The country is in a frenzy! There are riots in the streets accompanied by complete and utter pandemonium! It can't be understood as to what set off this chain of events...did President Obama become dictator? No, the government is still intact. Oh...well, did Donald Trump become president? Because that would be awful. No...he's still running, although Ben Carson and Bernie Sanders are still gaining popularity. So...did another kid get shot by the police? No, thankfully that hasn't happened. So what's the problem then? Why are there riots and people marching in the streets?
It's the worst thing possible...Starbucks...is not decorating their cups with Christmas decorations! They just have a plain red cup and everyone is in an uproar!
In all honesty, if you had trouble following the opening, I apologize. This whole issue is so infuriatingly stupid, and I had no clue where to start. But yes, just when we thought our "problems" couldn't get any dumber or more incredibly stupid, the United States of America just did it. Now the people of the country are complaining...about a (insert expletive) cup. This is very sad to say that we have arrived at this point, launching a war and calling for the boycotting of Starbucks coffee, just because of their lack of Christmas decorations on their (I really want to use a word here but I know I can't) cups.
Who is to blame for this "madness"? For that, we must first look to Jeffrey Fields, the vice president of Starbucks. In the past, the coffee cups around this time of the year have displayed Christmas decorations like reindeer and Santa Claus and a Christmas Tree. Keep those things in mind and also keep in mind that a Nativity Scene was not mentioned. This year, the chain has decided to simply have a red cup with no such decorations. Fields' intent behind this idea, as he said in a CNN report, was that he "wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories." So far so good...until a former pastor by the name of Joshua Feuerstein posted a video to Facebook adamantly opposing what Starbucks did because, as he saw it, "They hate Jesus!"
Now...if I can remember correctly...Santa and his team of reindeer did not fly to Nazareth and "help" Mary have her baby under a Christmas tree. Part of the beauty of this country is in its variety of religions; not everyone celebrates Christmas. Bottom line is, the chain was attempting to welcome all religions at this time of year. But no! No one is allowed to be happy! You take away my Christmas tree decoration from my coffee cup, that my friend is an act of war! En garde!
There is an uproar and anger over the cups, but thankfully it won't escalate, right? Oh, I could not be any more wrong here. All it takes is the village idiot to make a big deal out of nothing and who better to do it than the Donald, right? Donald Trump, you know, the guy who's running for president? The guy who wants to deport Hispanics and Muslims? The guy who said he'd date his daughter if she wasn't his daughter? Anyways, presidential-hopeful (please no) Trump spoke at a rally where he suggested we should boycott Starbucks. Don't believe me, go watch the video on YouTube. It's crazy how people cheer every time words leave his mouth and now he wants Americans to boycott Starbucks because their cups don't meet his criteria for Christmas Spirit. Plus doesn't Trump own part of the Starbucks chain? So wouldn't boycotting Starbucks do more harm then good? Well handled, sir, you clearly know what you're doing! That's the kind of guy we need in office in 2016. Someone who's "smarter" than Bush!
On a more serious note here: Are we really going to let this new (man, I really wish I could swear here) problem distract us from what is really important? A kid with autism got shot by the police and his father was seriously injured. Students across the nation are battling back against racial injustices on college campuses. We have begun putting ground troops in war torn Syria, while the bigger issue is the growing refugee crisis that is seeing thousands upon thousands flee from their homes and seeking asylum throughout Europe.To top it off the world was rocked by earthquakes in Mexico & Japan as well as coordinated ISIS attacks in Beirut, Lebanon & Paris. But hey, let's freak out over a cup because we got our priorities straight! Just because the Christmas decorations aren't on the cups anymore, doesn't mean they're attacking Christmas.
To the people who are calling out the "good Christians of America" to take a stand against Starbucks for this "atrocity," let me ask you this: You really want to be a good Christian? Then here's what you do. You go outside with a hot meal and a hot cup of cocoa in your hands and the first homeless guy you see, give them the food and drink. Remind them that this a time for giving and that they didn't have to spend every day of this holiday season alone. That's being a good Christian, to do as Jesus said: "Love thy neighbor as thy self." If you can't see that including everyone in the littlest way possible (by having a generic decoration on their cups) is in fact treating everyone equally and following what Jesus told us, then maybe you're not as great as you thought you were.
