I often find myself wondering why do people hate Valentine’s Day? Is it because people truly hate love? Or is it because they are actually bitter about their own miserable love life?

Year, after year, AFTER YEAR I hear more and more people becoming more and more depressed about the holiday that is suppose to represent love, togetherness, and companionship.

I’ve heard all the excuses. “I don’t support it because it’s a materialistic holiday.” Or “I don’t support it because I don’t have a man who loves me.” And my all time favorite, “I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day because I don’t think it caters to men enough.”

The more I hear the more I realize just how selfish and lonely the single population is on this campus. And your negative views upon the Day of Love are nothing more than a reflection upon your views of love as a whole. If you cannot appreciate love when you are alone, then you will never be able to appreciate it when you have someone.

I understand that being single on Valentine’s Day can be hard, but why are there so many hateful hearts on this celebration of love? Stop believing the negative stereotypes you hear about the celebrated day.

Why not take the time to actually look up the true history of Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day was not a holiday made up by American card companies. In fact, Valentine’s Day is not even originally an American holiday. It was truly a day formed out of love. Yet as time passes on I find more and more lonely singles on this campus condemning the holiday to hell.

Just because you may be a bitter black woman who cannot find a man, or you’re a no good man who does not know how to treat a lady does not mean the holiday is stupid.

In fact I feel it is quite the opposite. The holiday is just fine the way it is. Maybe it is time you change your views on it.

Love is all around us and we absolutely should take at least one day out of the year to celebrate the power of love and show our significant others (whether it be a girlfriend/boyfriend, wife/husband, or even just your main chick/dude) just how important they are to us.

Now, there are a select few people on this campus that are single yet still have faith in this thing we call love. And I love and support this group of people who know that just because you are single on Valentine’s Day does not mean that there is something wrong with the holiday.

It simply means you’re not in a relationship right now. No more, no less.

But I show very little support to those who are single on Valentine’s Day and expect someone to feel sorry for them. Spare me!

For the women, maybe it’s because your attitude and your views on what a man is “supposed” to do. No man wants to be with a woman they are unhappy with, especially on Valentine’s Day. Stop expecting for a man to come and sweep you off your feet. Either hang out with the girls, or DROP YOUR PRIDE and take a guy out for a change.

Stop waiting on a man to come and take control of your love life. Take control of it yourself.

Men, there is nothing wrong with spending time and a few dollars on a female. It’s actually the proper thing to do. If you consider yourself to be a gentleman, then stop being cheap and selfish and dedicate some time and thought to someone other than yourself.

The reason women see this holiday as a waste of time is because men rarely put any thought or time into trying to make them feel special. And I’m sure we all know that if a female is unhappy, we’re all going to be unhappy.

Actually take the time out to show her that love is too weak of a word to define just how much she means to you.

And for those of you who refuse to enter the dating scene ever again, remember that Valentine’s Day is a day for love. Love for your parents, your family, and your friends.

Take the time out to show anyone how much they truly mean to you. A simple phone call, 5-minute visit, or a 99-cent card can all be a representation of how much you care about someone.

Love is supposed to be give and take. However, many men and women have become so selfish that they are willing to take before they give up anything.

This is more than likely why you will be alone on Valentine’s Day.

Time is the most valuable thing you could give because you will never get it back. So even if you don’t give up a dime, realize that time is the best gift you could give anyone.

• TRUMAINE MCCASKILL