With a title like that, you probably guessed that I hate Valentine’s day. Nothing personal really. Some hate Christmas; some hate Halloween; I hate Valentine’s day. I dislike the idea of it being some sort of pink fluffy cheap version of our commercialized Christmas. “It is a special day to let people know you love them.” Wasn’t it enough at Christmas? Now, 2 months later, we’re being convinced that we should buy expensive chocolate and flowers and diamonds…again?
I came across Child labor, war or pesticides for your Valentine?, an article by Diane Bartz. It made me think. Of course, whatever is said there applies for Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, you-name-it. It talks about the (incredible) amount of pesticides used to grow roses (sad, I love white roses…), child labor involved in 40% of the world’s cocoa and war-financing diamonds (Blood Diamond, anyone?). Author of the article, Diane Bartz, suggested “Lingerie, anyone?” A member of Soompi Forums, under the nickname of Marrymehyori, brilliantly replied “No good, it’s made in sweat shops in Southeast Asia…” =)
Venus fly traps perhaps contain less pesticides than roses? :)
(Pon and Zi by Jeff Thomas)
A quick story about Valentine’s Day. Do you know where it actually comes from? Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Halloween, we celebrate the dead. Mother and Father’s day, well our parents. Valentine’s day (or Saint-Valentin in French) was actually originally a day to celebrate the Saint Valentine who, according to legend, secretly married young men and women during war times. Some king forbid young men to marry, because they were needed in the army and if they weren’t married, they wouldn’t have worries about their families and be fully focused on the battlefields. Of course, like most good ol’ Christian story, Saint Valentine got locked up and executed in the end. The tradition of writing little love notes and love wishes is apparently inspired from the prayers that Saint Valentine’s followers stuck in the walls of his jail cell.
One of my favorite love quotes from the Bible (yes, I’m Christian).
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:4
If you haven’t told your loved ones that you love them, then be sure to do it today. And tomorrow. And after tomorrow. Happy Valentine’s Day! :)
Hey Amz,
ahh, writting this for the second time… the first one got erased.. so I’ll write this quick..
Yeah, I know. It’s quite sad. I have read about this before and just wrote something about it today.
Those people are exposed to chemicals that keep our flowers looking fresh. They have skins problems. They have respiratory problems. They jeopardise their health for what? For us to have beautiful and cheaper flowers! ha! There is not only flowers. Food too… sigh…
I have read that in Vancouver they sell fair trade roses. In Canada, there is only Vancouver that sells them. Across Canada, there are some compagnies that sell roses that have been cultivated in respectable conditions (cost more..). There should be more fair trade roses. It would already be better. Wouldn’t you say? I should open a fair trade flower shop in Québec! I’ll give you a bouquet of those lovely white rose (fair trade of course)!!! ;)
About the orgins of Valentine’s day, there is a legend about this, a story about that and another legend about that. This, that and this, etc. I think it’s really not clear. I remember reading about it’s origin in one my classes in high school. Bunch of stories…
Yeah, I understand why you hate Valentine’s Day. Personnaly, I love to celebrate everything. So, I love every holiday. ^^
Hi Jess!
Fair trade flower shop, that’s actually a great idea!!! Do you know how to grow flowers? lol It’d surely sell if you’re the only one in Quebec though, with all those humanitarian things going on right now. I heard roses are tricky to grow though. Good luck ne!
Happy Valentine’s day to you~
I wouldn’t be the one growing them. (I can barely take of myself… Imagine flowers lol but I do take good care of my bamboo plant!) I would import the flowers like they do B.C. I dunno.. It’s just a crazy idea like another one that I have sometimes that could actually work if I put my mind to it. We shall see. I might just because a flower expert one day!
I just keep coming back to that cartoon. Love it, and you!