I don’t know if the story of St. Valentine that I was told as a youth is true or not, but its always been a story that has intrigued me. In fact, even the Catholic Church is not sure who the real St. Valentinus was, but they are pretty sure he was either a martyred priest in Rome, a martyred bishop in Terni, or some random martyr in Aftrica. Oh religions, its all about the martyr complex, isn’t it?

Not being a religious persyn, there aren’t a whole lot of saints or even holidays that I care to recognize (St. Francis of Assissi would be another exception). But the story of a man, a political prisoner, who was locked away from his love and secretly sent love letters to her from inside the dungeon walls is at the very least a romantic tale worth repeating every now and then (even if it is a lie).

So in the spirit of the St. Valentinus that I know, I want to send out a not-so-secret love letter to all the political prisoners that are locked behind the dungeon walls. Happy Valentines Day to all those who fight for what they believe in; you fought the law, but the law has not yet one. And a special Happy Valentines Day to all those on death row who were wrongfully charged. Your stories inspire me to action.

Until every last one is free, may Valentines Day be everyday… we don’t need any more martyrs.