2008 Woodie Awards
Hallmark strikes again: thie not-so-sweet side of Valentines Day
Issue date: 2/18/05 Section: Viewpoint
- Page 1 of 1
Shayna Reed
Staff Writer
Okay, let's be realistic here. Valentine's Day is a load of crap. The so-called "holiday" holds absolutely no historical significance. It is more of a pseudo-holiday fueled solely by the capitalistic ideals of Hallmark and Hershey's. Everything is covered in red, white, and pink with hearts and stupid little cupids everywhere.
It's really, well, gross. The entire day is dedicated to love and romance, and all the commercialized ways of expressing it. But hey, let's face it, nothing says love like a big, red, heart shaped cardboard box filled with little pieces of artery-clogging chocolate, a mass produced mushy poem slapped on a greeting card, and a dozen roses with a life expectancy of ten hours, give or take. Ah yes, a bunch of trash and a guilt trip for the gym, my kind of wonderful.
Please, do not get the wrong impression. I'm not being bitter or cynical, well maybe I am, but I don't mean to be. I just think Valentine's Day is a big waste of energy. It should be called "Popularity Day" or "Let's Test you Self-Esteem" Day.
In elementary school, kids compete to see who gets the most and the coolest valentines in the class. In high school, people base their popularity and thus self-worth on the amount and color of cheap carnations they receive from friends, significant others, and potential admirers. In college and even beyond, it's a race to see who can line up the most potential candidates for a hot Valentine's date. Once you settle down, it becomes whose spouse went further out of their way and spent the most money to reaffirm their undying love.
It's a constant race. If you're auspicious enough to receive numerous valentines and carnations and rack up tons of dates, then congratulations! Your eminence will forever be remembered and please be sure to put such information on your resume. Potential employers may require you to have received a minimum of six carnations every year in high school to even be considered for employment. If you are not quite as well-off, well then I think they still have a copy of the Notebook at Blockbuster, cry yourself to sleep knowing the girl in that movie probably got a lot of carnations when she was in high school.
If you're one of those "lucky" ones who's privileged enough to find yourself involved in even so much as a quasi-relationship on February 14th then congratulations. On February 15th you shall surely either be broke or disappointed. I'm jealous; I promise. This is the one day when you have to prove to your sweetie the depth of your feelings. Apparently, the remaining 364 days of the year are irrelevant and require no sign of love or affection. That seems like a lot of pressure rolling 364 days of love into a single expression on a single day.
Since Valentine's Day is a "girl's holiday," poor men suffer the consequences and accept the burden. They run to drug stores, plow through the masses, and sift through hundreds of wishy-washy greeting cards until they find "The One." Then, they rush to the florist and spend 60 dollars on 12 flowers that won't last 12 days, let alone sixty. Next, they pick their woman up and the two wait three hours to sit at an over-crowded restaurant and deliberate over the "special" Valentine's Day menu (a tough task when they feature a mere four entrees).
Still, after all is said and done, women find some aspect of the day that greatly disappointed them. No Valentine's Day will ever live up to the standards commercial America persuades them to adopt. Breakdown: Valentine's Day for couples leaves men broke and women disappointed. Hey wait, that is romantic. Man, I just can't subdue my envy.
Nevertheless remember, not everyone is quite this fortunate on Valentine's Day. We mustn't dismiss the dregs of our amorous society, the outcasts, the singles. Carrie Bradshaw once so shrewdly noted: "If you are single, after graduation there isn't one occasion where people celebrate you ... Hallmark doesn't make a 'congratulations, you didn't marry the wrong guy' card. And where's the flatware for going on vacation alone?" As if society doesn't do enough to alienate single people, a whole 24-hours has been set aside to make perfectly normal people lacking an intimate companion feel abysmal.
Oh, February 14th-a day to reflect and make excuses for the lack of love in your single life. There is no escaping the constant reminder Valentine's Day provides: nobody wants you. Everyone got a card; anywhere you go you see people buying cards for everyone but you. Everyone got flowers; you can't even buy groceries without being surrounded by roses defiled by thorns. Everyone has a date; anywhere you go you see people on dates. It's miserable. The best you can hope for is a box of chocolates from your mom, or a steamy night watching St. Valentine's Day Massacre consumed with the comfort brought by the two men that have yet to let you down: Ben and Jerry. Hey who cares if you set your diet back a week? You don't have anyone to impress! Just sit back with something deep-fried and a copy of He's Just Not That Into You (so much for condolences).
