War on Christmas: Starbucks Edition (1 Viewer)

[Politician Spock]

I guess where I struggle is Retail America riding the coat tails of Christmas

Christians rode the coat tails of the pagan holidays during winter solstice that pagans celebrated. That's why so much decor and tradition that christians do during Christmas can be traced back to pagan roots.

If you don't believe me, take it from Pat Robertson. The last 45 seconds is the best part. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FvT2wzKTmo

 

[RBM]

It's funny how mad the Christmas nerds get. They're even worse than the oversensitive PC nerds. Worth it for that alone IMO. If I owned Kmart or some bit chain I would issue a memo saying we should eliminate Christmas trees and Santa so we don't offend anyone. Only to see a lot of stupid people lose their ####.

No you wouldn't.

 

[Amused to Death]

This editorial was in my local paper today. Thought it was worth a read.

The phony ‘War on Christmas’ is back, fueled by those alleged Jesus haters at Starbucks
By Petula Dvorak Columnist November 10 at 9:30 AM

Like everything connected to Christmas, this year’s “War on Christmas” freakout has arrived early. And it has taken the form of a red Starbucks cup.

Never mind that stores across America are already playing Christmas carols.

Forget that Wal-Mart started its holiday layaway plan in August, and Target rolled out the Christmas trees alongside Halloween decorations in September.

And let’s pretend that radio stations across the country aren’t getting angry calls about Mariah Carey’s Christmas list hitting the airwaves the first week of October.

Nope. The Christmas crusaders are certain that the War on Christmas is on yet again.

It’s totally obvious because Starbucks is serving pumpkin spice lattes and caramel macchiatos in plain red cups this holiday season. (Oops. Did I say “holiday”?)

Starbucks won’t feature tree ornaments or snowflakes or reindeer like it did on its old winter cups. Because those totally said birth of Jesus, right?

This year’s design is a simple red ombre that goes from poppy on top to cranberry on the bottom.

So without pictures of snowmen or a nutcracker or wreaths, Starbucks must hate Jesus, and some evangelical Christians joined in an online assault on the coffee goliath this week.

The devout went wild. One after another, folks declared on Facebook and other social media that they’ve had their last nonfat vanilla latte.

One pastor urged caffeinators who didn’t want to boycott Starbucks to tell baristas that their names are “Merry Christmas” when they order their drinks, forcing them to write it (probably “Mary Krysmus”) on their cups.

And when the caramel macchiato is ready? They HAVE to say “Merry Christmas!” Ha! Double gotcha. Take that, “Happy Holidays” subversives across the land.

On Monday evening, even Republican presidential contender Donald Trump waded into the dust-up Monday night, suggesting a Starbucks boycott to a crowd in Springfield, Ill., and promising, “If I become president, we’re all going to be saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again. That I can tell you.”

This? This is what Christmas is all about?

I’m willing to concede that there is a war on Christmas. The real Christmas.

If Christmas is about honoring the birth of an impoverished child to a homeless couple who must eventually flee a tyrant to keep their baby safe, then, yes, there is a war on Christmas.

If Christmas is about peace, joy, generosity, thankfulness and goodwill among people, then yes, there is a war on Christmas.

But this Starbucks frenzy is a faux war on a faux Christmas.

In a country where 15 million children sometimes don’t have enough to eat, how could any real Christian conclude that the color of coffee cups deserves their outrage? Only in honor of the faux Christmas.

In a nation where 22 percent of our children live in poverty, why would any churchgoer care about a local shopping mall’s decision to go with “glacier” themed decorations this winter instead of red/green/Santa/trees? Only in honor of the faux Christmas.

Across the globe, children are walking hundreds of miles to escape unspeakable violence, and red cups are supposed to command our attention and advocacy? Only in honor of the faux Christmas.

The trappings of this country’s corporate Christmas are being shoved down our throats earlier every year. Faux Christmas creep is real. How about if we declare a war on that Christmas?

Instead, American consumers are gobbling it up. The National Retail Federation says that more than 40 percent of Americans begin their holiday shopping before Halloween.

Thanksgiving? What Thanksgiving?

The retailers have figured out how to deal with all the anti-Black Friday campaigns. Don’t want to storm the stores the day after Thanksgiving? Fine, do it the day after Halloween!

Until Americans spend about $630 billion on cranberry sauce (that’s what consumers dropped on holiday shopping last year), the earnest #respectthebird campaigns have no shot at success.

