Let’s define love:
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment.
Let’s define Saint Valentine:
In short, this man refused to commit to Roman Paganism and in his refusal he was sentenced to death. Valentine then falls in love with his jailer’s daughter who at that time was said to be blind. Saint Valentine heals her of her blindness and the night before his execution he writes what we know to be the first Valentines’ Card. Same was signed “from your Valentine” addressed of course to the sieguita (blind girl) who am sure thought: “I was blind and now I see.” Yeah, her curandero-(healer) santo-(saint)-secret-admirer killed! Moral of this story: you have to be a SANTO and a CURANDERO to know true love.
We are wired from an early age to believe that the sentiment of love to be forceful and moving in nature. Disney Movies being one of the largest contributor of “love stories” such as: Cinderella, Princess and the Frog, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast and Lady and the Tramp, to name a few. We are fed this sappy crap before our adult teeth come in.
As history delineates and adamantly concise, Love is a force that can – and has brought empires to its knees; as so is the case of King Edward, VIII and his wife, Wallis Simpson. This man gave up his kingdom to be with the woman he loved. Check out Madonna’s new movie W.E., about to the two love birds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0zes7fJkYE
“Spartacus” (Starz original show) has a great depiction of love in epic proportion. Spartacus learns that his slave master, Quintus Lentulus Batiatus would deliver his promise to bring and have as cohabitant his wife, and even promised her a position as a slave in the House of Batiatus. Quintus instead stages a robbery during her trip and delivered her to Spartacus absent life. In Batiatus’ twisted mind this was an act of effort to keep Spartacus (and his incredibly toned-ass) in check and focused on his battles in the arena. Spartacus, after learning of the facts of his wife’s death, infuriated by his master’s actions, convinces his co-gladiators to break out of the chains of slavery. They plot a massive killing during a huge party at the house. It ends in Spartacus masterly killing his lanista (cool word for master of gladiators; not to be mistaken by barista = Starbucks employees) along with all other Roman guests that were dreadfully in attendance on the faithful day. The gladiators and the slaves fled the House of Batiatus and in current episodes they continue to fight for their freedom. Sparti’s main focus? To avenge the death of his beloved wife.
Here’s another great example “Love in the Time of Cholera” in this movie Florentino waited 53 faithful years to be with Fermina, the only woman he ever loved. Meanwhile Fermina goes on to marry a well-to-do doctorcito (doctor) played by Benjamin Bratt, by the forced hand of her father, Lorenzo, played by the funny John Leguizamo. Meanwhile, Florentino, played by Javier Bardem, goes on a sex-capade to drown his broken heart. It isn’t until the doctorcito “kicks the bucket” that Florentino and Fermina, in their senior years, find each other in a common place to live the remainder of their short time alive, together forever and never apart.
In modern times we witness in our own lives, and in the lives of the more interesting percentile, how professed love can belly flop. Surely you know the Ike and Tina story? How about Brad and Jen? Jennifer Lopez and her continuous efforts in finding true love? As I know it, it is the definitive role we all partake in at one point or another under which our lives are forever changed.
One can argue that Love is, or can be, the essence of pleasure. Others can argue that love is often mistaken by the scientific explanation of pheromones or the old cliche of “lust.” Nonetheless, if we follow our love history, and research the crazy things people do in the name of love, we come to realize that Love is more than an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment.
Interesting Statistics:
- American manufacturers crank out $12.2 billion worth of chocolate and cocoa products in a year and $7.1 billion worth of other kinds of candy during and for Valentine’s Day.
- Flowers are a favorite Valentine’s Day. How do they get all of those roses to bloom just at the right time — in February? Cut flowers are a $359 million industry for American growers, and the amount Americans spend has to be a lot higher when you factor in of the roses shipped in from Colombia.
- Still, this country’s 26,683 jewelry stores really roll it out for Valentine’s Day. February sales alone last year: $2.4 billion. Unfortunately, those sales likely contributed handsomely to Americans’ average household credit card debt, in households that have cards, of $15,788.
What would you do, or have done in the name of LOVE?
Interesting view of love