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The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL: Find out what some students think about the holiday and follow six easy steps to romance today. Enjoy!
Email: opinion@kansan.com
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 9A
》 OUR VIEW
Today is a not so saintly holiday
St. Valentine's Day can be a painful time of the year. Singles dread the holiday weeks in advance as they are bombarded with pink and red advertisements bearing lovey-dovey displays of affection. The holiday is a constant reminder of their solitude. It is especially excruciating for new romantics who question whether they will be expected to give or be ridiculed for giving their crushes an expression of their admiration.
Individuals with significant others also often dislike the holiday. Those who prefer slowpaced relationships resent the fact that they are essentially forced to express their love or pay the consequences. Others hope their love for their sweethearts is apparent without expensive gifts. A dozen of red roses, for example, often costs more than $50.
The holiday has become quite commercialized. February grinches argue that Valentine's Day is a symbol of a consumerist society and a capitalist ploy that should be boycotted. The holiday isn't just a meaningless product of Hallmark. It is also insignificant in other ways.
St. Valentine's Day was invented by Christians to replace a pagan holiday. No one is certain who St. Valentine was. The Catholic Encyclopedia reports at least three St. Valentines who are associated with February 14.
The saint the holiday is attributed to — likely a conglomeration of all St. Valentines — is rumored to have married lovers during warfare when marriage was illegal and to have unjustly died in prison. Alas, the stories are mostly speculation.
Without a concrete history and deep meaning, the importance of St. Valentine's Day is akin to that other "saint's day" when people wear green, get sloshed and pinch people. St. Valentine's Day is adored by capitalist industries, loathed by singles and not always appreciated by couples. It appears that its only good is to enhance the economy and the population by spreading the message that individuals without significant others are neither right nor healthy.
Not that the holiday is an entirely bad thing. Genuine meaning can be applied to Valentine's Day. It is possible that the holiday was intended not just to force Christianity, money-spending and procreation, but to help us realize the importance of human relationships and to remind us to make room in our lives for love.
Unfortunately, a heartless Valentine's Day instead spurs many to hibernate, overeat and liquor up.
— Alsion Kieler for the editorial board.
COMMENTARY
V-Day breaks hearts
I don't have much to offer in good Valentine's Day stories or reliable dating advice. I have spent the last couple of Valentine's days with friends or doing homework.
Let's just say I've seen too many broken hearts, both candy and vascular.
My friend tells this story about planning dinner and a night out with his girlfriend. Unfortunately, he made reservations for the same day that her SAT scores came. He spent that evening eating microwave
When I was in elementary school, a friend of mine gave the girl of his dreams — and the entire fourth grade class's dreams — a Beanie Baby for Valentine's Day. She gave it back. He didn't come to school for the next two days.
Like I said, no good stories.
Valentine's Day is such a good kicker, though. Tell "and tragic love story and drop the"and it was on Valentine's Day," and people grimace just a little bit more. Think of how great "Romeo and Juliet" would have been if it had ended on Valentine's Day instead of some random, summer day in Verona.
BY BRYAN DYKMAN
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
ravioli and watching a James Bond movie alone.
If you hadn't already guessed, it happened on Valentine's Day.
One last tragic story: I was really interested in this girl that I knew throughout high school. We had an English class together, but never really talked outside of it. I finally gathered the courage to call her. We went on two really great dates before I called her and left a message that was never returned. I sat on my porch and waited for a phone call that never came. It was July 3, a random, summer day in Kansas.
I think they need to make up more holidays.
because storytellers are having a harder time keeping an audience. We have to compete with the Internet, television and $ 0.50 rentals at Liberty Hall. We need more support and better material. We need more holidays we can throw down as punch lines and last words.
Dykman is a Westwood freshman in English.
>> COMMENTARY
Cohen: Six steps to romance
Grant Snider/KANSAN
Heart
GRS
Valentine's Day is finally upon us. This is that magical time of the year where we spend more money than usual on various kinds of candy, greeting cards written by the same people who do the Cryptoqip and various things that are packaged in red and pink. Valentine's Day is a celebration of the famous knight Sir Valentine, who slew the evil love-hating dragon with a giant Whitman's Sampler.
It is with this in mind that we prepare for this most magical time of the year. Here are a few important things to remember to properly celebrate Sir Valentine's heroic deed:
1. Giving candy hearts may be a tradition, but one should never actually expect people to eat them. Seriously, they're like sugar/chalk hybrids invented by a mad scientist who didn't know how to talk to his
5. The following pick-up lines are to be avoided:
"Baby, is your father a thief?" "Cuz I think I saw him on 'Cons' once"
"I think I've just found the angel I want to be touched by"
"Arrr! Your booty shivers me tim-
bers!"
>> TALK TO US
6. Some people think there is a deeper meaning behind receiving a box of chocolate. There isn't. It's just chocolate. Either enjoy it or give it to me.
