Is Romance dead?

[sobrique]

magdalene1 has posted a story of a couple in a cafe.

Go read it. It's well written, and rather touching.

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Quite a pretty story all considered. But begs the question. Is romance dead? Are candle lit dinners, and quiet nights walking in the woods things consigned to valentines day, when the mass media tells us we must?

Could it be that romance has died in the cold light of cynicsm? That the world, trusting less, had pushed away a magical thing.

There are reports in the news, of things to be feared, avoided. The dangers of the modern world. They tell tales of rape, kidnapping, murder, fraud, deceit, malevolence. These are the modern day fireside stories. Oh, they happen, but bad real world stories sell so much better than good.

There is a thing they have missed though. There have always been bad and cruel people, who would do horrible things. The stories used to be tales of the hero, beating down the villain, rescuing the princess or lady fair, and sharing love's true kiss.

Alas, this is gone, the hero stands to risk being accused of kidnap and rape, and put in prison. The lady fair, choosing a life of wealth over love.

The majority of the world is made up of good people. But the heros are quieter and work their magic more subtley. They press on through the grinding mechanisms of the modern world. As many as there ever were, but no longer the subject for songs and stories. Of icons to be lived up to.

Are we losing our idols? Or are we simply seeing that no one is perfect, and a full and complete story is enough to dispel any myth.

Romance is not dead, but it is a quieter song, sung in private, because the world scorns True Love.

You can be a realist and a dreamer at the same time. Get on with your life, keep pushing onwards. But don't forget. Tomorrow might be better. Don't give up your dreams, just because they seem unlikely. It's by dreams that we create the future.