Starbucks to Serve Up God With a Cappucino-Religious Message On Mugs

[callady]

Starbucks to serve up God with a skinny cappuccino

Gary Younge in New York
Saturday October 22, 2005
The Guardian


Coffee drinkers in the US could soon get Jesus with their morning jolt as Starbucks plans to put a religious message on its cups next spring.

The cups will carry a religious quote from the Rev Rick Warren, the author of the blockbuster self-help book The Purpose-Driven Life. Mr Warren said he had had the idea after seeing a quote on one of the store's cups on evolution by the paleontologist Louise Leakey.

His quote reads: "You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your real purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance and our destiny."

Starbucks has printed 63 quotes from writers, performers, academics and politicians on its cups over the past year as part of a campaign called The Way I See It. This is the first one that is explicitly religious. Last month a contractor for Baylor University, a Baptist institution in Texas, removed cups carrying a quote by the author Armistead Maupin saying: "My only regret about being gay is that I repressed it for so long ... life is too damn short."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1598086,00.html

[kikiek]

1. Well I won't be going there to get coffee then.

[maseman]

2. The end of my Starbucks days

I know in the grand scheme it is not much money for them, but I spend about $35 per week there, $140 per month, $1,700 per year. (Maybe I need to drink less coffee.)

But that will end immediately. Oh, double that with my wife. Their little sayings on their cups just cost the local Starbucks $3,400 next year.

[kikiek]

5. Caribou is good...I will go there. Can't give up good coffee! Free Trade

of course!

[Zhade]

14. I've heard Dunkin' Donuts uses at least some fair trade coffee.

If so, good for them!

[goddess40]

118. but they donate solely to republicans

as does krispy kremes!

[Zhade]

162. My beloved Kripy Kreme? Republicans?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sob*

[Cha]

20. Definetly Free Trade!

starbucks isn't the only coffee shop in town, I hope.

I went to one, once.. in Canada.

[GrumpyGreg]

24. God almighty---until I actually saw the math I didn't realize how much

I spend on coffee.

Head in the sand,I guess.

I think I'll start brewing my own and take it with me.I'm far from rich and I'll be darned if I'm going to make the Starbucks crowd any richer than they are.

[Cha]

27. Yay!

Take a trip on the money you save!

[beam me up scottie]

32. Order your beans from a micro roaster.

They buy in small batches and roast to order and they usually prefer to buy from local family owned plantations.

You can order coffee from all three regions and have it roasted to your specifications and shipped out the next day.

Trust me, you won't regret it.

Fresh roasted coffee is the one luxury I allow myself, and at around $10 per pound, not a luxury at all.

[GrumpyGreg]

42. Thanks for the info---my daughter in law gave me a grinder and I have a

good coffee pot and my biggest problem is that I'm just too damned lazy.

[Maraya1969]

48. I used to fill the grinder up to the top and then grind very fine

That way I would have to use less and would only have to grind once per 2 pots. That was my lazy excuse. Lately I have been buying ground coffee but I'm sure I'll go back to beans when I get more energy. :)

Now I like buying espresso - the Spanish kind and use less of it. The finer grind the stronger the coffee.

It is almost 1AM here and I have a latte' in front of me. No wonder I have trouble sleeping.

[beam me up scottie]

54. I am an addict and proud of it.

Sleep?

Who needs sleep?

:evilgrin:

[Zhade]

59. Hey BMUS, check out my new sig.

:evilgrin:

[beam me up scottie]

61. I LOVE it!

It reminds me of someone...

Check us out at Neural Gourmet, MB's blog kicks butt.

[Zhade]

64. I was about to, but I forgot my password.

I'm at work, so I can't have it emailed until later.

I miss her being around. But, we'll leave that injustice aside for now. Don't want to get booted myself.

[beam me up scottie]

68. No sweat.

I'll message SH and have him send it to you.

[smirkymonkey]

128. I can drink an entire pot of caffeinated coffee and take a nap

right afterward.

[GrumpyGreg]

57. The best part of my trip to Spain was the coffee-thanks for the

reminder.

Teeny,weeny cups with a jolt !

[beam me up scottie]

58. You're welcome.

I grind my beans right before I make them, but you can grind a bunch at time and store them in an airtight container.

Or just order them from the roaster already ground-you can pick your grind from extra fine for French Presses to coarse for peculators.

[WhiteTara]

201. creating our own rituals makes life

more enriching. I love the ritual of grinding the beans and pouring water on the paper, then the coffee, watching it froth up, steaming such a bouquet of aromas. Ahh, the day begins. :smelling the coffee:

[kevinbgoode]

212. Seems to me that if the Baptists and other fundies

can throw a fit about an Armistead Maupin quote on a cup (and demand they be removed from stores). . .the rest of us should be able to throw a similar tantrum accusing Starbucks of proselytizing.

