Relationships: Yes or no?

It’s Valentine’s Day, that tribute to roses, kisses and cloying cards that induce all variations of nausea. Even if V-Day is “”the holiday brought to you by Hallmark,”” one wonders if it’s better to find a significant other. Is coupledom the way to go? Or is it overrated and crass?

Being Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be helpful for my boyfriend to add his take on the subject of couples, seeing that we already do everything else together. Having a significant other certainly makes life more interesting. First, we get to come up with fun pet names. Ours include “”Crustacean,”” “”Claw,”” and “”Lobster,”” because, according to Phoebe on “”Friends,”” lobsters mate for life. Second, we get to stare at each other’s inherent cuteness for hours on end. And finally, well, because the best feeling in the world is waking up and actually knowing the person next to you.

– Jessica Wertz is a senior majoring in family studies and human development and psychology. Jay Abbott is a finance senior. They have been together for two-and-a-half years.

Love is a female dog. A pink, dripping female dog. Valentine’s Day is a disgusting display of what our culture has become: commercial, money-driven, and full of couples. I am against couples entirely, and V-Day is an excuse for the gross flaunting of public displays of affection, which no one besides perverts wants to see. Why is our culture driven by couples who feel the need to parade their love as if there is some value to having someone attached at the hips ðð- or better, at the lips? I am calling for an end to couples entirely. Down with love!

ð- Sam Feldman is a political science junior.

My little loose nuke

Russian President Vladimir Putin roiled the diplomatic world in an inflammatory speech Saturday, saying that America’s “”almost uncontained use of military force”” was pressuring other countries to seek out nuclear arms. Most U.S. officials dismissed the speech, but some hawks (including presidential hopeful John McCain) are up in arms. Is Putin right?

Like it or not, Putin’s remarks have some merit. Recent U.S. actions, including the largely unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation, undoubtedly do lead some countries to see us as a legitimate threat to their security. Though their fear of the U.S. may be unfounded in some cases, it is not outrageous to assume that these particular countries would feel the need to increase their defense capabilities. Putin’s comments are just common sense. The negative reaction they have received proves that telling the truth, no matter how obvious and reasonable, can be quite an unpopular endeavor.

– Jared Pflum is a religious studies senior.

Look, Putin needs to get his own house in order before he can start pointing fingers. Before it collapsed in 1991, the Soviet Union had 27,000 nuclear weapons, many of which remain to be accounted for. Meanwhile, the Council on Foreign Relations says that Russian “”loose nukes”” are in danger of making their way to the black market. Ironically, then, the effect of Putin’s speech was to say, “”The U.S. is making other countries seek out nuclear arms that we’re accidentally supplying to them!”” Go find your nukes, Mr. Putin; then you can come to the big kids’ table.

– Damion LeeNatali is a history and political science senior.