Make love, not war!

Today is what is known as  Saint Valentine’s day in the Western culture and also in the Muslim world for that matter. The Western press has been buzzing with a general and intoxicating feeling of love and affection, whilst the Arab press is torn over more profoundly existential questions such as what the word love really means and whether it needs to be allocated a special day to be celebrated? Some others have raised the concern that this celebration might well be, indeed definitely is haram in Islam. Many observe that it is a profitable commercial occasion to boost local economies, and help oppressed people forget about tragedies such as war, albeit temporarily. Even the religious websites such as islamonline.net are buzzing with love-themed fatwas’. I am however quite proud of our local press which yet again, has dealt with this crisis in the same cool-headed and composed manner it has dealt with the Egyptian crisis over the football match. Even our favourite rag, Echourouk, has not got swayed by the general romantic feeling that is engulfing the globe as we speak. Instead of talking non sense as it usually does about less urgent matters, Echourouk takes love seriously indeed and has decided to mark Saint Valentine’s with one of best articles I have read in a long time from a purely journalistic perspective:

نجوم الخضر المحترفون متزوجون وهم في العشرينات من العمر

بينما اللاعبون المحليون مازالوا عزّبا ما بعد الثلاثين

This is an ingenious article which addresses with a typical algerian subtlty the problem of love in Algeria, brings to attention the many socio-economic barriers which prevent the fullfilment of this noble feeling and reminds us that love flourishes in other shores where no such barriers exist! All wrapped up in a football themed package! A definite winner.

(I am painfully aware how shallow and superficial this post is compared to MnarviDZ’s more meaty posts, but I am confident it will all be forgiven on account of me being a silly woman. Thank you, thank you.)