Valentine's Day is a sham; it's the truth. I know it, and you know it whether you like the so-called "holiday" or not. But still, people who have someone to share it with (I know I've been guilty of it myself once or twice) tend to cheese up a little and make it out to be something its not. But it's my fellow singles that receive all my sympathy. Don't get too discouraged, its only one day. I take comfort knowing, if nothing else, we're helping to keep the Necco Wafer Company in business (do your part and buy some hearts!). But if that's not enough: wear black, eat other people's chocolate, scowl and glare at happy couples, make fun of the romantic comedies cloned on every TV channel. Go out with your single friends and count the reasons why you're proud to be single. Then for the next 364 days you can replay these reasons in your head and hunt for a date so you don't ever have to hear the list again. Whatever floats your boat! But whatever you do, however you compensate...do not...NOT...call your ex.
Happy Valentines Day.
Kristen Caretta
Staff Writer
You know it's almost Valentine's Day when you cannot go anywhere without being bombarded with flowers, candy, and cards, all of which come in various tones of pink and red. Every teddy bear on the shelf holds some sort of sign that reads "I love you," and the mylar balloons in grocery store checkout lines become an obstacle as you maneuver yourself around them and to the register. Hallmark card sales go through the roof as people pick out the professionally written card that best expresses their emotions to a loved one.
What is the sudden obsession in the month of February with various trinkets meant to symbolize love? I am, by no means, cynical when it comes to love. I view love as one of the most amazing emotions possible. How can anyone ever really be a cynic when it comes to something so full of possibility and hope? I suppose it's the commercialism of the holiday that just doesn't sit right at times; the hopeless romantic in me can't accept the idea that getting flowers or candy once a year is ample proof of love. Sure, it's great to receive a little something on Valentine's Day because it makes us feel special, but why reserve this idea for just one day? Love is just so much more than any one day's celebration can ever fully embody.
Ok, so now everyone is thinking the same thing: we can't all get flowers and presents everyday because what college student has money to support that? This is the exact point. We should not have to buy into Hallmark's sales strategies to let someone know we care. It's hard not to fall for those cute cards with the black and white images of kids exchanging roses, but there are so many other ways to better express your feelings for someone. The best thing about love is that it makes you feel like a little kid and an adult at the same time. This combination gives you license to do silly things that one would, in any other circumstance, shy away from. The most romantic memories I have are the ones that were unplanned and uncomplicated. Think about it; what is the first thing people tell about themselves on dating shows? They always state that they enjoy long walks on the beach and sitting in front of roaring fires-both of which sound cheesy, I know, but those are the things that will be remembered.
So why would something like a romantic walk on the beach be more memorable than a teddy bear and a card? Picking out a teddy bear doesn't require much thought-you find the cutest one and grab it. Making the decision to do something out of the ordinary, on the other hand, says something about how much you care about someone. When it comes to love, it's all about how much time, energy, and thought you want to put into maintaining it. Even though doing something simple and spontaneous, like taking a walk, requires very little planning or preparation, the thought put into that shows the level of comfort you share with that person. When you feel completely comfortable you are not afraid to go out on a limb and do something random for someone. The usual fears of humiliation and rejection dissolve, and more room is left for love. All of this combined makes love different from anything else; it becomes a complicated emotion that is actually truly simple. In case you haven't gotten the point yet, love is not something to be taken lightly.
So what is Valentine's Day really about? It's another day to share with the ones you love to let them know how much you care, something easily accomplished without 5 pound boxes of chocolates and hundreds of candy conversation hearts. I may not be an expert in the field, but I have experienced love enough to know what it feels like. I was one of the lucky ones who felt true love at the age of 19, and it became something I will never forget. For us, that love was all about sharing experiences that other people may have found ridiculous. It was about feeding the Assumption ducks, driving to the beach just to see the stars on a clear night, and spending hours talking about everything and anything. Not once did we fret over cards and candy.
Everyone is different, and falling in love is going to be a different experience for everyone. That's what makes love so amazing, though; no two experiences will ever be the same. So this Valentine's Day, and every other day after, keep in mind that love is more than red roses and pink balloon bouquets. Make someone feel truly loved and do something special with him or her. Memories like that will last a lifetime and will cost virtually nothing. Glorify love; don't commercialize it.
