 "Photo: N/A")
Usually I view Valentine's Day in a state of indifference. I don't protest against it, nor do I glorify it by any means. This year I am excited to spend it with my girlfriend.
I know people see it as the evil, Hallmark holiday that is merely a capitalistic ploy at acquiring money. No more than a clever ruse, Valentine's Day hides behind the mask of love and pulls on our heart strings in order for stores to make a quick buck. But despite these views, I like to look at it a bit differently.
Regardless of the holiday, the odds are Feb. 14 is going to occur. So instead of it being just another day where we trudge to class, attempt to act like sophisticated students and then head home to ponder our homework for a few hours, why not enjoy it? I'm not saying that days can't be enjoyed without a holiday, but it's nice to change things up every now and then. And a holiday does just that.
Besides, participating would definitely be better than protesting with bitter feelings over a silly day. So why not just have fun with it instead of saying bah-humbug to poor Cupid?
If you still insist on protesting Valentine's Day, then you must also dislike Halloween and St. Patrick's Day, because those are fairly pointless holidays as well. Though they have their historical purpose that many will point out, what they celebrate now is either dressing up or drinking large amounts of green beer. By participating in them you are joining in the same consumerism that you adamantly oppose during Valentine's Day.
What most people probably despise about Valentine's Day is its discrimination toward single individuals, which, as Damien Croghan explains, doesn't have to be the case.
As for me, I hope I can portray what the day is like, and should be like, for those in relationships.
For the gentlemen, this should be a pretty easy day not to go wrong. Stores are decorated for the Hallmark holiday and your girlfriend will probably be reminding you of the impending day, so any forgetful actions would have to be intentional.
If your girlfriend tells you not to get her anything, she really means, "you better get me something sentimental that shows how much you care for me." So please, do not get her a teddy bear and sign a card that expresses your affection through someone else's words. If you can, do something more personal. Incorporate your gift into something meaningful. Write a poem, make your own card or, perhaps, make her dinner.
You can still get her flowers and chocolates, if you wish, but let her know why she is unique by doing something special for her.
As a side note, this shouldn't be the only day that you do something special for your girlfriend. Valentine's Day should be a fun excuse to spoil her, but one among many days.
Any efforts on Valentine's Day may be futile if it's the only time of the year you do something special. Most girls would rather you do something sweet on a random weekday for no other reason than to say "I love you." But if you can do both, you're golden. So don't focus too much on this one day.
Ladies, you really don't have to do anything different. Just keep it sincere and meaningful, and the guy will probably be happy. However, don't set unreasonable expectations on the gifts you are about to receive. If you're really hoping for a nice necklace and you get something else, by all means be happy with what you have. As I said before, it should be about the meaning behind the gift, not the gift itself.
A friend of mine once sent flowers to his girlfriend's house for Valentine's Day. Upon receiving them she said to him, "These aren't pink, they're fuchsia. I wanted pink flowers." Regrettably, he sent her another dozen pink flowers. Don't be that girl.
Also, don't compare your gifts with others. Your love poem and night out to dinner aren't any less significant just because your friend got two dozen roses sent to her house, chocolates, a life-size teddy bear and tickets to a concert. More stuff doesn't mean more love.
Another very important thing for girls and guys to keep in mind is to know the seriousness of your relationship. Don't drop the L-bomb just because it's Valentine's Day. If the relationship is relatively new, keep the gifts light but affectionate. If you have been in the relationship for a while, well, you know what to do.
With all of this relationship talk, I just want to take the time to say one more thing. Erin Elizabeth Jobman, I hope you are reading this, because I just want you to know that I love you, and I hope that you are having a splendid Friday.
Ryan Duggan is a Junior English and Classical Languages Major. Contact him at ryanduggan@dailynebraskan.com.