So As Some Of You May Have Heard...
There has been quite some backlash at the new design for Starbuck's red holiday cups. In the past they have had designs that were obviously gearing towards the Christmas spirit, but this year it is a plain, red cup. This is the statement made by Starbucks on their new cups and in all honesty, I find them to be perfect. I am Catholic and part of me always says that to celebrate Christmas we don't need presents, we just need God because that is what Christmas is about (unless we delve deeper, but let's not do that, let's just stay at the surface for what Christmas has become about). So what exactly is Christmas about? It's the celebration of baby Jesus' birth. The reason we give presents is because we are doing what the Three Magi did, but shouldn't we be giving presents to God? Shouldn't our present to God be our devotion or some other good quality rather than something like giving presents to our family members? Well, same with the cups! If Starbucks would rather their cups be red rather than gear it towards Christmas themes, they have the absolute right to do that. We must respect their decisions instead of backlashing them because they aren't supporting our religion. Since when was Christmas about a design on a cup?
I do understand, so many of us are used to seeing those beautiful Christmas decorations and hearing holiday songs while drinking egg nog and eating candy canes, but this isn't what Christmas is about and neither is a cup. Sure, we may be used to it, but who cares? You never hear Jewish people complaining about the lack of Hanukkah decorations, do you? I feel that's because they already have a strong sense of what they are celebrating and they embrace their culture and they don't need others to do it for them. They understand that. What problem is there with the cup being just red? Nothing at all.
So now I'm going to use parts of the article in this post and show you how I feel about this what a few people said. All credit to whatever I've quoted belongs to Justin Worland.
"Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus," wrote Joshua Feuerstein in a viral Facebook post.
Well, did they ever openly say that? No one is going to say that. In the time we live in now, most people and businesses (I would like to hope) are open to whatever religion you may be. I mean consider how big Starbucks is. They aren't going to openly hate one religion, because that would be bad for business. Why would they hate Jesus? What actual reason would their be for them to hate him? Just because they don't put a Christmas theme on their cup doesn't mean they hate Jesus. So if I decide not to put any Christmas decorations up this year, does that mean I hate Jesus? Of course not. That's why this statement is illogical.
In an accompanying video, Feuerstein encourages customers to give their name as "Merry Christmas" to force Starbucks employees to say the phrase.
Ok, if you took the time to watch the video here are my thoughts on it. I completely understand where the guy is coming from. I do feel like the world has become extremely politically correct with things and I don't like it, because now everyone can shout hate crime and say something is offensive, but that's exactly what's being displayed here. The Christians are crying "hate crime" because Starbucks won't put a Christmas themed design on their cup. I do see where he's coming from, but I also see where Starbucks is coming from on the topic of how they aren't allowed to say the phrase "Merry Christmas." Again, if we're going to be truly equal, we ought to take Jews into consideration and how about Kwanza. How many people celebrate that? Probably not a lot, but that doesn't mean they're not there. And there's obviously other holidays around Christmas time, so you don't know who actually celebrates Christmas. I mean if someone came up to me and said, "Happy Hannukah!" I'd probably laugh and say, "Oh, well I'm not Jewish, but thanks." See, that's awkward. Companies want to avoid that with saying "Merry Christmas", because there are always people who will make it apparent that they don't celebrate Christmas. Of course, the most simple way to fix this is by simply saying "Happy Holidays." It's universal and I definitely wouldn't say this is leading up to a PC world. It's just being considerate.
Overall, I'd say that on any account it really doesn't matter what a company decides to do. If it concerns you so much, make your own company or don't shop there, but don't say they're doing it because they "hate Jesus" or they're trying to be "politically correct."
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