Sophomore
English
Staff Writer
Okay, let's be realistic here. Valentine's Day is a load of crap. The so-called "holiday" holds absolutely no historical significance. It is more of a pseudo-holiday fueled solely by the capitalistic ideals of Hallmark and Hershey's. Everything is covered in red, white, and pink with hearts and stupid little cupids everywhere.
It's really, well, gross. The entire day is dedicated to love and romance, and all the commercialized ways of expressing it. But hey, let's face it, nothing says love like a big, red, heart shaped cardboard box filled with little pieces of artery-clogging chocolate, a mass produced mushy poem slapped on a greeting card, and a dozen roses with a life expectancy of ten hours, give or take. Ah yes, a bunch of trash and a guilt trip for the gym, my kind of wonderful.
Please, do not get the wrong impression. I'm not being bitter or cynical, well maybe I am, but I don't mean to be. I just think Valentine's Day is a big waste of energy. It should be called "Popularity Day" or "Let's Test you Self-Esteem" Day.
In elementary school, kids compete to see who gets the most and the coolest valentines in the class. In high school, people base their popularity and thus self-worth on the amount and color of cheap carnations they receive from friends, significant others, and potential admirers. In college and even beyond, it's a race to see who can line up the most potential candidates for a hot Valentine's date. Once you settle down, it becomes whose spouse went further out of their way and spent the most money to reaffirm their undying love.
It's a constant race. If you're auspicious enough to receive numerous valentines and carnations and rack up tons of dates, then congratulations! Your eminence will forever be remembered and please be sure to put such information on your resume. Potential employers may require you to have received a minimum of six carnations every year in high school to even be considered for employment. If you are not quite as well-off, well then I think they still have a copy of the Notebook at Blockbuster, cry yourself to sleep knowing the girl in that movie probably got a lot of carnations when she was in high school.
If you're one of those "lucky" ones who's privileged enough to find yourself involved in even so much as a quasi-relationship on February 14th then congratulations. On February 15th you shall surely either be broke or disappointed. I'm jealous; I promise. This is the one day when you have to prove to your sweetie the depth of your feelings. Apparently, the remaining 364 days of the year are irrelevant and require no sign of love or affection. That seems like a lot of pressure rolling 364 days of love into a single expression on a single day.
Since Valentine's Day is a "girl's holiday," poor men suffer the consequences and accept the burden. They run to drug stores, plow through the masses, and sift through hundreds of wishy-washy greeting cards until they find "The One." Then, they rush to the florist and spend 60 dollars on 12 flowers that won't last 12 days, let alone sixty. Next, they pick their woman up and the two wait three hours to sit at an over-crowded restaurant and deliberate over the "special" Valentine's Day menu (a tough task when they feature a mere four entrees).
Still, after all is said and done, women find some aspect of the day that greatly disappointed them. No Valentine's Day will ever live up to the standards commercial America persuades them to adopt. Breakdown: Valentine's Day for couples leaves men broke and women disappointed. Hey wait, that is romantic. Man, I just can't subdue my envy.
Nevertheless remember, not everyone is quite this fortunate on Valentine's Day. We mustn't dismiss the dregs of our amorous society, the outcasts, the singles. Carrie Bradshaw once so shrewdly noted: "If you are single, after graduation there isn't one occasion where people celebrate you ... Hallmark doesn't make a 'congratulations, you didn't marry the wrong guy' card. And where's the flatware for going on vacation alone?" As if society doesn't do enough to alienate single people, a whole 24-hours has been set aside to make perfectly normal people lacking an intimate companion feel abysmal.
Oh, February 14th-a day to reflect and make excuses for the lack of love in your single life. There is no escaping the constant reminder Valentine's Day provides: nobody wants you. Everyone got a card; anywhere you go you see people buying cards for everyone but you. Everyone got flowers; you can't even buy groceries without being surrounded by roses defiled by thorns. Everyone has a date; anywhere you go you see people on dates. It's miserable. The best you can hope for is a box of chocolates from your mom, or a steamy night watching St. Valentine's Day Massacre consumed with the comfort brought by the two men that have yet to let you down: Ben and Jerry. Hey who cares if you set your diet back a week? You don't have anyone to impress! Just sit back with something deep-fried and a copy of He's Just Not That Into You (so much for condolences).
