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Valentines day.

it makes you think.. over the centuries, the martyrdom of a couple of early christian saints has been turned into a festival of worldwide love when roses and chocolates are given, kisses exchanged and silly schoolboys give their crushes hand drawn cards spelling out will you be my valentine. Romance at it's best: taking something horrible and turning it, with time, into something, if not good, then at least an expression of affection.

Consumerism turns this into one of those musto- be celebrated days, like christmas, where you have to buy the beloved, the object of your desires, favourite courtesan or whatever does it for you, some trinket, some gift to prove to them that you haven't forgotten about that one special person that advertising tells you deserves it. Comes in handy in that spending slump between christmas and easter, too. At least that way, people spend their cash on useful things like flowers (pretties up the house( perfumes (olfactory delights for all!), ipods (keeps 'em quiet and listening to music), chocolates (endorphins!), dinners, flights, island, houses... your gifts are a unlimited as your budget!

Yet it is nice to have day to celebrate love on. I suggest you make it every day, and forget about february the 14th. either that, or move it to the 29th... that way it'll be a really special day every four years when we actually might find a reason to enjoy and articulate what we should be feeling for those special persons every day of the year.

Hows that for an idea?
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