Churches and Dictators, Politics and Papers...

 It looks as if the world is going through the Day of Judgement as war and terrorism still prevail, revolutions of peoples create havoc in streets and squares and floods, earthquakes and volcano eruptions batter this planet. Cyprus, this tiny divided island is dealing with its own issues. There is political unrest and discontent however much we try to hide it behind carnival masks and costumes and a nonchalant mood. In truth I don't blame people since they still strongly feel the urge to have fun and forget for a while, lightening their hearts and minds.

In the background politicians are at loggerheads and there are protests on the streets. The conflicts which are evident carry the populace with them with no solutions given to the average homeowner and businessman about how they will get themselves out of economic trouble. There is too much talk, too much disagreement and too little action. Instead of joining forces our Cypriot politicians pick on little details instead of looking at the big picture, the future. Those in power always seem to forget the little people, families dealing with unemployment, getting by as best they can, the young generation revolting because they are not heard, with an education system which is failing them. The older generation unable to get by with their meagre pensions.

Authoritative establishments need to reevaluate and I think this will slowly happen because of pressure from the people, the masses. Their voices will grow, louder and stronger out of the need to survive. I think of what is happening in the Ukraine, the revolt of the masses against a government that does not represent them. Our government I believe is moving in the right direction with foreign media claiming that a miracle has happened and Cyprus is back from the dead and proving to be recovering quicker than anticipated. The opposition, as an opposition is trying to find any fault they can and Diko the centre- right in the government threatening to leave. Why can't politicians look beyond their petty differences and their ulterior motives and unite for the common good? It's as if they want their nation to remain penniless and divided. I can't help but think of a song by Elton John which prophesies the breakdown of all those establishments which create more harm than good, as it says "Churches and dictators, politics and papers everything crumbles sooner or later...I believe in love." According to the song 'Believe' establishments will crumble including politicians and a new era will emerge where only good and love prevail. The "Day of Judgement" may even have a promising ending after all if only politicians stop bickering, look up, listen and take action.

Cypriot Valentine Extravaganza!

The teddy bears and Valentine heart cushions are out on roadside shops mingling with carnival masks and costumes. The radio stations are humming lovey-dovey tunes in an attempt to get everyone in the mood and also promising giveaway prizes like a two-night stay in a glitzy five-star hotel for the lucky couple.

 Wives will wait in anticipation for a bouquet of flowers or a naughty item of lingerie, probably the only present they will get from their husbands this year. Teenagers will secretly send a Valentine card or text message to the person they are besotted with, hoping for a response and looking starry-eyed in the classroom when they realize the feeling is mutual and down in the dumps for the rest of the year if it is young, careless unrequited love after all. Even the third generation will get carried away with the fun, buying the misses a box of chocolates or just an extra two cartons of washing powder, that is how far their love goes.In general it is a day to get carried away in a bubble of love, however deep or shallow that love may be.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow, on a Friday this year which means couples will make the most of it and for those who are single a chance to go out anyway. I can't help but think about the scene in the recent film Valentine's Day when all the singles get together for the 'I hate Valentine's Day' dinner at the local Indian which proves to be a great night, but the real message I got from that film is how big and tragic the day is made by all those who are single but also what a consumer heaven Valentine's Day is. It's all about the spending, how carried away you can get and that's how the Cypriot version has become too.

Modern love or cyber love is so different to love as it was in St. Valentine's time, the third century Roman saint associated with tomorrow's day. In those days it was all about courtly love, a secret exchange of love between members of the nobility, where the man tries to prove his worthiness to his mistress by acting bravely and honorably and by doing what the mistress desires and surprisingly in the end, sex  was not the goal or end result.There was something subtle and substantial about courtly love which ran deeper than a box of chocolates or a heart shaped cushion. It was real love, a binding contract with no small script at the bottom. If only we could take a piece from the original message that St. Valentine wanted to spread and add it to our 21st Century version, what a big difference that would make. Until then it's just another Cypriot Valentine extravaganza!