We can’t escape from commenting about controversies especially when they aren’t really controversies, we just make them seem like they are. This year’s so-called controversy was brought to you by your favorite coffeehouse chain, Starbucks. Around our favorite holiday season and to be more specific on November, Starbucks releases their new holiday-themed cup. The following are designs from 1999 and 2014.
And this year the customers get this new design on their cups.
So basically a plain red cup. Comparing this year’s design to the previous years, it makes the new design look like little time was spent on it. This new simple design has made people very angry and they did what we all do best, take it to social media.
Since you're running away from Christianity, I'm running from you! Just exercising my financial choice https://t.co/DsieOuz8eA #ccot #tcot
— Leah (@Hael381) November">https://twitter.com/Hael381/status/662308037617692... 5, 2015 People are commenting that this new minimal design is not celebrating Christmas, which makes Starbucks seem as Christian haters. But since when has Starbucks made their designs about Christianity? Never. As the picture above shows, their previous designs include snowflakes and ice-skates, all which represent winter, not Christmas.
Let’s not forget that Starbucks doesn’t have Hanukkah themed cups and Jewish people have never made a big deal about this. But hey Starbucks why not start now? After all, the beauty of the U.S. of A is its diversity.
This situation has also captured the attention of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. On November 9, Mr. Trump suggested to his supporters at an event in Illinois that they should boycott Starbucks. He said, “No more ‘Merry Christmas’ on Starbucks. No more.” Then Mr. Trump went on saying that if he becomes president he guarantees, “we’re going to be saying ‘Merry Christmas’ in every store.”
So even a presidential candidate is making a big deal about a cup. All of us should be more concern about important issues that can actually affects us all. Issues we should all be worry about and issues that Mr. Trump should be giving his attention to are ISIS, national security, gun control, economic inequality, just to name a few.
After all this outrage is not compensating anyone but Starbucks, all this media attention is not hurting Starbucks. Any type of publicity is good publicity! According to Katie Sola at Forbes, Starbucks might not want to discourage the media attention. She explains, "Ultimately, the cup kerfuffle isn't bad publicity for Starbucks. It's actually a testament to the power of its brand."
Christmas is meant to be share with our loved ones. Christmas is all about giving so instead of spending $5 on a cup of coffee, give it to the homeless person that is sitting outside of Starbucks. Let’s not base the holiday season around a cup that you are going to end up throwing away after drinking your coffee or hot chocolate, both which can be made in the comfort of your house without spending a dime.
