With yesterday being Valentine's Day, we thought we'd give the Sound Off faithful a break from heavier topics like national defense and terrorism, and steer the board toward something a little more appropriate: is romance dead? What is the future of love and marriage in America? Does chivalry fit in anywhere in today's society?


I always get a warm feeling whenever I hear the story of how my parents met. They both were regular riders on the same commuter train into New York City. After several months of admiring her from afar, my father finally mustered up enough courage to approach my mother. He bought a box of chocolates, walked over to my mother and the friend she always rode with, and offered them each a piece.

For reasons that still have yet to be defined clearly – if you ask me – my mother politely declined the chocolates. But the gesture wasn’t lost on her, they started chatting regularly and it wasn’t long before the two were caught up in a whirlwind romance and engaged a few months later.

In June, they’ll be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. As a rule, I try not to spend too much time thinking about how romantic they are toward one another. But as they approach this significant milestone, I’ve done some thinking about their marriage and also romance in general.

It brings a smile to my face to realize that my father still surprises my mother with chocolates, he still holds the door open for her and they still kiss each other first thing in the morning. Perhaps I’m just cynical, but I have my doubts as to whether people are as romantic towards one another as they were 30 years ago.

So that’s the question we pose to you today: is romance dead in this country, or is it burning as bright as it ever? Are today’s young people as romantic as the generations that have preceded them – or can they learn a thing or two about romance from their elders? Here’s your chance to tell your fellow iWon users what you think!