Tempo
Interactive - February 13, 2009
Yogyakarta –
Around 50 students from the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) campus'
Proselytizing Institutions Goodwill Forum held an action on February 13
opposing the celebration of Valentines Day claiming that it tarnishes the
sanctity of love.
The students
also went from one faculty to another holding speeches opposing the celebration
of Valentines Day on February 14 each year. “The celebration of Valentines Day
is not [part of] Indonesian culture, it damages Indonesia’s younger
generation”, said action coordinator Defri Daryanto on Friday.
According to
Daryanto, activities demonstrating feelings of love provide [no] benefit.
Moreover they are far from the ethnics of social intercourse that are in line
with religious teachings. Never mind that many of the activities that are held
lead towards the legalisation of sexual relations outside of marriage.
Valentines
Day, said Daryanto, in fact narrows the meaning of love more in the direction
of sexual relations outside of marriage. Moreover based on evidence, in the
lead up to each Valentines Day the sale of condoms goes up at pharmacies and
shops as well as condom ATMs, and as a consequence, pregnancies outside of
marriage following the celebration of Valentines Day are widespread.
The increase
in the sale of contraceptive devices such as condoms, which is widespread in
the lead up to Valentines Day, is an indicator of the kind of behaviour that is
becoming pervasive among youth.
“The
celebration of Valentines Day is usually done through erotic parties that
promote sex. Whereas love is far nobler and is not limited to sexual
relations,” said Daryanto. Daryanto added that the promotion of free sex also
results in an increase in the number of HIV/AIDS sufferers.
After
holding speeches opposing Valentines Day, they marched around the UGM campus
handing out leaflets against the commemoration of Valentines Day and gave out
flowers as a symbolic message that love is eternal for all time and not just
for one day.
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
