The War on Christmas Thread

[DownhillGoat]

http://www.snopes.com/starbucks-red-christmas-cups/

[GGG]

Originally Posted by blankall

Tradition with religious roots. And it depends on how you define "religious". Some people would argue that it requires a belief in a higher power. Others would say merely taking part in the ceremony is enough. Religion is after all just a belief system with an associated set of ceremonies.

Basically, religion is not just about beliefs, it's also about customs. Atheists can chose to practice whatever customs they see fit. However, my response was directed at a post that said all people should have to practice Christmas, as it was no longer a religious holiday. That is false. Even the name "Christ mass" is religious in nature. It might not matter to an atheist, but to someone who practices a different religion, it does.

Once again, I could care less about the colour of Starbucks cups, but this was in reply to a poster stating everyone should practice Christmas.

If it's a set of beliefs and a ceremony then we are back to Canada Day being a religious ceremony. My point is that no should water down the cultural celebration with happy holidays because if that offends people or you are concerned about offending people you should also treat Halloween and Canada Day in the same manner.

[Matata]

Originally Posted by Drak

Meh. I'm all for changing it back to Winter Solstice.

Damn straight, the only parts of Christmas that people actually like (feast, presents, tree, decoration, time of year) are all pagan in origin. Screw those Christian mofo's who tortured my ancestors into following their religion, all hail the sun god!

[Fuzz]

We put up a tree, a menorah and a festivus pole every year. Trying to decide what else to add.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

We put up a tree, a menorah and a festivus pole every year. Trying to decide what else to add.

Hope you made a Kwanzaa cake

[Fuzz]

That looks like work. I'm going for minimal effort, here. Needs to be reusable too, I'm trying to build a collection! Oh, I forgot we also have a Budha statue.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Not every person believes the same thing as you do. Suck it up and be a reasonable member of society.

LOL the irony of this post. If you say that to a minority you are branded as some sort of bigot.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Because they are slaves to corporate marketing and consumerism.

Or because it is fun.

The "War on Christmas" thing (I hate that term) doesn't offend me from a religious angle at all. I just find that politicizing it and dulling down the symbolism to not offend some groups of people just takes the fun out of it.

It is like celebrating the Chinese New Year without zodiac symbols because they might offend someone who doesn't like the shamanism and animism roots.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by WCW Nitro

I think the problem is that it seems to some that the company wants to go Christmasy as evidenced by the red cups, but is scared of going too far. I'm not Christian, but I can see their line of thinking.

That lies exactly the problem. Why is showing some Christmas symbols most of which bear no religious meaning and are pagan in origin "going too far"?

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

LOL the irony of this post. If you say that to a minority you are branded as some sort of bigot.

No, this only happens if your definition of "reasonable member of society" means "conform to my cultural expectations about things that really aren't an issue except in my mind."

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

LOL the irony of this post. If you say that to a minority you are branded as some sort of bigot.

I am not sure how telling people to be accepting of what other people believe is a bigoted stance. If someone is Jewish, let them be Jewish and do Jewish stuff. Don't expect them to be Christian or do Christian things.

If you read it as people are allowed to hate other people, then I guess that's your deal, but it's not what I intended in the context of this discussion.

[Drak]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

LOL the irony of this post. If you say that to a minority you are branded as some sort of bigot.

Irony? In the context of Rathji's post and this thread, there's a difference between telling people what they are not allowed to wear over being pissed off that your coffee cup doesn't have a snow flake on it.

[Timbo]

Heathens, the lot of you

[GirlySports]

but you have to question why they took the decorations off the cups.

either have the decorations or just have normal cups. just a red cup seems weird.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

but you have to question why they took the decorations off the cups.

either have the decorations or just have normal cups. just a red cup seems weird.

You actually don't have to question it. In fact questioning it is what led people to believe Starbucks is rounding up Christians and slaughtering them in the Coliseum.

The cups are red, which (along with green) is pretty well known for being associated with Christmas. The sleeves still have snowflakes on them, which apparently is now the international symbol for Christmas(?). As someone already mentioned, it's a freaking design issue. They're still bringing out a different cup design for the Holiday/Christmas/Whatever season which is hardly "firing a shot in the war on Christmas". If they were making a point they'd probably just keep the regular cups.

This is a result of people reading way too much into things and getting way too offended at nothing.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

This is a result of people reading way too much into things and getting way too offended at nothing.

Could you imagine Syrian refugees coming to Canada and reading about this "issue"? It's embarrassing.

[RougeUnderoos]

Starbucks isn't exactly known for kowtowing to interest groups. Anti-globalization, animal rights, employee rights, business practices, gentrification, anti-corporatism... the list goes on and on.

They pretty much just keep going, ignoring it all and raking in the dough.

But here they are, bowing down to the non-existent group of nobody that are offended by a snowflake on a coffee cup. So weird. I mean those people don't even exist, but the mighty Starbucks have knuckled under to their pressure!

On the other hand, this could be (I hope it is) a wicked troll job. "Hey, I'll bet you 5 bucks we can get some morons to cry 'religious persecution' if we come out with a red coffee cup this fall".

"I'll take that bet. Nobody's that effing stupid."

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

You actually don't have to question it. In fact questioning it is what led people to believe Starbucks is rounding up Christians and slaughtering them in the Coliseum.

The cups are red, which (along with green) is pretty well known for being associated with Christmas. The sleeves still have snowflakes on them, which apparently is now the international symbol for Christmas(?). As someone already mentioned, it's a freaking design issue. They're still bringing out a different cup design for the Holiday/Christmas/Whatever season which is hardly "firing a shot in the war on Christmas". If they were making a point they'd probably just keep the regular cups.

This is a result of people reading way too much into things and getting way too offended at nothing.

Sounds like Starbucks has people... seeing red

[Izzle]

I almost want them to come out with a cup that has sleigh bells, reindeers, snowflakes, etc and charge them 3 bucks more for their coffee. Would people dish out money for that???

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Starbucks isn't exactly known for kowtowing to interest groups. Anti-globalization, animal rights, employee rights, business practices, gentrification, anti-corporatism... the list goes on and on.

They pretty much just keep going, ignoring it all and raking in the dough.

But here they are, bowing down to the non-existent group of nobody that are offended by a snowflake on a coffee cup. So weird. I mean those people don't even exist, but the mighty Starbucks have knuckled under to their pressure!

On the other hand, this could be (I hope it is) a wicked troll job. "Hey, I'll bet you 5 bucks we can get some morons to cry 'religious persecution' if we come out with a red coffee cup this fall".

"I'll take that bet. Nobody's that effing stupid."

Is there anyone in this group? I don't think that's what happened. It was probably a design meeting discussing the christmas cups and some people were offering up the usual snowflakes and flying deer etc. They have done all that so they tried a new take, a minimalist colour design change. That is all, no bending to the will of people who hate to see snowflakes, no anti-religious sentiment.