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Watatita: Love Shouldn't Cost a Thing

Drawing by Alexia Cahyaningtyas

Although couples around the world are anticipating Valentine’s Day, some people hate the day –  particularly the singles — but nobody hates it more than extremist  Muslims.

Last week, the Aceh Ulema Association  (HUDA) said Muslims, in particular the younger generation, should not celebrate Valentine’s Day because it’s against the values of Islamic Shariah law.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating love, it’s much better than spreading hate. I don’t think it’s necessary to see celebrating Valentine’s Day as haram, or taboo, as  long as you don’t go overboard. I think the whole anti-Valentine’s Day thing might be triggered by a worry about singles getting too intimate, or maybe because it has a link to Christianity.

So it is “haram” to celebrate love, but they  think it’s OK to kill, torture, and condemn people in the name of  their religion, or worse, in the name of God?

On the other hand, us Indonesians celebrating Valentine’s Day is a little unnecessary. Valentine’s Day is way too commercialized in this country, as people take advantage of how much we so want to be like America.

People sell all kinds of Valentine merchandise – from  chocolates, to dolls, to lingerie — invent marketing strategies  and “Valentine’s Day Specials.” It will get you spending even if you’re single.

Valentine’s Day is not an Indonesian culture, it has nothing to do with our history. Of course Indonesian people can celebrate love, but we should celebrate love our own way.

It would be great if people from every religion could celebrate Valentine’s as a special day with the ones they love. It  doesn’t have to be with a significant other, it could be with your family, or you could even spoil yourself by going to a salon, just to show yourself that you love and appreciate who you are.

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a lot more meaningful than just buying each other balloons and chocolates, going on fancy dinner dates and so on. Most people who celebrate Valentine’s Day don’t even know the history behind it. Do they know that Valentine was the name of a Christian martyr?

From my point of view, every day should be Valentine’s. Treat every day as a special day. We don’t have to reserve February 14th as a special day for love, it can be anytime – and  you can celebrate love with anyone, regardless of their religion, race, or status. Just don’t go overboard and do something… stupid.

Jakarta Jungle follows the stories and views of individuals from every walk of life in our maddening, bustling, and colorful city.