ORELLANA: The Starbucks Red Cup “Nontroversy”

Starbucks has recently come under fire with a select group of Christian customers because of the absence of religiously-oriented decorations on the 2015 holiday.

Pinpointing the start of the controversy leads to an evangelist by the name of Joshua Feurestein, who decided to create a video on Facebook. He stated that the new design “wanted to take Christ and Christmas off of their brand-new cups.”

In the video Feurestein urged people to continue to purchase their coffee, but to tell the Starbucks barista that their name is “Merry Christmas” in an attempt to force Starbucks to write the greeting on their cups.

Supporters of Feurestein’s “Merry Christmas” challenge seem to directly associate Jesus with anything Christmas-related. The problem is that snowflakes, reindeer, and images that become prevalent during the Christmas season, actually have nothing to do with the story of Jesus’ birth.

Starbucks has come to the decision that this season’s simple design would welcome all stories, inviting customers to design their own cups if they choose to do so. Those who are uncompromising about their Christmas cups can take solace in the fact that the cup is still red and green, the primary Christmas colors.

When I think about my Savior, I can say with the utmost certainty that a pumpkin-spice latte does not come to mind. If Starbucks chooses not to say “Merry Christmas” to me or write it on my cup, then that is their prerogative.

As a Christian, I feel that Christmas time can be quite overwhelming when it comes to consumerism. If I were to put myself in a non-Christian’s shoes, I can only imagine how overbearing Christmas must be for that person.

I believe the real issue at hand is the reality that the now-infamous Starbucks red cup is an issue at all. How have we become so blinded by such inconsequential issues? Where is the lengthy discussion on Syria, Veteran Care, rising inflation?

The red cup movement is trivial in comparison to “real” issues. It’s even trivial in comparison to the fact that Starbucks charges five dollars for a single cup of coffee. If there is ever a movement against Starbucks’ prices, I will surely be included. Until then, count me out of the debate because in the end, a Starbucks holiday cup–red or not–is still just a cup.