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johnslat · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:26 pm Post subject: Hearts and Flowers

Looks like the Society for the Preservation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice will be out raiding the flower shops again this year, seeking and destroying any banned red roses and/or other symbols of the "pagan Christian holiday" (sounds like an oxymoron to me).

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=39498&d=14&m=2&y=2004&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

This annual event - the red rose raids - has always reminded me ( in reverse, since the red roses would have to be painted white) - of that scene from Alice in Wonderland:

"Painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red
We dare not stop
Or waste a drop
So let the paint be spread
We're painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red

Oh, painting the roses
And many a tear we shed
Because we know
They'll cease to grow
In fact, they'll soon be dead
And yet we go ahead
Painting the roses red

Painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red
Oh, pardon me
But Mister Three
Why must you paint them red?

Huh? Oh! Well, the fact is, Miss
We planted the white roses by mistake
And...

The Queen she likes 'em red
If she saw white instead
She'd raise a fuss
And each of us
Would quickly lose his head
Goodness!
Since this is the part we dread
We're painting the roses red

Oh, Dear! Then let me help you
Painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red
Don't tell the Queen what you have seen
Or say that's what we said
But we're painting the roses red
Yes, painting the roses red
Not pink
Not green
Not aquamarine
We're painting the roses red! "

Oh well - hope all you pagan Christians - and lovers, whether of any other religions or none at all - manage to have a Happy St. Valentine's
Day anyway. I have sort of a special interest in the date, since it's my birthday.
Regards,
John (61 years young today)

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Happy Birthday. Valentine's day is already over for me. In Japan, women give men chocolate on Feb. 14, we reciprocate with candy on March 14. A little different twist here. I still bought my wife roses, despite the Japanese tradition.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Happy birthday, John (and Happy Valentine's Day, too)

Religious people seem to be so obsessed with getting their knickers in a twist over the most banal of things. Is there anyone in the whole world who can find the smallest glimmer of religion in Valentine's Day?? At any time in history has religion been related to it? It must be a very long time ago. It is hard enough these days to find religion in Christmas, no less the creation of Hallmark and the rose growers called Valentine's Day--- Smile

VS

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 3:37 pm Post subject:

I don't often find myself agreeing with the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Elimination of Vice, but, if I had my way, I'd ban Valentine's Day in my own country too.

Bah humbug!

Irish · Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 371

Valentine's Day doesn't mean much to me one way or the other, but John's birthday is something worth celebrating.

Happy birthday, John. May the next sixty-one years be even better!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Yes, to soon-to-be policeman, johnslat, Happy Birthday. And a question directed to the Jesuit inside johnslat :

Who was this Catholic Saint anyway ? I mean Saint Valentine. Was he martyred ? And how did he end up sponsoring the biggest Western holiday after Christmas ?

johnslat · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 7:15 pm Post subject: Hit or myth?

Dear scot47,
Who was St. Valentine? Well, his story is shrouded in the mists of history, but these two sites give you the most popular accounts:

http://www.aerostamps.com/chetski/holidays/valentine/history.shtml

http://www.religioustolerance.org/valentine1.htm

And do you realize how very fortunate I was to have escaped being named Valentine (although it doesn't seem to have hurt Val Kilmer much)?
Regards,
John (thanks Mom and Dad)

johnslat · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 7:20 pm Post subject: Love is a four letter word

And thanks to Gordon, veiledsentiments, Irish and scot47 for the birthday wishes. But for Cleopatra - coal and ashes. Bah, humbug, indeed - what the world needs now (and always) is love, sweet love. Signing off now; I'll be pretty much incommunicado until June 18th. I'm going into the academy tomorrow morning and - inshallah - will graduate then. No Net access there.
Regards,
John

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Happy birthday Mr. Slattery. We'll miss you. Good luck and don't shoot your eye out.