Valentine’s Day, Season of Love – by Kelly Morgan

   Valentine’s Day: to many, this holiday is associated with frilly pink hearts, diaper wearing angels, and romance. It is portrayed as a time of loneliness, overspending, and a waste of time.  Because of this, many people detest the holiday, saying that it is just a waste of money, and further that it makes people who are not in a relationship feel lonely and depressed. However, Valentine’s Day does not just have to be about romantic love; it can be a time to appreciate all the people that matter in everyone’s lives, regardless of whether they are friends, family, or significant others.

   Another common complaint about the Valentine’s Day is the tradition of gift giving. Many people go out of their way to buy the most extravagant and expensive gifts for their partners in a misguided attempt to express affection.

   “I do like all the presents,” said Abbey Nelson, a junior at GLHS. “All of the candy and flowers are nice.”

  While flowers can be a good gift for those who can afford it, the best gifts are often much less expensive and much more thoughtful. An affectionate note or handmade card can be valued just as much if not more than a large, expensive piece of jewelry or overpriced candy.

   If one does have someone special in their life, February 14th is the perfect time to show their  significant other how much they love them. It provides a great opportunity to go on a date or make a romantic gesture. It is also a great springboard for starting a new relationship.

   Valentine’s Day is not just the clichéd stereotype of being sad and alone or overspending on pointless gifts. It is a time to celebrate all kinds of love, whether it is love for your family and friends or romance.

Valentine’s Day, Waste of Effort, Waste of Money, Waste of Time – by Sydney Mullet

  The ever expensive time is among us. No, not Christmas.. This year, all of those ‘fish in the sea’ relatives and friends wag in front of your face, will be either naively spending $50 on flowers alone, or consuming a self-bought box of chocolates watching the same romantic comedy they have been watching since they were twelve. Happy Valentine’s Day, right? Holidays today are no longer used to express gratitude, love, or affection, as their original intentions imply. St. Patrick’s Day is used as an excuse for Americans to enjoy a night they will not remember, and the lovely February 14th is used to materialize love.

 Putting a price limit, or even a price expectation, on love is only a clever form of cultural pressure. If someone cannot remember their lover’s favorite flowers, whether they prefer Lindor to Ghirardelli, if they want a classy dinner, if they expect more… the pressure builds up, expectations rise. In the end, everyone involved feels either disappointed, or guilty, and are in plenty of debt.

  And then there is the flip side of it. There are hundreds of ways to spend a Valentine’s Day alone; sorrowfully eating a box of fifty chocolates, pretending you do not want love, etcetera, each option more disconsolate than the last! The social construct built around the holiday makes you feel like you are not doing well because you are alone on this day, then rubs your face in it, one rose at a time.

  Of course, there is a happy side to it, lovers, friends and family are reminded to take time to cherish one another and show appreciation. But thanks to our society, that is not nearly the point of the holiday any longer. The mischievous Cupid and his painful arrow looks to aim at our wallets and the sodden hearts of the people this Valentine’s day, just like each year prior.