Society, it seems, is able manufacture and propogate the smallest of cultural nuances into the most juicy of scandals. With the advent of social media, the the floodgates can open on a story almost instantly, and it is never long before the likes of CNN and Fox News have their columnists on the attack.

Thus was the scene but a few weeks ago, when the coffee behemoth Starbucks unveiled their annual Holiday themed cups.

(Side note; it appears as if I have gone the last 6 years without even noticing this "change of seasons at Starbucks. I hardly ever noticed the change from white to the "scarlet" color, nor the addition of festive designs. I'll just take my coffee please.)

Unlike previous years, where unbeknownst to me, the cups had been adorned with what many claim was Christmas themed art, the cups are now just a simple red color (very Santa Clause-esque in my opinion...) with the traditional Siren Logo in her happy spot in the dead center of the cup (a logo claimed in many Starbucks conspiracies to be akin to that of demonic symbolism and as having satanic roots.)

This change was not only a shock, but surely quite the disappointment to to those behind sites dedicated solely to counting down the days, not until christmas, but the red cup release. While the cups are still red, the true excitement behind the annual unveiling of the red holiday cups is the variation in design. Each year, fans are eager to see the different shapes, characters, yuletide joy dancing on the very vessel from which they sip their Peppermint Spice lattes.

However, receiving their piping hot drinks on the "D-Day" of Starbucks apparent war on Christmas, customers were not handed a cup adorned with items as the traditional snowflake, reindeer, or christmas tree.

The change was not only unwelcome by fans of the traditional holiday cups, but also political pundits and religious figures. In what was surely an act of pastorly devotion, Evangelical Christian and pastor Joshua Feuerstein claimed to have walked into his local Starbucks and when prompted for his name, told the barista...you guessed it..."Merry Christmas." The originality of our society sometimes astounds me.

Feuerstein was not the only one to strike a beef with the company, as it was reported that Donald Trump has been telling people to boycott Starbucks alltogether.

Starbucks Vice President said in a statement that the change to the more conservative, plain red cups, was an attempt "usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories."

The fact that our collective culture chooses to limit their attentional focus to one aspect of any story is the reason for such outcry and unwarranted skepticism of a company simply wishing to sell more coffee. We seethe change in the red cups, while going unnoticed are the Christmas symbols aplenty that can be found in and around the company.

I adopted the duty of "investigative journalist" for the good of the coffee and reading community. Heading to my local Starbucks, I was instantly left devoid of any sacreligous leanings the company is recently claimed to have. No pictures of Satan here folks.

Must I remind the fellow Starbuck's drinker that the company in fact sells an Advent calendar as well as a coffee by the name of "Christmas blend. Sitting in the corner seat, typing this very article, my eyes alone reveal a front glass door decorated with holly leaves, a miniature christmas tree rested just near the serving station, and yes, Mariah Carey herself singing a christmas rendition on the store's sorround sound audio system.

Found on the company's very own blog is a tagline urging customers to try a "new take on a Christmas tradition." For those in disbelief, I have provided the evidence.

Furthermore, what meaning did snowflakes and snowmen ever have to the real "Christmas" holiday in the first place? While all indicative of the winter season and cold weather, these symbols have no religous connotations, nor should they. It is not as if imagery of Jesus or the cross were ever a part of the Starbucks holiday image. Decoration of the red coffee cups seemed to be the least prominent way in which Starbucks chose to promote their Holiday spirit. In a society where all sacred meaning seems to be taken out of Chrismas as it is, a change unrelated to Biblical references to the holiday would be expected to go unnoticed.

In a world in which tragedy ten-fold to that of a redesigned coffee cup is unfolding, it seems as if we must adjust our gauge on what needs attention. Do we not have bigger issues to address than images on our cups? Starbucks made a change in attempt to do one thing and one thing only, sell coffee to those who want it. If anything, the change was a win for the company, as it's stock (SBUX) is currently up to $61.99, almost 3% of its recent all time high price. It seems as if the all-too-critical America refuses to give up its coffee.

The holiday season abounds, and such is a time when joy and love should be spread among all.

Meanwhile, the only "story" Starbucks needs to share is the one where all of humanity rushes in a frenzy for their daily caffeine fix.

One love.

Cheers to the holidays.