Yes, the 14th of February is a major benefit-generator to all kinds of commercial, money-grubbing enterprises: candy, flowers, dining venues, greeting cards, candy, beverages, even nightwear, and did we mention candy?

Valentine’s Day has a romantic and affectionate tone, is connected with red and pink (contrasting white in the middle of Winter), and is very popular. Hence, the reason the peddlers of all that stuff (did we mention candy?) pile it on.

Here at The Price of Liberty, we don’t accept the common wisdom that love is just an emotion and can wane and wax for any number of reasons. Regardless of the source of love, it should be an “action verb.” (We know, grammarians tell us that all verbs involve action.) To love someone means that you are concerned about their welfare, their trials, their needs.

But as we see so much in politics, the word love is bandied about. (Ditto in commercial enterprises and advertising. It is so American to “love hot dogs” or “love apple pie” and in the same breath say we love our mother!)

So, today, examine yourself, and see what you can do to express your love (romantic or not) to someone. Nothing really wrong with candy, or nice dinners, or flowers. But look and see what you can do to really show someone (or many folks) that they are special, and that you love them not just for what they do but for who they are, and tell them as well as finding a way (or two or three) to show them.

By the way, the same thing applies when we say “We love liberty” and “We love freedom” and “We love our homeland.” Show it!