As soon as Starbucks released their "holiday cups" and people claimed that they were outraged, Jews around the world got on their computers and opened up Google.
Many sat at their computers for hours reading up on how the cups aren't festive enough and how Starbucks has lost its "Christmas spirit." Together, in almost perfect harmony, all the members of the tribe released a collective "I don't get it." I will preface this by saying I am a huge fan of Christmas. I listen to Christmas movie, I drive around looking at Christmas lights and honestly I have taken a picture with Santa at the mall.
However, I can't understand all the hubub over why the Starbucks cups aren't Christmas enough. Honestly, I looked at the cup and assumed that there was too much Christmas in Starbucks. There are Christmas ornaments, special Christmas coffee blends, travel mugs, and so much more. I, as well as a probably a lot of other Jews, continue to scratch my head and repeat "I don't get it."
The thing about the Starbucks cup controversy is that I try so hard to understand it, but I can't. Apparently things aren't Christmas enough, but where is my Chanukah cup? I want a blue cup. The red cup with green is Christmas enough. Starbucks, can I please have a specialized Jewish cup? I want a blue gradient cup and instead of the Starbucks logo it should have a menorah in it. Maybe I'll make my own Jewish cup design and bring it to Starbucks and try to sell the design.
The whole country seems to become Christmas themed before even Thanksgiving, but the US doesn't identify by a single religion. That's why people need to calm down and drop the panic attacks over un-Christmas like Starbucks cups. Everyone loves a little Christmas, but that doesn't mean everyone wants it shoved down their throat. I would like the Mariah Carey Christmas album shoved down my throat any day, but that isn't the same thing as having all of Christmas forcefully pushed on me. I get it. Christmas is great. I, as well as a good number of the population, don't celebrate it though.
When I first heard about the controversy I thought it was because the cups were too Christmas and then when I finally looked up an article about it I started laughing out loud. I wrote an article on it and I still continue to say "I don't get it." I will try, but I don't.
Stay strong Starbucks, I like your gradient cups -- they are very artsy.
