Wouldn't you know it? Valentine's Day is upon us once again upon us. And while some of us aren't sold on it as a holiday, more than enough couples take this opportunity to lavish that special someone with gifts like roses, chocolates, jewelry, a trip to the spa or even naming a roach after their sweetie.Granted I'm somewhat cynical about Valentine's Day, but apparently nowhere near as cynical as the Malaysian government.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysian Muslims debated Sunday whether to shun Valentine's Day after the government warned that the celebration was a "trap" that could trigger indecent behavior.Hmm- I choose to be a cynic when it comes to this particular holiday. Elsewhere in the world, I guess governments take it upon themselves to decide for the people. Guess I shouldn't be too surprised.
Although no laws prevent Malaysia's Muslim majority from marking the occasion with dinner dates and roses, officials have mounted a campaign insisting that such romantic gestures might tempt young people into having premarital sex.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said late Saturday that the government was not trying to demean Valentine's Day, but stressed that it was "not suitable" for Muslims, who comprise nearly two-thirds of Malaysia's 28 million people
In recent years, authorities have sometimes searched hotel rooms on the night of Feb. 14 to catch Muslim couples having premarital sex. According to Malaysia's Islamic Shariah laws, unmarried Muslims who meet in private can be charged with "khalwat," or "close proximity," which carries fines and prison sentences of several months.
This vintage cutie shown above (appropriately enough from a 1958 Al Buell work titled Real Cute) decked out in red and clasping a rose seems to have no such compunctions that the Malaysians do.
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