor outlook on life.
Fact 1: If your so called Holiday's factual basis is unknown, or has a certain lack of consistency, should it still be celebrated? Probably not.
Though it has been removed from the Roman Catholic Saint's Calendar observances, the Day of St. Valentine, set on February 14th, was originally a feast day. There are a number of martyred saints named Valentine, so no one really knows much about the one for whom the fest is written, beyond the fact that he was buried on the 14th of February. Many claim he was martyred for marrying Christian couples, but there's no evidence of this beyond story. It is more likely that the day was created to encompass the pagan holiday of Lupercalia (or at least, this is suggested by some Victorian historians). Fact of the matter is that the celebrations of "love" didn't come until significantly later, in the 14th century, with Chaucer's incorporation of a love into a poem. (Yes, the same Chaucer most people hate for Canteburry Tales which, despite a true amount of artistic merit, is just a bitch to read and analyze because of it's Middle English reliance).
[A/N: I have the same sentiments on this as I do about Christmas. I'm largely not religious, though I can respect those who have religion. But if you're celebrating your savior's birthday in winter, when most theologians place it in Spring, and the date happens to coincide with the Pagan holiday of Yule and use pagan traditions is largely overshadowed by the purchasing of gifts, it's kind of retarded. Just saying. Although people with the right kind of "christmas" spirit make me happy. :D]
Fact 2: If you live in a nation of consumerists, and hypocritically bitch about it's consumerist nature, while being a largely unconscious consumerist, a holiday that promotes rampant consumerism only makes you more hypocritical.
Written Valentine's became an occurrence after Chaucer's atrocity, but mass produced Valentines didn't become the norm until the 19th century. (probably as a means for horny and prudish Victorians to profess themselves.... let's face it.) These days, 180 million cards are given annually (this makes it the second most. The most is Christmas.) People even give cards to their pets. Men spend an average of 130$ on cards, candy and jewelry. 14.4 billion dollars of shipments for valentines day were sent in 2007 for CHOCOLATE ONLY. Geesh people. Give it a break. How about donating some of that money to those in need? or spreading it across the year to show love for your partner at all times and not just one day.
Fact 3: If your symbology is related to a Pagan god known as the promoter of lust and sexual love, you've got issues.
Valentine's symbolism is probably the most ironic thing on the planet. Cupid? He's reminiscent of a combination of an angelic cherub, and Eros, the greek god of sexual love. Yes. Let's promote LUST instead of true love. Great idea. Or how about hearts? THAT LOOK NOTHING LIKE HEARTS. Did you know the the symbol we currently use for a heart is made as a figure of a woman bending over? Yeah. That's right. Think about that one for a second.
Fact 4: LOVE means so much more than ONE freaking holiday.
What's the one thing you hear people lament about at funerals? "I should've told him/her that I loved him/her more." So why do we celebrate ONE day of love. Love, no matter what kind, be it puppy, romantic, or between friends or family, should be celebrated. It's a gift. I'm hispanic. If there's one thing my people believe in above all else it's love. Relationships that don't encourage a constant state or sentiment of love just shouldn't be promoted. Love is all around, and we should remember that. Imagine how much better the world would be if people held that thought dear more often.
So here's my hopes for you, dear reader. Give up the consumerist aspect of a shitty holiday. Don't buy cards or candy (maybe sparingly....). Spend the day without fluff. Hang out with someone you love, no matter in what way, and tell them that you love them. Not just today. But tomorrow. And the day after. And after that. So long as it remains true.
