The Red Cup Debate

So maybe I'm a little late to the game here when it comes to the topic, but seriously with the Starbucks red cups?

Apparently there's all this hoopla over the new red cups that Starbucks put out for the holidays.  I haven't read a great deal on it, mostly because it annoys the heck out of me.  I have a read a few headlines, though.  Here's my opinion on it.

First of all, yes it's a little early for them to be coming out with the red cups, but it's no different than the mall putting up their giant Christmas tree for all to see this week, or the Christmas decorations that were put out before Halloween was even celebrated.

Second, what is with everyone getting SO SENSITIVE this year?  Yes, there are things that tick people off, and yes some of it is valid, and yes there is totally a right to free speech.  HOWEVER, I feel like in the past couple of years, a few people get overly sensitive about a topic, and suddenly the media is sensationalizing it all.  In this case- THEY ARE CUPS PEOPLE.

Thirdly, there's this crusade about the aspect of Starbucks being against Christmas, because they took off everything that would be Christmasy.  I have conflicting views a bit on this.  I think it was initially a smart business decision- everyone is getting so upitty over EVERYTHING these days, particularly the fight of "include all holidays" vs. "christmas".  A simple red cup gives a nod to Christmas, but doesn't hit anyone over the head with the proverbial Christmas frying pan.  Then again, as far as I know, the majority of the US is Christian, or at least celebrates Christmas in a seasonal giving sense.  So why not just stick with Christmas?  I love Christmas.  I don't get offended when someone wishes me Merry Christmas.  I also wouldn't be offended if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah, Kwanza, Festivus, or Solstice.  They are wishing me something HAPPY.  It would cost Starbucks a fortune to try to make everyone happy.  It doesn't make sense to make cups for everyone's holidays, and it doesn't make sense to have to ask each individual who comes into a Starbucks which cup they would like for their holiday.  As someone who has worked in the service industry, that would set things back a significant amount when it comes to long lines.  So Starbucks went with the majority.  I would love the people who are on this crusade to try and run Starbucks for a day.  I would LOVE to see how quickly they run it into the ground.

At the end of the day, it's a matter of perspective.  Is a red seasonal cup going to make or break the entire projectory of your life at the end of the day?  No?  Then let's find something that's a little more worthwhile to talk about.  Find a better cause to get behind.

Are you upset about the red cups?