Image via Starbucks
In a time of divisiveness in our world, we could all use some small reminders of our shared humanity.
Seattle-based coffee chain Starbucks released limited edition green cups Tuesday that show a drawing of more than 100 unique people, all drawn in one continuous stroke. These cups act as a “symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other”, as stated by CEO Howard Schultz. The people in the drawing are diverse in occupation, dress, and cultural markers.
The response to the well-intentioned cups was anything but unified.
Immediately after the release of these cups many were up in arms thinking that this design was Starbucks’ annual holiday cup, which has been released around this time in past years to celebrate the multitude of winter holidays celebrated by millions around the world. Emulating last year’s uproar, many complained that the cup did not highlight Christian values like it should have.
As a quick reaction to this immediate backlash, Starbucks announced that the signature red holiday cups will be released on November 10th, and that the green cups were simply meant to inspire unity in a time of clear divide. (Look at any article about this year’s United States presidential election. You will know exactly what they mean).
Of course, this still wasn’t enough for many. The few of us who are willing to let a coffee chain determine our political affiliation were quite upset at the fact that Starbucks was using the cups as a means of “political brainwashing”. Somehow people were also able to connect these vessels for caffeine to the promotion of Islam (because of course these people always think Islam is terrible).
@Starbucks Screw you. My coffee should NOT (and does NOT) come with political brainwashing. I dropped @Starbucks like a hot rock.
— #GoCubsGo (@RadioAnna) November 1, 2016
Though it is easy for us to look at this situation as just plain absurd, it clearly shows the rampant Islamophobia in the United States. If people can think that a cup somehow attacks Christianity by promoting Islam, then there is something systemically wrong with how people look at religion and political systems in the United States.
And if Starbucks is promoting a “liberal agenda” through their call for unity, then there is only one thing to do: drink up.
