V-Day, D-Day
Heather Lowery
Issue date: 2/15/10 Section: Opinion
St. Valentine was a Roman clergyman who was considered a martyr because he refused to give up his Christian faith, despite being imprisoned. He was executed because he was marrying couples even though the emperor had instructed him not to. When he died on Feb. 14, the now acclaimed St. Valentine's Day, he left a note to the jailer's daughter that was signed "From your Valentine," and a frenzy began.
Regardless of the opinion that most Americans have, I hate Valentine's Day. It's an over-commercialized holiday designed to make money off of the couples that are still together, despite the 50 percent divorce rate in our country. Don't get me wrong, I believe in love and I hope to find it one day, but it makes people who aren't in a relationship slightly depressed.
In fact, recent statistics from www.antivday.com report that 15% of women send flowers to themselves on Valentine's Day.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that consumers spent $422 million in flowers, $2.4 billion in jewelry, and $13.5 billion in chocolate and cocoa-related products. Needless to say, that is a lot of money spent on one day, making Valentine's Day the # 4 holiday in the United States for sales. The average person spends $100 on Valentine's Day.
Those are some hefty statistics for one day. It is my opinion that those statistics are the very reason why the greeting card, chocolate, and jewelry industries push for Valentine's Day so much. They miss the whole meaning of the day, love. Valentine's Day should be a celebration of the relationship that you have with another person, whether it be a one-week crush or thirty-year marriage.
Right now, I don't have a need for a relationship. It would be nice to have a one, but I'm okay with not having one too. I think that is the happy medium that people need to have. You can't always be in want of a boyfriend or girlfriend if you don't have one. You have to be happy with yourself before you can be happy with someone else. That leads me to God, the one who always has me feeling complete at every moment.
Regardless of the opinion that most Americans have, I hate Valentine's Day. It's an over-commercialized holiday designed to make money off of the couples that are still together, despite the 50 percent divorce rate in our country. Don't get me wrong, I believe in love and I hope to find it one day, but it makes people who aren't in a relationship slightly depressed.
In fact, recent statistics from www.antivday.com report that 15% of women send flowers to themselves on Valentine's Day.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that consumers spent $422 million in flowers, $2.4 billion in jewelry, and $13.5 billion in chocolate and cocoa-related products. Needless to say, that is a lot of money spent on one day, making Valentine's Day the # 4 holiday in the United States for sales. The average person spends $100 on Valentine's Day.
Those are some hefty statistics for one day. It is my opinion that those statistics are the very reason why the greeting card, chocolate, and jewelry industries push for Valentine's Day so much. They miss the whole meaning of the day, love. Valentine's Day should be a celebration of the relationship that you have with another person, whether it be a one-week crush or thirty-year marriage.
Right now, I don't have a need for a relationship. It would be nice to have a one, but I'm okay with not having one too. I think that is the happy medium that people need to have. You can't always be in want of a boyfriend or girlfriend if you don't have one. You have to be happy with yourself before you can be happy with someone else. That leads me to God, the one who always has me feeling complete at every moment.
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Reginald Fallin
posted 2/23/10 @ 9:13 AM EST
Yes, Valentines is a fraud, when you do find your soul mate and true love, you will not require a "day" to show them that you care, and neither will they. (Continued…)
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