VALDOSTA —
From the end of January through the first weeks of February, it becomes impossible to ignore the onslaught of marketing directed at couples, telling them what they need to make Valentine’s Day happy. Cards, flowers, special teddy bears — the message seems to be that love for another person equals buying lots of stuff.
While it is admirable to show appreciation for someone else through a nice gift, in some ways that is the cheap way out. In the hurry-up modern world where husbands and wives both work and sometimes become virtual strangers at home, a Hallmark card pulled off a rack as an afterthought might not be the best way to show love.
So what is the best way to express your true feelings on Valentine’s Day? One good way might be through the gift of time.
Think about the recent Father-Daughter Valentine Dance. Thousands of fathers dressed up and took their equally decked-out daughters to the Conference Center for a festive evening of fun. It wasn’t so much the music or the fancy dresses that made these evenings special. Individual dads showed their little girls how special they are by setting aside time to spend with them.
It’s a sad commentary on our society that technology and material goods tend to devalue the individual.
Communicating through emails or cell phones makes it easier to get in touch with another person, but what kind of connection is being made? Nothing says you love someone better than sitting down with them face to face and talking. Unfortunately, that simple act is harder than ever because of job demands and because of the nature of our technology.
Valentine’s Day, while not a true holiday, remains special because of how it is traditionally linked to romantic love. Wouldn’t it be more loving today to greet and spend time with a loved one instead of falling back on a greeting card to do the work?
What We Think
Don’t fall back on greeting cards
- What We Think
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Congratulations, VSU Softball!
This weekend, Valdosta State University Blazers Softball became the latest team to add to Valdosta’s TitleTown legacy.
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School’s out so watch out!
Summer is a time of rest, vacations and trips. It is a time when school is out, when people take time off from work, when people may stay out a little later. It is a time of swimming, trying new things, and seeking adventure.
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Qualifiers are next leaders
While the national media focuses attention on the presidential election, it should be remembered that we will also choose our local leaders this year.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To the 2011-12 arts season. Theatre Guild Valdosta’s rollicking comedy, “Caught in the Net,” officially brings to a close a magnificent schedule of shows ranging from theatre to opera to concerts to art exhibits and more from a variety of area venues. Theatre Guild will also open the 2012-13 season this summer with the musical “Into the Woods.” Until then, arts lovers can soon enjoy a new series of exhibits from the year-round Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts and three musicals starting in two weeks from Peach State Summer Theatre.
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Events that get things done
Finding something that repeatedly attracts the public is difficult enough, but finding an event that accomplishes that feat while also promoting your organization and helping others … well, in many places, that’s a rarity.
Not so for the Valdosta area. -
Furloughs: They beat the alternative
As summer break nears, many area education boards have spent the final school days preparing faculty and staff for furloughs for the 2012-13 calendar.
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Getting a jump on hurricane season
Come June 1, the 2012 hurricane season begins and lasts through Nov. 30.
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A few thoughts for new graduates
Graduation ceremonies reflect how life marches on. For the students receiving their diplomas and degrees, graduation is a culmination of the majority of their lives’ work.
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Video helps veterans
During Thursday night’s Military Officers Association of America meeting, the local chapter shared a video presentation regarding the Community Blueprint program, which is also known as Valdosta Veterans First.
For those unfamiliar with Community Blueprint, Valdosta is one of three cities across the nation selected as a pilot city for the program. -
Happy Mother's Day!
Mother. Mama. Mommy. Ma. Mom. She fed us when we were too small to feed ourselves. She nurtured us, clothed us, cleaned us, protected us.
She helped us form our first words. - More What We Think Headlines
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Congratulations, VSU Softball!
