St. Valentine's Day

[pegkerr]

Wow.

There seems to be an absolute storm of entries regarding Valentine's Day on my friends list, ranging from a lot (a lot) of people who absolutely despise it and want to lob a nuclear bomb at anyone who wants to wish them love or happiness on this day or dares to offer them chocolate, to those who have have turned their journals pink today and are sprinkling hearts and confetti everywhere. (Except heidi8, of course, who turned her journal pink five years ago, and never turned it back). Geez, lighten up everybody, all right?

Anyway, I had a good time with Valentine's Day with my family: cards, candy, special breakfast table set with heart-shaped plates. Try not to have apoplexy over this humble fact. At any rate, I want to draw attention to misia's excellent and practical suggestion that really, if you want to honor St. Valentine's day, you can do it by making a donation to Scarleteen, a sex education site for teenagers and young adults, which aside from all its other strengths is GLBT inclusive. See misia's post about it here.

And folks, let's tone down the froth-flecked railing against Valentines and chocolate and those who enjoy them (or dare to wish that you enjoy them, too) a teensy bit, okay? (Well, what I mean is, you can rage against St. Valentine's Day in your own journals if you like--as I always tell kijjohnson, "You can make different decisions than I do"--but not in my journal, if you please.) I mean, c'mon . . . it may not be your cup of tea, but no one is trying to shove bamboo slivers under your finger nails, right?

Comments

[aome.livejournal.com]

There was only one really strong anti-Valentine rant on my flist today, but it was enough to completely spoil my mood. I don't get why they have to ruin something for everyone else. So it's commercial - what isn't? Labor Day is, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Easter ... you don't see the same hatred for those things. I'm really quite angry someone found it necessary to stomp on a gesture of love and friendship.

I hope the rest of your day has continued to be positive, following that lovely-sounding breakfast. ♥

[threeringedmoon.livejournal.com]

Yes: I don't recall ever having seen much anti-Valentine's Day sentiment before. I thought the war was on Christmas. Why doesn't anyone ever tell me anything?

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Too many polite people? :-)

It's not a holiday I like, and I have some problems with some aspects of how it's used in schools in particular. But I tend not to rant about it, certainly not in the journals of people who are taking perfectly harmless enjoyment from it.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

I think people had a bad reaction to the all the pinkness when they went on to LJ for the first time today.

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

Huh. I'd never rant about Valentine's Day in someone else's LJ. I mean-- I actually really enjoy reading the people who are enjoying themselves. (Like, say, you.)

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly anti-Valentine's day, but not to the point where it bothers me if *others* celebrate it. Luckily none of my sweeties insist on it or are seriously bothered by my opting out.

What does bother me some is the way it's played in many schools. Strikes me as overly sexualized for first graders.

"overly sexualized for first graders" -- WTF??

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Umm? When's the last time you were in a first grade class on Valentine's Day? Or even read the sentiments on the valentines made by the box for school kids? I have the boxes from at least 9 different kinds of school kid valentines here.

K. [not to put too fine a point on it, I know a great deal more about this that you do, and I think you're crazy]

Re: "overly sexualized for first graders" -- WTF??

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

What, no "be mine" or "be my Valentine"? How do you manage to exclude that from the packs of candy hearts and commercial sets of greeting cards? And you think the older kids don't tell the younger kids what it's all about? I've talked to far too many people whose experience of early gradeschool Valentine's day was quite laden with boy-girl stuff, and was very confusing and weird.

Valentine's Day

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

For Louie and me, everything is cause for celebration, but the biggest one is our wedding anniversary (5 years this May 30th). We're probably going to do something little but meaningful tonight, but at 4:30 p.m. still haven't decided what -- maybe just a little trip out to dinner. I used to send a few different woman friends Valentines to let them know that I was thinking of them, but that was a *long* time ago. I think a tasteful celebration (with a simple card or a heartfelt written statement) couldn't possibly be out of place, and have no problems with these.

Nate B.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

But Pegggggg, I just got this reeeeeeal nice froth covered nuclear bomb at Macy's

Actually, I think a lot of the invective might have to do with the sudden burst of PINK everyone got upon logging into LJ. (I had to work my little butt to the bone to change it before Val saw it (she loathes pink), and thought it was something I did!

Glad you had a good Valentine's Day!

[psychic-serpent.livejournal.com]

Peg--Bekki has been trying to email you and me and Rob about where to meet on Friday but both of your email accounts are bouncing the messages back. Can you provide a working email address, such as the one where these notifications go?

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

Jeez, I made a semi-hilarious anti-V-day rant on my _own_ LJ (altho I also provided happy links!), but to rail about it in someone else's LJ who enjoys the holiday is just bloody rude.

Butyeah, I think a lot of people were really put off by the LJ holiday website makeover -- I was one of them. Ick.

[morganmalfoy.livejournal.com]

For Valentine's Day I had coffee with a priest and seminarian and another friends. Or, I could say I had a mini FSU reunion.

Valentine's Day

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I think it's a fine holiday.

B