Valentines Day

[oracle]

DStar

Away from prying parental eyes
Valentine's Day today
AFP, Dhaka

Young lovers around the world struggle to escape the watchful eye of their parents, but in countries such as Bangladesh the quest to find that perfect Valentine hideaway is even more difficult.

Kazi Rokibul, a 23-year-old student, plans to buy flowers for his girlfriend this Valentine's Day. Then Kazi and Shurovy, also 23, will spend the afternoon meandering around Dhaka University's leafy campus.


It's not a plan that would alarm many parents, but Kazi knows his mother and father would hate the idea.


"They really dislike Valentine's Day," he said. "They think it is part of some alien culture that is being imposed on us. It irritates them that my generation likes it so much."

Not so long ago, Valentine's Day was virtually unheard of in Bangladesh, the world's third largest Muslim-majority country. But in recent years, it has been enthusiastically embraced by teens and twenty-somethings.


Bangladesh's younger generation is highly receptive to Western culture, with interest partly fuelled by widespread access to satellite television channels.


Dhaka's many new cafés and restaurants have been a gift for dating couples.


Aimed at the burgeoning middle class, they also provide a safe haven for thousands of young people desperate to shake off the attention of their ever-watchful parents.


"We only opened a few months ago but I'm sure we will be completely full on Valentine's day with couples having ice cream and cappucinos," said Reza Karim, manager of a new Italian-themed cafe in Dhaka.


"They will come here for a fun, romantic time. In places like this they can be alone together without their families watching all the time, although of course they will probably tell their parents they are going to be with their friends."

At Dhaka's Asparagus restaurant, manager Kazi Nazrul says Valentine's Day is getting busier each year.


"It's getting more and more popular all the time. Young people like to mark it because they see it as a bit of fun. Plus, they like to have something for themselves, that has never been part of their parents' experience," he said.


"Rich families don't really mind their children meeting their girlfriend or boyfriend. But middle class and working class parents disapprove, so couples meet secretly most of the time, not just on Valentine's Day."

For those stuck for ideas this Valentine's Day, newspapers have been offering advice on the best places to meet. Suggestions include cafes, the roofs of apartment blocks, and parks. Alternatively, they suggest couples go paddle-boating on a city lake or for snacks at Dhaka University.

[Nasif]

Watch out bro Kazi Rokibul, your secret is out. Bashai gele full course dholai hobe

[Sami]

ei jonnei potrikawala der shathay secret alap korte nai... boka chele

[Arnab]

The romance among middle class bengali couples is all the more spicier because of the societal restrictions.

Nishidddho Prolobhon.

[Edited on 14-2-2004 by Arnab]

[Tehsin]

Did you hear about the stern warning given by some of the hindu fundamentalists groups in India to folks about celebratiung Valentines day ? Watch and we'll hear muslim Mullah's doing the same in BD once they find out what it is.

Funny how despite the religious differences, the fundamentalists have always been hand in hand in everything (down to hating each other - and the world - for no freakin reason).

[Zephaniah]

Originally posted by Arnab
The romance among middle class bengali couples is all the more spicier because of the societal restrictions.

Nishidddho Prolobhon.

[Edited on 14-2-2004 by Arnab]

"The romance among middle class bengali couples" Boy, i lost you somewhere. I guess it is as spicy as sweet green pepper!!!

'make love and have fun'!

[Edited on 15-2-2004 by Zephaniah]

[Arnab]

Haha, making love is way harder to perform than spicy, flirty romance. Romance doesn't require you a cardiovascular workout and strenuous use of various muscles.

[mona]

Romance doesn't require you a cardiovascular workout and strenuous use of various muscles

teehee i just thought of something cheesy you could say to that.

[chinaman]

I see, the waiting game is giving somebody a few adrenaline rush!

[fab]

Celebrating Valentine's day is already banned in Saudia Arabia - perhaps our mullahs are too dumb to understand what it signifies.

[Shubho]

Our mullahs are causing us enough trouble back home.

[Nasif]

Last thing we should care about is what Saudi's do. They don't represent anything. A Kingdom is it? They should call it Moron-Dom.

[Arnab]

Originally posted by fab
Celebrating Valentine's day is already banned in Saudia Arabia - perhaps our mullahs are too dumb to understand what it signifies.

I don't think it necessarily signifies anything, other than more business opportunities.

[Edited on 16-2-2004 by Arnab]

[Navarene]

And I second Arnab

[fab]

I don't think it necessarily signifies anything, other than more business opportunities.

Yes it does. Valentine's day is to celebrate a Christian Saint (and patron saint of lovers) - St Valentine. In other words, to mullahs it could be seen as a 'kaffir' ritual celebrating the deeds of an infidel. Anyhow, it's only in the last 100 years or so that the day has lost its meaning by being totally overtaken by marketing nazis.

