In the days following the start of November, Starbucks stores across the nation turn red to celebrate the holiday season. In years past, the cups have included icons related to Christmas, but this year, they're just plain red. Many people have categorized Starbucks' new minimalistic approach as a #WarOnChristmas, sparking many discussions on social media.
As a Christian, I'll be the first to say "Merry Christmas" around the holidays, but I believe this is ridiculous. I'm not exactly sure where our constant need to be offended comes from, because there are a whole lot of things more offensive in the world than a plain red Starbucks cup. Below are just a few of those things.
1. Voter turnout rates in recent elections have hit record lows.
2. Eighty percent of sexual assaults on college campuses are left unreported.
3. 13.5 million American children live in households where they do not have enough to eat.
4. 50,000 of our veterans will be forced to sleep on the streets tonight.
5. Low-income students drop out of high school at nearly seven times the rate of their classmates.
6. Women in America are still only paid 79 cents for every dollar a male counterpart makes.
7. Nearly 8.8 million Americans will abuse prescription drugs this year.
8. One person will commit suicide in America in the next 10 minutes.
9. More young people now die from gun violence than car crashes.
10. Almost 600,000 people will die from cancer this year in America.
11. Only 26 percent of American high school graduates who took the ACT met all four college readiness standards in 2014.
12. Every day in America, 28 people die in DUI-related accidents.
13. Over 2.2 million Americans are currently incarcerated, which is more than the entire population of New Mexico.
14. Almost one in every four American students report being bullied at school.
