More than ambivalent, I often got up on my soap box and fought the anti-consumer love holiday. Why pay for a card for someone to remind them that you love them? If you truly loved them, wouldn't they already know and not need the reminder? Why buy chocolates? Hasn't it been eternally proven that woman crave chocolate every waking (and non-waking) moment? Why buy flowers? Shouldn't a blooming bit of flora compel you to bring some home to your loved one whenever the impulse strikes?
In 2009, it was stated that 70% of couples cohabitate, even before marrriage. That's a whole lotta love going around. So, if Americans are sooo lovey dovey, why the holiday?
See, I obviously have a lot of pent up aggression against the holiday. Mostly, I despise the fact that the holiday makes it "okay" to ignore your love one's need for adoration and spontaneity all year long and lets them get away with it by bringing home a cheesy heart shaped box of truffles and a corny card written by someone in a cubicle rather than written from his/her heart.
Worst of all, the holiday makes girls like me, swallow their words and succumb to typical girl mode and beg her boyfriend to participate in the holiday. Who wants to be alone watching all of the other girls stare at their BFs over candlelight through the window of a fancy restaurant, or wants to watch a chick flick that reminds you of the love you aren't feeling at the moment? Who wants to be left out of anything, ever?
And even sadder, imagine the effects on those who aren't participating by choice. Those without someone to hold onto? Imagine what this soul-sucking, consumer America holiday does in just one day to thousands of human psyches'. That's just plain inhumane.
Until the holiday is officially abolished, we will all participate, in order to prevent the ultimate letdown.
So, if I must participate (since I doubt with all that's going on in the world, I can manage to knock the holiday in a few short weeks), I choose to participate the most modern, non-old fashion way possible.
No, I'm not going to rent a flying car and hang out with the Jetsons...
I will be TWEETING my sweetheart and I encourage you to do the same. Think I'm crazy? Well, the classic sweetheart candy doesn't. They are actually jumping on board with social media and paying attention to the new communication outlet.
This year, the classic chalking candy won't only offer messages like "Love Me" and "You and Me," they will also say "TWEET ME."
Just as this candy has been an American staple for all school children and grown ups alike, they are affirming with sugar, that social media is relevant and broad enough to provide a heart with "tweet me" on it in their V-Day mix.
Another component of this addition, includes an iPhone app that allows participants to send virtual Sweethearts - Tweethearts- with personalized messages that can appear on someone's Twitter page. Fun.
As a huge supporter of social media and the relevancy of twitter, I ask, if you must, continue this money hungry holiday, do it with twitter and sweethearts. And then, Feb 15th, let's start the campaign against Valentine's Day for next year and remember to say I LOVE YOU when the feeling actually strikes (your heart, not the calendar).
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