Quote Originally Posted by MMI View Post
I thought you at least would sympathise with me.
Why ever would you think that? >

Religious celebrations should be kept within religious bounds and not forced on everyone else, don't you agree?
Absolutely. Agreement, not sympathy.

Or do you now see that Valentine's Day, Christmas, Easter and so on are not being foisted on the country by religious extremists (or if they are, they are doing it ineffectively), but by Mammon.
Christmas and Easter, at least, are simply pagan celebrations which were co-opted by religion. They have both religious and secular components. You can celebrate the secular aspects without bothering with the religious ones. Valentine's day, on the other hand is strictly a faux holiday, created by business to boost sales. Not at all religious, despite the name.

Money is being made out of these festivities by opportunist capitalists who have no respect for religions or for atheists, and where there is money to be made, other people's rights, moralities and expectations are swept aside.
Sorry, no sympathy here, either. I see no problem with businesses trying to make money. That's what they are in business for! I don't really care if some corporation "respects" someone's religion, or my lack of it. As a consumer I tend to ignore advertising, ignore commercialism, ignore the hype that these celebrations foster. I don't expect any gifts, nor do I give any. If I need something, I buy it for myself. I don't give a rip what anyone else does for the holidays. As long as they don't try to force me to follow their rules. And it isn't the corporations that are trying to do that!