The real question isn’t whether there’s a war on Christmas. It’s which war we ought to be waging in the name of Christmas.

I’ll have a Venti red-eye, please. The name is Petula. And hold the carols, please.

 

[SproutDaddy]

Anyone care to explain to me how a snowflake means Christmas/Jesus?? A snowflake means winter time. And just when you think Trump has hit a new level of craziness, he goes crazier calling for boycott of Starbucks. I say we boycott his businesses..

Yet, there were probably people crazy enough to be offended by those snowflakes because in their deranged mind it was a nod to Christmas.

Works both ways.

Care to reference any credibility with this statement. I'm of the opinion people create this crap out of thin air to instigate bull#### and solidify some sort of social status. See that moron Josh Fuerstein. I'm pretty sure you're one of those offended by teaching children of some other religion than Christianity. Yet, the constitution gives everyone the freedom to choose what they want to believe in.

 

[comfortably numb]

2 girls 1 Starbucks red cup?

Now that would offend me

 

[SproutDaddy]

This is grand.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JHxXgV5caGk"frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[belljr]

Kevin James is outraged?

 

[SproutDaddy]

Kevin James is outraged?

It's like Kevin James and Fred Durst had a baby.

 

[Otis]

OMG THEY TOOK JESUS OFF THE CUP IM NOT DRINKING THEIR COFFEE ANYMORE!!!!11111

 

[RBM]

Anyone care to explain to me how a snowflake means Christmas/Jesus?? A snowflake means winter time. And just when you think Trump has hit a new level of craziness, he goes crazier calling for boycott of Starbucks. I say we boycott his businesses..

Yet, there were probably people crazy enough to be offended by those snowflakes because in their deranged mind it was a nod to Christmas.

Works both ways.

Care to reference any credibility with this statement. I'm of the opinion people create this crap out of thin air to instigate bull#### and solidify some sort of social status. See that moron Josh Fuerstein. I'm pretty sure you're one of those offended by teaching children of some other religion than Christianity. Yet, the constitution gives everyone the freedom to choose what they want to believe in.

WTF are you babbling about you buffoon. I'm not offended by anything but I know being offended is very hot right now. For everyone, not just Christians.

 

[SproutDaddy]

Anyone care to explain to me how a snowflake means Christmas/Jesus?? A snowflake means winter time. And just when you think Trump has hit a new level of craziness, he goes crazier calling for boycott of Starbucks. I say we boycott his businesses..

Yet, there were probably people crazy enough to be offended by those snowflakes because in their deranged mind it was a nod to Christmas.

Works both ways.

Care to reference any credibility with this statement. I'm of the opinion people create this crap out of thin air to instigate bull#### and solidify some sort of social status. See that moron Josh Fuerstein. I'm pretty sure you're one of those offended by teaching children of some other religion than Christianity. Yet, the constitution gives everyone the freedom to choose what they want to believe in.

WTF are you babbling about you buffoon. I'm not offended by anything but I know being offended is very hot right now. For everyone, not just Christians.

You call me a buffoon, yet you still live in the 50s. That's rich.

 

[RBM]

Anyone care to explain to me how a snowflake means Christmas/Jesus?? A snowflake means winter time. And just when you think Trump has hit a new level of craziness, he goes crazier calling for boycott of Starbucks. I say we boycott his businesses..

Yet, there were probably people crazy enough to be offended by those snowflakes because in their deranged mind it was a nod to Christmas.Works both ways.

Care to reference any credibility with this statement. I'm of the opinion people create this crap out of thin air to instigate bull#### and solidify some sort of social status. See that moron Josh Fuerstein. I'm pretty sure you're one of those offended by teaching children of some other religion than Christianity. Yet, the constitution gives everyone the freedom to choose what they want to believe in.

WTF are you babbling about you buffoon. I'm not offended by anything but I know being offended is very hot right now. For everyone, not just Christians.

You call me a buffoon, yet you still live in the 50s. That's rich.

50s?? Go to bed, you're a mess.

 

[Politician Spock]

OMG THEY TOOK JESUS OFF THE CUP IM NOT DRINKING THEIR COFFEE ANYMORE!!!!11111

For God so loved the world that he gave us his Son's image on Starbuck cups, that whoever drinks from one shall not go empty but have eternal refills.

 

[Cyclones]

Jesus is the dude who brings us free shat on Xmas morning right? I'm a bit rusty on my holiday characters.

