What is Valentine’s Day?

Ever wonder if Valentine’s Day has a history? Well is it does actually, it is more than what we Americans have made it out to be today. The whole take your main squeeze out to an over-priced restaurant with a set menu, cliché heart shaped box of chocolates in hand, and a kids stuffed animal that you present to your grown adult date to somehow profess your undying love. And, if you happen to be the poor soul who does not have a sweetie pie, you spend the night alone, eating your chocolate Bon Bons you had to buy yourself, by the way, and watch sappy love movies crying your eyes out, wondering what’s wrong with you, and why you suck, and no one wants you to be their Valentine.

Sounds pathetic? I’ve been there.But Valentine’s Day wasn’t always this way. In its humble beginning the gist of the holiday was to be thankful for the ones we love and mindful of those who are alone on this day. Love can be actions towards others (or oneself) or based on affection. Right now there are 291 in-house patients at Children’s Hospital who deserve to be noticed and shown some love on supposedly the most loving day of the year. Could you make one of them your Valentine?

If you would like to make a difference by showing one of those kids you care about them this Valentine’s Day here is what you can do: buy a general Valentine’s Day card and a little stuffed animal and drop it off at The Collegian and your gift will be delivered to Children’s Hospital on Valentine’s Day.

”” Kevin-Dat Vu
Communications Major

An inaccurate accusation

I was quite disappointed with the lack of intelligence in one of the Letters to the Editor in the Feb. 4, 2011, issue. It was concerning www.TheRealPedro.com. The letter indicated that it is racist to call Pedro Ramirez a criminal. First off, it is not racist; it is true. If you truly think it is not against to law to be in this country illegally, you are extremely unintelligent. Second, If you do not like the current immigration law, that is OK, but the reality is, RIGHT NOW, it is a crime to be in this country illegally. It is OK to think the current immigration policy is flawed, I think that too, but it is NOT OK to call someone a racist for accurately accusing Pedro of being a criminal.

Should Pedro be deported? I do not think so. I think because he is so close to graduating, we should let him finish college. Should Pedro be deported in the future? If he does not show some initiative to get citizenship, then yes. Citizenship takes sometimes six years to get. If he at least starts the process, then I am satisfied. My family adopted my sister from another country; I am somewhat accustomed with the time the immigration process can take.

”” Daniel J. Harrison
Economics and Political Science Major

From one immigrant to another

In my family, there are many people who are illegal immigrants to these United States, so I asked them what their views are on Ramirez and his current position here at Fresno State.

With mixed emotions of pride and disillusionment, the general consensus was that Ramirez violated common ethical courtesy being an uninvited guest in this country.

“One doesn’t show up to a dinner party uninvited and expect to sit at the head of the table and pretend like everything is alright just because the dinner party they were previously at was a wreck,” said one of my uncles.

Yes, it is a big milestone for immigrants everywhere that one of their own has made it to the top, but the fact is that he bypassed legal and ethically appropriate hurdles that many have to get through to get anywhere. To go behind everyone’s backs and run for president of ASI was unethical and unfair.

Perhaps in a feat of desperation Ramirez is pulling this publicity stunt to gain people’s pity so “he doesn’t have to go back to his dinner party”, but he is only gaining disappointment.

I am an immigrant myself; we all come from places where the rules are constantly broken. Ramirez comes to this country and does exactly what has ruined so many systems, and most importantly, behaves unethically by deceiving those from whom he expects trust and loyalty.

From one immigrant to another, I ask that he steps down from office on ethical grounds, rather than the excuse that he has to have surgery in his eye due to a car accident (not to mention he wasn’t supposed to be driving anyhow since he doesn’t have a license).

”” Christian Lopez
Biology and Philosophy Major