Oh! I hear it is here again. Echoes of the so-called Val’s Day welcome one to this bright Monday morning, the 14th of February, 2011 when s/he either tunes in to any of the electronic media and/or the mere peeping through one’s window to observe what’s going on outside one’s place of sleep.
Many are the stories told about Valentine’s Day briskly nicknamed Val’s Day. I must admit that almost all of such tales I heard are fairly fascinating. One that comes to mind readily is that which purports that the day is named after St. Valentine who lived several years ago. By virtue of kindness associated with his memory, people tend to celebrate this day to show their love for him. There is one too that argues that it came about due to its link with the goddess of love, sex or immorality that existed many years in human history. In fact, many are the stories told about its origin and its significance. For the purpose of this paper, let us leave that for some other day.
Today, in Ghana, the day is marked by the wearing of anything coloured red. Interestingly, many people are so much entangled in this web of Val’s Day celebration that not even their non-human associates are left out on the colour of the day: their cars, pets, in and out door decorations and the list is actually endless.
Apart from the usage of the ever bright, highly eye-catching and sensitive colour that this day has carved for itself, it is also associated with gross sexual impunity. The rate of sexual immorality displayed on this day is like no one’s business. Yeah, it is unimaginable and incomparable to no other day. The reason? The day is about love and love is about sex, hence, by mathematical implication, the day is about sex. Yeah, that is what they say.
To nations, cultures, corporate institutions and any human grouping, symbols which has colour as an integral component, are held in high esteem. Certainly, Ghana is not an exception. In the Ghanaian society, the colour red is linked with danger or an unpleasant, sad or grieve moment. The death of a relative which is by all standards undesirable and a never-wished for event is shown by wearing red. The expression of anger, disgust or unacceptance in the Ghanaian culture is portrayed through the use of the red colour.
From the above meaning of red to the Ghanaian, it becomes if not puzzling then intriguing why on earth this danger alerting symbolic day is marked with such relevance to the extent that the large mouthed at times attempt calling for a holiday. My God!
I am of the fervent opinion that if we hold claim to our assertion that colours and their meanings form a core part of our existence, then let us use this day wisely. Some few years ago, an innovation that brought about the Chocofest concept is a nice one in that direction. But how have we come?
The day of love as it is, I believe with conviction, can be lived better and more fruitful. Let us use this love day to show love to fellow human beings and even nonhumans should the need be bearing in mind that age-old creed that has it that for a better society to be created we must all accept our responsibility in improving the general life of humanity. Please, do someone some good today that s/he cannot pay for and you would have lived the Val’s Day more fruitful and productive. To him or her who has ears, let him or her hear what is being said!
Pal, be alert for the day of danger is here again. Take caution!
Folk, remember that the world appreciates your love today and do something good to someone this day being mindful that your thought today can make the world better tomorrow.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
IT'S BEEN LONG TIME COMING
The long winding queues which stretched along the forecourts of the five traditional halls of the Premier varsity in Ghana on that momentous day as the day unfolds with a cool breeze and ushered in the sunny weather when my colleagues and I were beaming with smiles is worth remembering. Yes, Wednesday, August 8, 2006 was that extraordinary day marked on our calendar.
It has been a time of mixed feelings; moments of excitement and ecstasy, times of looming doom and worries clothed with days of uncertainties, times when our hearts inched close to be located at the peak of the tip of our tongue were the descriptions of the days gone by.
Hey, after all the waiting, indeed after all that has happened and even those which were only experienced in the reality of our imaginations, alas! the moment we’ve all been waiting for is here. As I see myself proceed to the dais to be honoured and appreciated (in my mind’s eye since I couldn’t attend the congregation!), my mind traveled that long length of time of 1460 days and could not help but beam with broad smiles. Being part of the 15% of the 1040 undergrad grads with the ultimate and topmost division in the year’s graduation class is quite humbling.
As the VC pronounced us as grads amidst hilarious and heartwarming shouts of hurray followed by the throwing of our caps into the air, that dream cultivated during the days of our primary education, now becomes a reality. To God Be The Glory.
Comrade, because of what we have done and what has been done today, I challenged you to go out and make the world better having as your principal tenet that the world can be made better tomorrow by your positive thought today and that the true essence of your education and existence on earth is to accept your responsibility in the development of humanity.
May God bless us all.
It has been a time of mixed feelings; moments of excitement and ecstasy, times of looming doom and worries clothed with days of uncertainties, times when our hearts inched close to be located at the peak of the tip of our tongue were the descriptions of the days gone by.
Hey, after all the waiting, indeed after all that has happened and even those which were only experienced in the reality of our imaginations, alas! the moment we’ve all been waiting for is here. As I see myself proceed to the dais to be honoured and appreciated (in my mind’s eye since I couldn’t attend the congregation!), my mind traveled that long length of time of 1460 days and could not help but beam with broad smiles. Being part of the 15% of the 1040 undergrad grads with the ultimate and topmost division in the year’s graduation class is quite humbling.
As the VC pronounced us as grads amidst hilarious and heartwarming shouts of hurray followed by the throwing of our caps into the air, that dream cultivated during the days of our primary education, now becomes a reality. To God Be The Glory.
Comrade, because of what we have done and what has been done today, I challenged you to go out and make the world better having as your principal tenet that the world can be made better tomorrow by your positive thought today and that the true essence of your education and existence on earth is to accept your responsibility in the development of humanity.
May God bless us all.
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