Valentine's Day is a sham; it's the truth. I know it, and you know it whether you like the so-called "holiday" or not. But still, people who have someone to share it with (I know I've been guilty of it myself once or twice) tend to cheese up a little and make it out to be something its not. But it's my fellow singles that receive all my sympathy. Don't get too discouraged, its only one day. I take comfort knowing, if nothing else, we're helping to keep the Necco Wafer Company in business (do your part and buy some hearts!). But if that's not enough: wear black, eat other people's chocolate, scowl and glare at happy couples, make fun of the romantic comedies cloned on every TV channel. Go out with your single friends and count the reasons why you're proud to be single. Then for the next 364 days you can replay these reasons in your head and hunt for a date so you don't ever have to hear the list again. Whatever floats your boat! But whatever you do, however you compensate...do not...NOT...call your ex.
Happy Valentines Day.
Kristen Caretta
Staff Writer
You know it's almost Valentine's Day when you cannot go anywhere without being bombarded with flowers, candy, and cards, all of which come in various tones of pink and red. Every teddy bear on the shelf holds some sort of sign that reads "I love you," and the mylar balloons in grocery store checkout lines become an obstacle as you maneuver yourself around them and to the register. Hallmark card sales go through the roof as people pick out the professionally written card that best expresses their emotions to a loved one.
What is the sudden obsession in the month of February with various trinkets meant to symbolize love? I am, by no means, cynical when it comes to love. I view love as one of the most amazing emotions possible. How can anyone ever really be a cynic when it comes to something so full of possibility and hope? I suppose it's the commercialism of the holiday that just doesn't sit right at times; the hopeless romantic in me can't accept the idea that getting flowers or candy once a year is ample proof of love. Sure, it's great to receive a little something on Valentine's Day because it makes us feel special, but why reserve this idea for just one day? Love is just so much more than any one day's celebration can ever fully embody.
Ok, so now everyone is thinking the same thing: we can't all get flowers and presents everyday because what college student has money to support that? This is the exact point. We should not have to buy into Hallmark's sales strategies to let someone know we care. It's hard not to fall for those cute cards with the black and white images of kids exchanging roses, but there are so many other ways to better express your feelings for someone. The best thing about love is that it makes you feel like a little kid and an adult at the same time. This combination gives you license to do silly things that one would, in any other circumstance, shy away from. The most romantic memories I have are the ones that were unplanned and uncomplicated. Think about it; what is the first thing people tell about themselves on dating shows? They always state that they enjoy long walks on the beach and sitting in front of roaring fires-both of which sound cheesy, I know, but those are the things that will be remembered.
So why would something like a romantic walk on the beach be more memorable than a teddy bear and a card? Picking out a teddy bear doesn't require much thought-you find the cutest one and grab it. Making the decision to do something out of the ordinary, on the other hand, says something about how much you care about someone. When it comes to love, it's all about how much time, energy, and thought you want to put into maintaining it. Even though doing something simple and spontaneous, like taking a walk, requires very little planning or preparation, the thought put into that shows the level of comfort you share with that person. When you feel completely comfortable you are not afraid to go out on a limb and do something random for someone. The usual fears of humiliation and rejection dissolve, and more room is left for love. All of this combined makes love different from anything else; it becomes a complicated emotion that is actually truly simple. In case you haven't gotten the point yet, love is not something to be taken lightly.
So what is Valentine's Day really about? It's another day to share with the ones you love to let them know how much you care, something easily accomplished without 5 pound boxes of chocolates and hundreds of candy conversation hearts. I may not be an expert in the field, but I have experienced love enough to know what it feels like. I was one of the lucky ones who felt true love at the age of 19, and it became something I will never forget. For us, that love was all about sharing experiences that other people may have found ridiculous. It was about feeding the Assumption ducks, driving to the beach just to see the stars on a clear night, and spending hours talking about everything and anything. Not once did we fret over cards and candy.
Everyone is different, and falling in love is going to be a different experience for everyone. That's what makes love so amazing, though; no two experiences will ever be the same. So this Valentine's Day, and every other day after, keep in mind that love is more than red roses and pink balloon bouquets. Make someone feel truly loved and do something special with him or her. Memories like that will last a lifetime and will cost virtually nothing. Glorify love; don't commercialize it.
Sophomore
English