 

[CurlyNight]

Can you just feel me looking at you through your computer/smartphone screen, my eyes dripping with irony?? Because, I am. OMG. Seriously??

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/bristol-palin-starbucks-cups-are-an-attempt-by-the-left-to-make-christians-look-stupid

 

[bakes]

Anyone care to explain to me how a snowflake means Christmas/Jesus?? A snowflake means winter time. And just when you think Trump has hit a new level of craziness, he goes crazier calling for boycott of Starbucks. I say we boycott his businesses..

Yet, there were probably people crazy enough to be offended by those snowflakes because in their deranged mind it was a nod to Christmas.Works both ways.

Care to reference any credibility with this statement. I'm of the opinion people create this crap out of thin air to instigate bull#### and solidify some sort of social status. See that moron Josh Fuerstein. I'm pretty sure you're one of those offended by teaching children of some other religion than Christianity. Yet, the constitution gives everyone the freedom to choose what they want to believe in.

WTF are you babbling about you buffoon. I'm not offended by anything but I know being offended is very hot right now. For everyone, not just Christians.

You call me a buffoon, yet you still live in the 50s. That's rich.

Actually, he lives at 704 Hauser St.

 

[bakes]

Can you just feel me looking at you through your computer/smartphone screen, my eyes dripping with irony?? Because, I am. OMG. Seriously??

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/bristol-palin-starbucks-cups-are-an-attempt-by-the-left-to-make-christians-look-stupid

Apparently, it worked on one Christian at least

 

[Politician Spock]

Can you just feel me looking at you through your computer/smartphone screen, my eyes dripping with irony?? Because, I am. OMG. Seriously??

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/bristol-palin-starbucks-cups-are-an-attempt-by-the-left-to-make-christians-look-stupid

So Christians should play the victim card over a scheme that was intended to make them look stupid because they so easily play the victim card.

Well played, Palin. Well played.

 

[bakes]

Can you just feel me looking at you through your computer/smartphone screen, my eyes dripping with irony?? Because, I am. OMG. Seriously??

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/bristol-palin-starbucks-cups-are-an-attempt-by-the-left-to-make-christians-look-stupid

So Christians should play the victim card over a scheme that was intended to make them look stupid because they so easily play the victim card.

Well played, Palin. Well played.

I particularly liked her last paragraph, where she wants conservative Christians to use this supposed left wing media attack as a reason to act in the way that the Bible tells Christians to act all the time. Why not just act that way? Why the indignant victimization?

 

[Bogart]

The guy out in front of all of this, Joshua Fererstein, is a real work of art.

When I read that the latest persecution of the rightwing Christian involved Starbucks changing their cups to red for the holiday season, I thought that the War on Christmas had officially hit rock bottom.

The MSM jumped all over the story about a video from a "pastor" saying the red cups Starbucks is using for the holiday season aren't Christmas enough and that Starbucks literally "hates Jesus". Video goes viral and rightwing is outraged. This whole thing is beyond stupid, even for them.

Are you guys REALLY upset over the color of a cardboard cup? If the color red upsets you so much, wouldn't you logically be more upset with every other franchise out there that isn't even bothering to change their damn cup color for the holidays? Ya know, because it’s freaking expensive and stupid!? Besides, all of the past Starbucks holiday cup designs have been pretty darn secular—so why are you pissed now?

It wasn’t until I finally read one of the articles that I came across the name of the man who spawned this latest freak-out: Joshua Feuerstein. In none of the countless articles does the MSM bother to discuss who this clown is. So allow me:

Joshua Feuerstein is a self-described evangelist and "social-media personality". I recognized his name because he is the same ###### who harassed one of my local bakeries (and illegally recorded the phone call) because they refused to fill a fake order for an anti-gay cake. His followers bombarded their Facebook site with Ben Carson-like yarns of their supposed "bad experiences" with the bakery. Astoundingly, all of these reviews happened immediately after the date Joshua posted his hate-filled video. The bakery had to temporarily close in response to the harassment, which included death threats.

In response, I asked people in this community to fight back. You did. The bakery raised needed cash to offset their losses, got a lot of Likes on their Facebook page to offset Joshua’s minions, and a boatload of new customers. (The owner also made this 5-tier delicious smack down.)

As despicable as this guy was, I took him at his word that he was just a preacher with an obvious persecution complex. However, I have since learned that Feuerstein is much worse than that: he's a con artist.

