Have you heard the news about Starbucks alleged war on Christmas? Small, subliminal prompts towards seasonal cheer – like those once found on Starbucks’ holiday cups – can add up over time and encourage people to give to the poor or homeless, volunteer and focus more on giving than receiving. According to the company website: “The Starbucks Creative team tried a new design for its cups to generate excitement during the holiday season”. By making the decision to be holiday-neutral, Starbucks has actually made a strategic business decision to appeal to their diverse clientele. But 17 holiday seasons later, not only is there no jazzy Santa-there’s no Santa at all. This year’s cups, which debuted in early November, are a plain, matte red. It’s astounding and, quite frankly, embarrassing, especially when Starbucks is entirely in the right in their decision to abandon their traditional holiday cup graphics, which have included images tied to Christmas like ornaments and reindeer, for a new, clean and multiculturally-applicable solid red cup.
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“I think in the age of political correctness we become so open-minded our brains have literally fallen out of our head”. “They just want to enjoy their coffee”. And for every person criticizing Starbucks for taking the “Christ out of Christmas“, O’Brian writes, several others either defend the brand or make fun of the absurdity.
In the video, Feuerstein wears a Christ T-shirt and brandishes his gun while speaking at the speed of a man who just pounded a triple-shot macchiato. Outraged Christians began venting their frustrations on Twitter using #MerryChristmasStarbucks.
A Breitbart writer called the evolution of the cups “as disgusting as an Eggnog Latte”.
Kit Yarrow, a professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, said a few people seized on the cup for the same reason many Americans have been captivated by Trump’s “anti-PC” stance.
And a few noted that a boycott on Starbucks could result in shorter lines. That’s the end of that lease, but who cares?… Usually in the lead up to Thanksgiving, the company issued its festive cups adorned with wreaths and whatever else reminded you of the totally nonessential yet delightful parts of Christmas. “That I can tell you”. It’s shameful that an American presidential candidate could even see a strategy in appealing to such an unbelievably superficial controversy – that he could potentially earn votes by condemning Starbucks’ attempt to act as any smart, fair company would in a multicultural capitalist society.
“A lot of people are really just constantly on the lookout for a few vehicle to express anger and dissatisfaction, and this is the vehicle du jour”, she said.
Joshua Feuerstein calls himself an evangelist and a social media personality. Post after post and tweet after tweet argued various opinions about Starbucks.
Lara Reynolds sipped the Christmas Blend and dismissed the social-media furor with a wave: “It’s ridiculous”.
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Most Christians saw this faux controversy for what it was, the work of a narrow and highly excitable demographic that’s as representative of Christians in America as Madonna is representative of MI. A red cup will not stop you from being a Christian… “And writing Christmas on a cup does not make you a good one… just saying”.
