The Horrifying Con Valentine on Parliament Hill

Well as we all know, yesterday was Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love.

Even in that most unromantic of places, Parliament Hill.

But funnily enough the way the political parties marked the day, told us a lot about who they are.

Valentine's Day and the Society of the Lonely

Well it's Valentine's Day,  and as usual I don't want to write about it, and I do.

For while I don't want to be seen to be encouraging that garish orgy of chocolate boxes, sappy sentiment, and heart shaped balloons. 

The horror, the horror.

And for me Valentine's Day came early this year...



It is a great excuse to talk about the lonely. 

Valentine's Day and the Crisis of Loneliness

Well today was Valentine's Day and for the first time in eight years I have nothing to say about it.

Firstly because I said all I wanted to say last year. 

And secondly because I don't want to rub my happiness, or another pinky thing, in the faces of the lonely.

Not when there are so many, and loneliness is such a growing crisis. 

Valentine's Day in Harperland

Well today was Valentine's Day and I didn't really feel like writing about it this year.

For starters, if I saw another cellophane rose, tacky card, or other pinky thing coming at me I'd probably scream eh?

And secondly, how can you celebrate love in a country as grim and grey and as broken as Harperland?

Valentine's Day and the Misery Bear

I usually hesitate to write about Valentine's Day because I don't want my single friends to feel left out.

Oh sure ....they're always giving me a hard time about being hitched, but I feel that on this day their empty lives are punishment enough.

And I sure don't want all the other bitter people out there to accuse me of being part of the corporate plot to sell chocolates and flowers and cards.

But this year I feel I can safely write about it. Because this year I am all alone. Sébastien is working in a clinic in this tormented place.

“A baby was born last night and then died,” he said, “the mother with no cover from the rain.” He said most in the camp had lost loved ones to the earthquake, but that "living like this…with no help… it’s like we are dying mentally…”

Where happiness is a luxury.

And as if I wasn't down enough.

Woe is me, I'm a Misery Bear....



Because misery loves company eh?

On the other hand, I'm a romantic who believes in the power of love to change the world.

Gay love is a political act.

The kiss in was held peacefully at St-Michel but some gays went to Notre Dame anyway and witnesses are saying 200 Christian activists were expecting them, and after they started kissing, they were attacked with motorbike helmets and kicked."

Which is one reason why Valentine's Day for me is every day of the year. And of course the other is Sébastien. Who is everything I dreamed he would be when I was just a teenager. And who never ceases to inspire... or fool me... into believing that we build a better world.

I did tell you he was a Québécois idiot didn't I?

But I don't think I'll become a misery bear eh? Living in Harper's Canada is depressing enough.

I think I'll just wait a couple of years weeks until he comes home.

First talk about the horror of Haiti, where so many people have lost their loved ones. And what more we can do to help them.

Then hold the flowers and the chocolates.

But carry on like we began....

Gaza and the Forbidden Flowers

I bet you didn't know that poor little Gaza used to be a big exporter of flowers. I didn't. More than 50 million a year. Until Israel closed down the border.

Only to re-open it briefly the other day.

Israel yesterday briefly lifted an export blockade, allowing 25,000 carnations from the battered Gaza Strip to reach Europe in time for Valentine's Day.

This was no gesture of love, however. The move comes too late to salvage the overwhelming majority of the crop, which has rotted or become animal feed because of the Israeli border closure.

And then close it down again. Even though the flower industry used to provide about 4,000 jobs in one of the poorest places on earth.

Major Peter Lerner, an Israeli security spokesman, said there are no plans to allow further exports beyond those for Valentine's Day. The clearance of the carnations – the first exports allowed out of Gaza for more than a year – was a "goodwill gesture" to the Dutch government, which provides assistance to farmers in the Gaza Strip.

Good for the Dutch for helping the people of Gaza...even though they have a huge flower industry themselves.

Shame on Israel. What are they afraid of....that peace might bloom?

Flowers instead of rockets and bombs. Open the borders.

Let Gaza live....

Valentine's Day and the Song of Love

Well today is Valentine's Day and I hardly dare blog about it. Because so many bloggers seem to hate Cupid's Big Day.

I mean REALLY hate it

And they're not alone.

But for me it's different. When I was a young teenager I was the only one in my class who didn't get a Valentine's card. And I would have given anything to get one. Or send a card to someone and say I love you.

But gay boys couldn't or didn't do that. Not in high school anyway.

And I didn't get a card today either. Although I did send out a few to some of my friends who don't have a special someone.

But in a few hours when my Valentine comes home from work I WILL get to say "I love you Sébastien. Happy Saint-Valentin mon amour !!!!! "

Eat lots of chocolates.

And in a cynical take it for granted world celebrate the little Cupid...












Whose lucky BRILLIANT shot made my Valentine dream come true. Just when I had almost given up.

Oh yeah I know... and I believe in a better world too... so that makes me a HOPELESS romantic. And I realize that not everyone has a Valentine...or wants one. I realize the day itself is tacky and too commercial. I know what it's like to feel left out....and lonely.

And that so many of my gay brothers and sisters are still fighting for their love to be recognized.



















But in a world so full of hate and violence, a day that celebrates love can't be all that bad.

And it doesn't have to be a stuffed teddy, or flowers, or a even a card.

Or an opera or a great symphony.

Just a simple song that says love is for EVERYONE...



Remember chocolate is good for you.

Happy Love Day everyone !!!