IT is not the hammer all through. There are practices discouraged and prevented by law and official decree and then there are acts which those who find them offensive must counter by setting a personal example.
With all its ‘outrageous’ and ‘unwanted’ public manifestations, Valentine’s Day, ultimately, is about too personal a sentiment to be open to a legal, official or societal intervention or censure.
Whatever plausible or implausible reasons those opposed to the occasion may have, if the truth according to their own values is what they are out to prove, they must try and convince people by debate instead of taking the easy option of browbeating the vulnerable, in the process betraying their own weaknesses.
But then, this is not what the ‘powerful’ in this land are inclined to do, their urge to control is reflected in a series of bans and other acts meant to control popular freedoms.
It is not just about a government stopping people from flying kites or a student organisation barring interaction on campus.
The attitude that encourages a ban as the final solution is there to be contended with in many everyday situations. It is an attitude steeped dangerously, and conveniently, in self-righteousness.
In a country where a large number of people quietly submit to restrictions on wedding feasts, many of those in positions of authority show off their influence when violations propel them to stop the proceedings forcibly.
There are district governments and administrations in the country that have barred Valentine’s Day in their areas and these authorities have since been joined by a functionary of state no less than the president of Pakistan.
President Mamnoon Hussain didn’t say he did not celebrate the day — for this would have amounted to an attempt at setting an example, something that those in power here are reluctant to do.
He chose to take sides where he could easily have been neutral. He urged Pakistanis to not observe Valentine’s Day. Perhaps he should have been quiet on that point.
Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2016
Comments (12) Closed
Love is the most prestigious passion on mother planet Earth. Love either to sweetheart or fiancee/fiance as well as to parents, siblings, humanity country really is a supreme sentiment. Valentine day is an event when roses, flowers, sweet smells, perfumes, poetries, passions and prayers are donated, disseminated, divided and distributed. Raising spewed slogans and airing offensive, objectionable, derogatory and inflammatory language against Valentine day or its celebrators certainly is a narrow mindedness, short eyeing, prejudice and bigotry. We are living in a digital age where there nothing is ungooglable. World has become a global village. Cultural amalgamation has become unavoidable. We can't survive ourselves or secure our heritage through barriers and bans. Let's adopt the profiteering values and norms from outlandish cultures and in return we can drench the world with the fragrance of our thoughts. Valentine day isn't queered but the way to celebrate it could be questionable
It is strange that people get agitated about Valentine's Day as if there are no other problems facing the country. This day is meant to show love and affection to partners we like to be with. I wish we could celebrate this day more often in a year.Why should it annoy anybody? Once I was walking in Murree and held hands with my wife ad this guy came running to me and said please do not do that as it it will annoy many. A few minutes later I saw a man hitting his son in the street and hardy anybody took notice. It appears showing affection annoys people more than physically hurting another person. I have my own views about Val day.
@Shalone You cannot judge all the people from two incidents that occurred to you. Your own story has answers to your questions. So long as this event is about celebrating and expressing affection between 'husband and wife', I believe no one would have any objection to this.
But no...! This is not about it at all... it is all about today's youngsters (who happen to be unmarried) and engage in activities that might be otherwise disapproved by their respectable culture-oriented families. Youth of today is easily exploited by what they see on the web and in the mainstream media. We are no Western nation to find this event as "norm" for unmarried youngsters to engage in activities (at schools, universities, public and private places) which are immorally wrong and might eventually lead one of them to the verge of devastation. And at that point none of us would be of any assistance.
Well said president.
@Observer I do not agree with your logic. Next time I walk with my wife, should I carry my marriage certificate? Freedom means having a choice and if that is taken away life is quite meaningless.
Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his muddy boots.
@Shalone You must re-read my post for more clarity. Those who are talking against this event are doing it not because husband and wife are holding their hand in public, but because of vulnerable "youths". Life-partners can still express their sentiments and affection, if not outside then at sweet home.
Please, do not distort my words, my post is clearly about 'vulnerable youths' ready to be exploited by the mainstream media and the web. Your case on the other hand seems quite rare, and what's more surprising is that you want to make others believe, as if that's a generalized situation in the country. If that was so, shouldn't you already be carrying 'marriage-certificate'?
@Shalone I'd like to read out Kahlil Gibran's spontaneous poem on 'love' here
“But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love, let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.” – Kahlil Gibran
@Observer culture changes with time. Before it was changed when a land was conquered and the new rule bring change to language, cloths and ceremonies. The modern day culture take lead from media and international travel and tourism. Thus, it is a futile debate to stop culture to change itself. No one was ever able to stop it.
I think people are missing the point. If you want to celebrate love then start a Heer Ranjha day or Sassi Punnu day or something that has cultural relevance to the people of Pakistan rather than blindly imitating someone else. That's all. Give people an alternative... when you close all doors the temperature begins to rise.
Yet another utterly useless debate in a country where we have far more serious matters at hand !
@Observer Sir, why do you consider the current youths to be bad and ignorant about their culture? They are not. They are not bad. They are as good as the one fifty years ago. Or even 100 years ago.
Please don't forget that all youths in yesteryears were not angels, otherwise the wine shops, night clubs, mujra kothis etc etc would not have been there.