The Upside of Anger



Well it is upon us once again, the day of days. Oh yes, Singles Awareness Day AKA Valentine's Day. How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways. Its not that I am totally opposed to the idea of love or being in love. I believe in love very much but I do not believe in marketing the ideal of love around a religious holiday. The last time I checked, the scope of human emotion did not come to its zenith on just one day. More than the marketing, its the asinine regurgitation of the same bullshit every fucking year. The man has to buy the flowers (roses usually), the man has to buy the candy, the man has to take the woman out to dinner and entertain her every whim. I have no problem in showering gifts on someone if you are in love, but my ideal of love is predicated on reciprocity. Valentine's Day emasculates men in its effective marketing ploy in which we are deceived into believing that not only is it valid to commercialize affection but it is deemed fashionable. I'm not being a cheap bastard, but what the fuck is the deal?! What does a man get for all the artificial romance he gives his beloved? If he is lucky, he gets a card and a genuine statement of affection. But then again, men understand that the day is a self-fulfilling prophecy. They spend money in order to satisfy their mates and prove their feelings are genuine. I thought that materialism was out of fashion and that it was superficial to try to deceive women with "gifts". I suppose that on the one blessed day a year women forget their moral obligation to themselves to uphold the sanctity of relationships and not compromise said obligation to get the same dozen red roses and a giant heart shaped cookie. I suppose many have asked the question why the commercialization exists and why people are perpetual pawns in Hallmark's and Russell Stover's empire. After careful deliberation, I came to a concise answer. People, all people, want to be in love. It is a hard truth to admit. Even us bitter cynics, behind the seeming corrosive rhetoric want to feel something, however brief it may be. Love is a universal emotion, and it is with that rationale that Valentine's Day will forever be popular, for better or for worse. Love songs always sell and romantic comedies prosper because people like to see the guy get the girl. It makes the majority of society feel really solid that they can identify with a positive sentiment. That coupled with the fact that love has the capacity of transcending a lot of barriers. What I mean is that people who are in love, in the truest sense, have a connection that can cross oceans of time and distance.
I just wish that the day would be slightly more private. Relationships are a dichotomy, not a public display. Two people in love is something that is rare and said rarity needs to be preserved, not put out as an exhibitionist display. I try to think that there is a time and a place for voyeurism. I just never accepted the logic that privacy and intimacy were mutually exclusive terms. If you are in love then why share your gift. Maybe I'm a little selfish, but I would never want to share the gift of love that someone would have the confidence to give me in a public setting.
To all those couples experiencing first love, new love, or rekindled love more power to you. Enjoy the day tomorrow with that person that makes you feel special. If you express your feelings through flowers and candy then do that. Ladies, please remember that all those presents you are getting are quite expensive. It might be a nice change of pace to get your man something better than just a card. Couples, please be aware of those who are not as fortunate as you are and don't exchange saliva, and possibly other fluids, in front of those who are dateless. But then again, if you really love the person they should already know it before February 14.
To those who are experiencing unrequited love, lost love, or just don't have any concept of love at all, I say that Valentine's Day is a ridiculously overrated and superficial day and you are far more secure financially because of it. In 24 hours the frenzy will be over and couples will return to the regular routine of bitching at each other over trivial matters and the universe will be as it was. I have been told that if one looks for love then they will never find it. I don't know if I agree with that but I do believe that good people generally get what they deserve so rest assured that if you desire "the other" your time will come one day.