Desicritics Comments on I Hate Valentine's Day

Comment by Anon

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 19:50:25 EST

Nice article, Zainub! Very well thought out and very well-written!

Comment by Aaman

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 12:16:48 EST

This post deserves an automatic entry into our current contest - care to write an update, Zainub?

Comment by Ruvy in Jerusalem

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 02:32:02 EST

A few nights ago, I had to sit guard duty in the "bootka" at the village gate where I live. To keep myself awake, I turned on the radio. It was an all music station with an English speaking DJ. I heard about 55 songs (all of them about love or love gone wrong) over my shift, and of them, 50 were American or British, and the remainder were French, Spanish and one song that I couldn't positively identify. It was only when they got to the commercials that I was able to figure out where this station originated from. "Girls, hurry up and send in your valentine poems to www.ahlen.com and be eligible for fantastic prizes!" After talking about the obligatory electronic gadgets and jewelry, the commercial touted "JD 50 gift booklets and a night at the Kempinski Hotel, Amman, or the Kempinski Ishtar on the Dead Sea!! All entries must be in by February 6th!" Wouldn't you know it? It was already 01:00 in Amman on 7 February when this aired... Just like in America. At Jerusalem's Central Bus Station, there were several shops hustling red heart shaped objects. But the ventdors, very aware that talking about Valentine's (as in Saint Valentine) Day might get their booth turned over by Jews angry that a Christian saint was being honored in Jerusalem's Central Bus station, were careful to talk about "yom ahav�" - love day - in their promotional material. There is just no escaping American culture. It is all over the place like a bad smell. My sympathies to you, Zainub.

Comment by Adnan Siddiqi

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:48:18 EST

hey salam Zainab, Good stuff and welcome back in the world of blogging

Comment by Tanay

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 02:58:21 EST

V Day: A symbol of money or true love? Zainub, I agree with each and every point that you have mentioned here and as Aaman pointed out the scenario is almost the same in India, nothing much different. The new global face of Asia has shed off old inhibitions and embraced like never before the festivities of V Day. So this in my view is definitely an offshoot of globalization. One of the perceived symbols of growth in a globalized community is commercialization. So even love has been commercialized.

Comment by DesiGirl

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 02:20:27 EST

sharing an affectionate feeling is the grease on the squeaky wheels of human relationships Well, of course but you don't need a special day to tell the better half you love her / him, do you? That's what every day is for! (In other words: sour grapes!)

Comment by temporal

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 00:12:44 EST

zainub agree with the overt hype and crass commercialisation but it does jog our memories to do something more special for the special person in our life hugs are hugs and kisses are kisses but they acquire an added dimension when given on a special occasion by a special person for another :)

Comment by Aaman

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 23:57:59 EST

The commercialism aside, sharing an affectionate feeling is the grease on the squeaky wheels of human relationships, so it's not too odd to see a formalized expression of this process in Valentine's Day - but to isolate the feeling to a single day is sad. Great perspective into life in Pakistan, not very different from life in India, naturally:) I hope the Russians love their children too...