First off, he is an entitled brat who apparently lives quite well sponging off of his mega-rich parents. Yet he is not above e-begging his duped followers to raise money for a $20,000 camera that he claimed he absolutely had to have to make YouTube videos. His followers, unable to think of anything better to donate to, gladly gave him the money and Joshua utterly ****** thanked them. Yet all of his videos since he has raised the funds, from the bakery harassment video to his latest red cup diatribe, have been shot on a cellphone. Peoplerightfully asked where the camera was that he promised to buy. He was even confronted directly and admitted he didn't buy it after all. Meanwhile, his social media is filled with pictures of outrageously expensive shoes, jewlery and watches. I mean VERY ExpensiveWatches.

On his site, you can buy T-shirts, DVDs, books, and even become a monthly "partner" where he asks that you give him 50 dollars a month so he can supposedly stop people from committing suicide. I have no idea what kind of suicide prevention requires a monthly installment plan, but then again, I'm not a con-man.

None of the articles I’ve seen mention any of this, but instead take his nonsensical rant at face value and allow him a ton of exposure as some sort of representative of the discord among Christians today. It is not real. I don’t buy for a second that a man like him was driven bonkers over a stupid red cup. What he saw was an opportunity to gin up the faux outrage machine and grow his pool of poor suckers, while the media obliged without the slightest insight into his past.

I get very sick of the media’s complicity. In my own neighborhood last year, news channels swarmed at Carillon Elementary where a child was supposedly told she was not allowed to pray. Most of the media reported it breathlessly as such. The man who “broke the story” was Todd Starnes. No one witnessed the incident. The man who’s child this happened to? Marcos Perez, who was in charge of promoting Todd Starnes’ latest book that coincidentally was on the imaginary assault on Christianity.

To be sure, there is a very real threat to Christianity. Yet it is not atheists, homosexuals, Muslims, or even red paper cups that threaten Christianity.

It is shysters.

People with no soul who prey on Christian followers and rob them financially and spiritually not only hurt their flock, but give all religion a bad name by making it unpalatable for so many who see things like this and equate those seeking strength through faith as paranoid and stupid.

Want to know why religion is on the decline, Joshua? Look in the mirror with your tacky clothes and gaudy home. No man of faith would ever want to face the afterlife after scamming susceptible followers in Jesus’ name. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be in your shoes, and not just because they are so damn ugly.

 

[El Floppo]

Anyone care to explain to me how a snowflake means Christmas/Jesus?? A snowflake means winter time. And just when you think Trump has hit a new level of craziness, he goes crazier calling for boycott of Starbucks. I say we boycott his businesses..

Yet, there were probably people crazy enough to be offended by those snowflakes because in their deranged mind it was a nod to Christmas.Works both ways.

Care to reference any credibility with this statement. I'm of the opinion people create this crap out of thin air to instigate bull#### and solidify some sort of social status. See that moron Josh Fuerstein. I'm pretty sure you're one of those offended by teaching children of some other religion than Christianity. Yet, the constitution gives everyone the freedom to choose what they want to believe in.

WTF are you babbling about you buffoon. I'm not offended by anything but I know being offended is very hot right now. For everyone, not just Christians.

You call me a buffoon, yet you still live in the 50s. That's rich.

50s?? Go to bed, you're a mess.

this kind of exchange is what makes the FFA so great.

one guy completely misreads the other- and then when confronted nastily, ups the ante and either continues to misread the other's OP or is just.. dunno.. a buffoon.

wait... this isn't what makes the FFA so great. scratch that.

 

[AnonymousBob]

I wish Starbucks would put a picture of a bloodied Jesus on all their cups.

 

[Fennis]

I wish Starbucks would put a picture of a bloodied Jesus on all their cups.

How about this?

https://i.imgur.com/C9MKv0e.jpg

 

[ditka311]

The real travesty, IMO, is that they only gave an incredible Thanksgiving Blend a few weeks before replacing it with Christmas Blend. Christmas Blend is very good but Thanksgiving Blend deserves at least until...ummmm, Thanksgiving, to be on the menu.

 

[CowboysFromHell]

I wish Starbucks would put a picture of a bloodied Jesus on all their cups.

Would you like to add a shot of holy water to your latte, sir? How about a sprinkle of communion host on top?

 

[James Daulton]

Starbucks coffee sucks.

 

[Amused to Death]

Well its about time someone did something about it.

H.Res.564 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for use by those who celebrate Christmas.

 

[NutterButter]

minimalist red cups