By Ruth Kramer ’18, News Editor
Many Country Day students are more than likely to make a small trip to their neighborhood Starbucks sometime within the next month. And when they visit their local Starbucks and order that grande peppermint mocha they have been dreaming about for the past few months, they will notice something different. Starbucks’s annual “red cup” is just plain red. Snowmen, words of joy, even cute reindeer cease to be found anywhere on this year’s “red cup.” No, this year, the cup at Starbucks is a bright red that fades into a cranberry color. Now, this should not be that big a deal, right? After all, it is just a cup. But, unfortunately, one or two people had to take this cup’s design (or lack thereof) the wrong way and claim that Starbucks has made an attack on Christmas.
Now, it is easy to see right away why some Christians might be slightly upset as to why there are no “Christmas-y” designs on this year’s red cup. After more than five years of holiday doodles, it is expected that there will be some sort of Christmas theme. But, upon further research, you will find that Starbucks is not and never has been a religious company and therefore should not feel pressured to put “Christmas” designs on their cups. Also, if you look back at red cups from recent years, not once will you find the words “Merry Christmas” or pictures of the Virgin Mary or baby Jesus in a manger. Simply, there were never any religious designs on the cups, so why are people getting so upset about the absence of snowflakes on the sides of their chai lattes?
For most Christians, this “Red Cup Controversy” is actually a big waste of time and carries no meaning. Several Christians completely side with Starbucks on this one, claiming that it is not the cup that makes Christmas and that we should not rely on companies to announce Christmas for us. If being a Christian and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas (the birth of Jesus Christ) is important to you, then who cares if Starbucks’s annual red cup has snowmen or not?
Though the Starbucks controversy seems to be under control now, it provided the spark for the annual “War on Christmas” debate a little earlier than usual. All you have to do is google “War on Christmas” and thousands of articles about banned Nativity scenes and restricted usage of the words “Merry Christmas” pop up instantly. All of these articles, all of these news reports on TV, all of these billboard ads, they make you stop and think, why is there a war on Christmas in the first place?
The War on Christmas is fought between non-Christians and Christians all over America. It infuriates some atheists that a nativity scene is in a public school play, while it agitates some Christians that the atheists have petitioned to remove it. Put in simplest terms, the War on Christmas is also a war about freedom of speech and religion, as well as the lengths one is willing to go for their beliefs. In recent years, the War on Christmas has become rather heated. This extends to officially changing the holiday to “Xmas” and removing Christ all together. There are petitions on Facebook and other websites that people can visit to try and actually take Christ out of Christmas. If you are not a Christian, this might not be that big a deal to you, but if your faith lies in Jesus Christ, than this is one of the most hurtful things a person can do. Christmas is defined as “the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ’s birth, held on December 25th.” Just imagine how it would feel if important pieces of your religion were forcibly taken from you by people who do not practice your faith.
So, this holiday season, whether you gather around a menorah, a tree, or a Starbucks latte, celebrate the holidays the way you want with whom you want. End the War on Christmas by celebrating your holiday, the one you believe in. But, when you see people of different religions in the streets, practicing what they believe, let them celebrate what they believe in as well—keep the peace on earth and goodwill toward men.
Sources:
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=what+does+Christmas+mean
http://www.vox.com/2015/11/10/9707034/starbucks-red-cup-controversy
Image Source:
http://www.today.com/money/war-christmas-starbucks-holiday-cups-causing-stir-t54686
