Valentine’s Day is an institutionalized day of romance and love. It is a day of red roses, pink hearts, dark chocolates and sweet wine. It is a day commercialized nearly to the point of obsolescence.
Valentine’s Day has become predictable, one expects to go on a special date, be romanced and, ironically, one expects spontaneity. That is nearly impossible.
The Valentine’s date is forced on couples, effectively eradicating all spontaneity that may have somehow found its way out through the unobtainable expectations.
This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, the day all Oklahoma liquor stores are closed and we can’t buy a bottle of wine, which is arguably the most enjoyable part of the day.
Wine, after all, is always a good idea, and this year we have to plan ahead.
Instead of celebrating Valentine’s Day, it would be better to surprise your date on a day when romance is unexpected; a day when spontaneity is a reasonably achievable goal.
But the catch-22 of institutionalized romance destroying the romance of the institution does not only apply to Valentine’s Day.
Celebrating a person on their birthday isn’t nearly as complementary as celebrating them on another day; celebrating their day doesn’t have the same meaning.
We should celebrate holidays commemorating our glorious past on an unexpected day, letting our loved ones know we really do care. Love your nation on days other than July 4, plant trees on days other than Arbor Day, love your mother on days other than Mother’s Day, celebrate our father on days other than Father’s Day.
We need to celebrate those things we care for on days other than when they’re expected. That gives them so much more meaning.
So, be spontaneous this year and celebrate your love on a different day.
After all, don’t you still love them, even if it’s not Valentine’s?
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patch 2 years, 3 months ago
It doesn't destroy romance as much as laundry room rape.
MRambrose 2 years, 3 months ago
You can't give consent if you are drunk!
dio 2 years, 3 months ago
@patch
Sadly, your dad did not use condoms...
TheTroll 2 years, 3 months ago
OMG ANOTHER DAILY EDITORIAL!
Look, I'm really searching for some heart. Maybe soul, but that's a lot to ask. There are some important issues out there to talk about and all I see is a ridiculous claim about Valentine's Day ruining love and school needs to be canceled for pretty, sunshine-filled days.
The best you can write about is this? Painting Valentine's as an oppressive holiday?
Boring. And silly.