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
BY BEN COHEN
Commit these tips to memory because they're serious. For those who think I'm just being silly; put that out of your head. Would I lie to you? Of course not. Now, go buy your sweetheart some flowers.
2. Girls, if you buy some sort of sexy lingerie that you intend to wear for your significant other, and you wrap it up for them as a present, don't give it to them in public. You'll most likely embarrass them and if you don't, something could be horribly wrong.
Cohen is a Topea sophomore in journalism.
cute secretary.
3. Guys, don't attempt something you saw in a John Cusack movie, not even "Being John Malkovich."
4. Especially "Being John Malkovich."
>> VALENTINE'S DAY
Postcards from Wescoe Beach
Natalie Johnson, associate opinion editor 864-4924 or njohnsonisikansan.com
My favorite thing about Valentine's Day is champagne and chocolate. As SPENCER IS HOT
Madiella Soulsman, associate spiritual advisor
or tech support at kamsan.com
Lindsay Shirak, business manager
864-401 or shirak@kamsan.com
Jackie Schaffer, sales manager
864-462 or jschaffer@kamsan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser
864-7667 or mglonsh@kamsan.com
Jennifer Wawaye, sales and marketing advisor
Liz Thompson
Wichita, KS
Freshman
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
"Brady Morning Star.
BE MINE!! $\textcircled{1}$
OR! James Thompson!
Betsy Heffinger Chicago, IL Freshman
"My Mom works for Hallmark so I have to celebrate it."
Gabriella Souza, editor
864-4544 or gosauza.kansan
Nicole Kelley, managing editor
864-4544 or kelley.kansan
Patrick Ross, managing editor
864-4544 or prossie.kansan
Courtney Hagen, opinion editor
864-4924 or chageni.kansan
Loren Jevons Lee
Kansas City
Junior
I don't call it Valentine's Day - it's Die Hard Day.
Valentine's Day is a very special day, where Hallmark makes millions, lonely people cry, girls get mad at their
Casey Calebra, Lincoln, Ne.
Senior
boyfriends.I, personally,
get drunk!
Nicki Hanefeld
Junior, Overland Park, KS
Katie Armbruster Sophomore, Olathe,KS "I hate it."
>> SUBMISSIONS
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansen reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
Sarah dres
Senior
Lawrence
it makes me want to die!
"Roses are Red,
Violets are blue.
Valentine's day slacks
and so does MU!"
—Cara decoito
Lincoln, NE
Freshman
For any questions, call Courtney Hagen or Natalie Johnson at 864-4810 or e-mail opinionkansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Steve Swent, be my valentine?!?
yes, no, maybe (circle one)
Ferrell Richardson
Lee's Summit, MO
freshman
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or position (faculty member/staff) and phone number (will not be published)
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GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Editor's note: The computer crashed as the Free-
Call 864-0500
tomorrow. Sorry.
Lutior's note: The computer crashed as the Free-for-All was being saved, twice, and all comments for today were lost. However, for those of you who still need your fix, here is what I can remember: Uggs are still out, White History month is still a crazy idea, we're all upset that school wasn't cancelled, some people fell down in the snow, two people fell down in the snow after making fun of people who fell down in the snow, the driver of bus 304 drives like a maniac, and something about having sex with a pregnant woman being classified as a threesome. Hope that gets you by until
Adam Weigel Brookville freshman
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Readers reflect on V-Day
Last year I was falling for a girl in my school. She shared similar feelings for me so I decided I wanted to do something special for her. I had her mom call me the night before Valentine's Day to tell me when she had fallen asleep. I then went to her house and put roses and chocolate on the couch outside her room. Around each rose, I attached coupons for complimentary hugs and dinner and a movie. I also left a trail of rose petals leading from her bedroom door to the gifts. The look on her face the next day at school was unforgettable, and we soon became a couple. It is by far one of my best memories.
Three years ago today my father was involved in a life-threatening ski accident and spent the next two weeks in out of surgery. But his accident blessed us both. His being on bed rest allowed me to spend hours hanging out with him. To me Valentine's Day doesn't mean roses, cards and chocolates. It's calling my father and thanking God for another year spent with him.
Much like the arrows that the fabled Cupid shoots, Valentine's Day is either a hit or a miss. Regardless of gender you either love it or hate it. Guys use it to apologize for all the things they don't understand they've done wrong. Girls use it as a way to confuse their guys: "Don't get me anything" really means "I'd better get something or we're over."
Laura Mazur
Wichita sophomore
Joe Preiner Apple Valley, Minn. sophomore
EDITORIAL BOARD
Gabriella Souza, Nicole Kelley, Patrick Ross, Courtney Hagen, Natalie Johnson, Alison Kueler, Tasha Riggins and McKay Stangler
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