Okay, I was a bit upset with their liberal leaning public service, but this has gone too far.
I am with the woman in the story. When I go in to Starbucks on Friday mornings for a cup of coffee I don't want religious debate, I just want a cup of coffee.
If Starbucks can't give me a cup of coffee free of anti-God sentiment I will have to take my business somewhere else. Besides who in their right mind wants debate with their morning coffee? Not me!
h/t to Karen Hall for the link.
Pax
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5 comments:
I work at Starbucks and I had never heard of this controversy until today. This morning, a man came into our store and, upon receiving his drink that he had already paid for, asked me to make sure there were no "anti-God" quotes on it. Since he had ordered an iced drink, there were no quotes at all, but I inquired further–not having heard this complaint before.
The man proceeded to say that Starbucks was "taking a beating" in the blogsphere for anti-God quotes on their cups. When I noted that the opinions were not that of Starbucks, he dismissed the disclaimer on the cup as irrelevant. When I further pressed that I doubted the quote was meant to be as offensive as he thought it was, he slammed his drink down on the counter, shouted at me, and stormed out with a verbal tirade.
Now, knowing that his actions were neither polite nor indicative of everyone sharing his concern, I felt shorted–not having had the opportunity to really find out what the big deal was.
Disclaimer aside, the offending quote, simply asks a question (or several). I won't quote it here, as I'm sure you know it.
My opinions are that of my own, and not of my employer. That being said, I think that, of all places, a coffeehouse (even if it is a major multi-national corporation) is the appropriate and historically-typical place for this type of debate. Starbucks holds diversity, respect and welcoming to be some of their primary goals. It seems to me that part of working toward those goals includes creating an environment that allows the coffee-house tradition of conversation, idea-exchange, and debate.
Further, I challenge the notion that the quote is anti-God at all–it was a question. Instead of taking offense that someone would dare challenge your point of view, perhaps you might consider offering an ANSWER to the question. If someone were to ask why people choose not to vote, or fall in love, or do any of the things that people do, the ideal response is not to take offense at the question.
If you think the question is leading, there is all the MORE motivation for you to answer that person's "Why?"
As for boycotting Starbucks, I certainly feel its your right to do so–though I think there are other ways to avoid having a "religious debate." Perhaps you (or anyone else who is offended) could simply bring your own mug. You'll even get a discount on your coffee!
I am simply standing up for my right to not be preached to in any manner with my morning coffee.
If I want debate I will find my own topic, I don't need a multi-national corporation to "help" me find a suitable topic for debate.
I have since found a local coffee shop in town that has a comment free cup of equally good coffee where I can go for my morning brew without having to be told what I should be debating.
I actually prefer it.
I should have been going here long ago.
As I said, it IS your right to go somewhere else. You still have failed to address my point or justify what I feel to be an overblown and, pardon me, an immature response to a coffee cup and a question.
As someone who just earned his MA, this is hardly the type of attitude I would expect from someone else doing the same.
I give you your right to think the way you wish. Please extend the same right to me.
I said I didn't want to get in a debate, isn't that clear enough for you?
I have moved on, please do the same.
I can see that you don't want a debate...you just want to complain. Perhaps I might suggest that you refrain from making issues public when you don't want to debate them? This is the Internet, not a journal on your bedside table.
Moving on now...
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