[Shubho]

i'll go with the marketing nazis. how do you sign up for party membership? they sound like a less dangerous outfit than our mullahs or the Saudis.

[Arnab]

Originally posted by fab
Anyhow, it's only in the last 100 years or so that the day has lost its meaning by being totally overtaken by marketing nazis.

The day had little or no 'meaning' before eighteenth century, when the British started celebrating it commercially. St Valentine died around 270 AD.

But this is the real piece of information:

"Approximately 85 percent of all valentine day cards are purchased by women."

source: http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi.../history3.html

Cunning businessmen profiting from urges of dumb women. That's what this is all about.

[Edited on 17-2-2004 by Arnab]

[fab]

The day had little or no 'meaning' before eighteenth century, when the British started celebrating it commercially.

Err it did have 'meaning'. St Valentine's day started off in Rome around the 5th Century and has been celebrated widely in France and England since the Middle Ages. It USED to have a theme of chivalry, courting, romance etc, but nowadays it just about buying expensive gifts for your partner and making single people feel horrible.

"73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men"
source

Flowers cost a lot more than cards, thereby making men dumber.

[Edited on 17-2-2004 by fab]

[fab]

Shubho
You are doing your MBA right? Then you're already a member, lad :P

Nasif
Saudi Arabia might be a "moron-dom" but it seems like mullahs around the world like to follow them hook line and sinker!

[Edited on 17-2-2004 by fab]

[Shubho]

damn, i'm doing an MA, not an MBA...i guess there's still enough time to change programs though.

[Arnab]

Flowers cost a lot more than cards, thereby making men dumber.

Absolutely. I agree. It's about dumb, sappy women and their even dumber, wussbag boyfriends. The whole idea is pretty dumb really. The best way to celebrate Valentine's day is to somehow be a flower and cards seller for one day of the year, IMO. I would salivate to have such a sure profit situation.

[say]

Originally posted by Arnab

The day had little or no 'meaning' before eighteenth century, when the British started celebrating it commercially. St Valentine died around 270 AD.

But this is the real piece of information:

"Approximately 85 percent of all valentine day cards are purchased by women."

source: http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi.../history3.html

Cunning businessmen profiting from urges of dumb women. That's what this is all about.

[Edited on 17-2-2004 by Arnab]

Wait a minute... this is only a partial history.
Read the two previous pages from the history channel website and you'll see Valentine Day's history as a 'whole' - not just one third of it.


http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi...e/history.html

http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi.../history2.html

And then the previously quoted link,

http://www.historychannel.com/exhibi.../history3.html

(I suspect no foul play in qouting only a part... )

[Arnab]

There was no foul play, really. Before the eighteenth century, Valentine's Day was observed by a small number of people in Britain and subsequently in the US -- rich, catholic people in power. They were kings and knights and lords - a very small section of the total population. Which is why I said not before the eighteenth century, this thing started to get "commercialized" and penetrated all the social classes in Britain and the US. That's when cards started to be printed and so on.

[Edited on 17-2-2004 by Arnab]

[fab]

Originally posted by Arnab
The whole idea is pretty dumb really

haha! Now you're starting to sound like sour grapes (and some of my single friends)..

They were kings and knights and lords - a very small section of the total population. Which is why I said not before the eighteenth century, this thing started to get "commercialized" and penetrated all the social classes in Britain and the US. That's when cards started to be printed and so on.

Commercialisation, mass marketing/production is inevitable when something becomes a part of popular culture and/or there is a burgeoning entertainment hungry middle class. Days like V'day, Mother's day, Father's day etc are marketers' paradise, but I don't think the significance of those days themselves is something to scorn, since they can be a lot of fun.

What I find amusing however is when something is an elusive cult we tend to respect it more than when it becomes popular. It our inherent desire to be 'unique' and therefore somehow 'superior' to the masses. I must admit, I do it all the time, especially with the amount of Pop music bashing I do.

[Arnab]

Fab, things can be dumb AND fun.

It's all about reframing your mind and being emotionally and intellectually flexible.

Yes, when I look at Valentine's day from a detached point of view, it certainly seems dumb. But, if my girlfriend likes it and if that means I am assured of my nookie later in the night, who cares! I am every bit willing to dumb down. Being dumb often makes people happier. For example, dumb people derive pleasure from the simplest of things, blue sky, chirping of birds, cards, flowers, etc. They may not have the brains to derive pleasure from a chess match or a well-composed sonata or even a great philosophical novel, but hey, that's not their fault.

Again, it's all about constantly reframing your mind and being emotionally and intellectually flexible.