You know they did this specifically because of the wingnut's fits over Armistead Maupin's cup. . .one of 63 quotes used on cups. Now I'm supposed to go to public institutions where this store operates and get this cup instead?

This wouldn't be an issue except for one thing - the "religious" crowd never demanded that a religious author be represented TOO - they demanded the gay author's quote cups be REMOVED.

[Maraya1969]

41. I stopped buying coffee like that except for special occasions

I learned on oprah that it is one of the ways we throw away money needlessly. Now I make pots and if I want I put them in Thermoses or great big coffee mugs. I feel better about not paying $2.00 for a cup of coffee. Plus my coffee is just as good as Starbucks. Also I like the idea of not using paper and plastic.

[rodeodance]

120. it has to be very special for me. too expensive.

[jmowreader]

221. Do you make it from sewage?

Starbucks, contrary to popular belief, does not make a super fantastic, exceptional, yeah-this-is-worth-three-bucks cup of coffee. It's okay coffee. You can drink it. But it's not the most wonderful coffee that was ever brewed, and even they know it. The joe they serve at Bojangles in gallon cups for 99 cents is better than Starbucks' coffee. Starbucks is selling Atmosphere and Image--come in here and you can get the Authentic Italian Coffeehouse Experience Without Buying A Plane Ticket To Italy. This they do well.

I wonder how many fundies the Armistead Maupin cup turned gay...and last I checked, Starbucks employees are not allowed to collect points toward high-end kitchen appliances when they turn fundies gay via Armistead Maupin cups. I mean, what do they do--wait till the Fundie Detector mounted next to the register flashes red, then pull out an Armistead Maupin cup from under the counter, fill it with their half-ass coffee, sprinkle some Tee-Hee-Hee (the most dangerous drug in history, if you believe Gilbert Shelton's Fat Freddy's Cat--it turns you queer) on top of it and serve it up with a free Liza Minelli CD?

The only reason this is even an issue, as a previous poster commented, was that the fundamentalists demanded the Maupin cup be removed. I swear fundamentalists are their own worst enemies. This is what's gonna happen: I would imagine that a very large part of their customer base is liberal. Conservatives buy the cheapest coffee available, and Starbucks doesn't serve that. They're gonna put the Christian cup into their lineup as one of 65 "They Said It" cups to appease people who don't even go to their stores. The liberals who do go to their stores will either (1) stop going there or (2) look at their cups before leaving the counter and, if they get the Jesus cup, hand the cup back to the barista while telling her, "Could you put this in a non-offensive cup? I cannot enjoy my coffee with this statement on the cup." Starbucks is gonna have a huge pile of dirty Jesus cups to throw away if number (2) is chosen--not only will they have to pay to buy the cups no one will take, plus pay for the cups the coffee is poured into, but they'll pay a little extra for their garbage service and their baristas will have to work harder to scrape the whipped cream off the coffee, pour it out of the Jesus cups, then put new whipped cream on the coffee before serving it to the customer. (And remember, every time a barista has to stop what she's doing and change coffee out of a Jesus cup, she can't use that time to make coffee for another customer.) This will kill the whole They Said It campaign--the fundies (who only go to Starbucks when they're trying to get a girl to go to bed with them--tell me you haven't gone to a Starbucks and seen some guy working his way into his date's panties) won't go there because there's a 1-in-64 (now 1-in-65) chance their coffee will turn them gay, and we won't go there because there's a 1-in-65 chance we'll get the results of Starbucks' kowtowing to people who don't go there in the first place.

What I'd REALLY like to see Starbucks do is put a cup washer in their stores and put a dollar upcharge on their coffee if you get it in a disposable cup.

[sarcasmo]

126. Nominated because this Religious Theocracy must be STOPPED

[bmbmd]

179. That is your perogative.

I, on the other hand, will now go out of my way to shop at Starbucks. That's what is great about living in America.

[ovidsen]

199. Hear, hear!

Personally I think Starbucks serves decent coffee at outrageous prices. As for the message on the cup? What's wrong with a little feel-good Christianity? I'm far more upset at that Texas college for banning Starbucks cups with messages that treat gays with respect. That school will never get a penny from me.

I don't go to church, and I rarely pray. In general, I'm not fond of organized religion. But I think anyone who thinks this is a major issue worthy of an economic boycott has far too much free time on their hands.

How 'bout a cup of Starbucks coffee? My treat. I'm celebrating my 700th post!:party:

[ldf]

209. i, too, will now go out of my way to go to starbucks

and if my coffee comes in a cup with that crap on it they will pour it into another cup.

then they'll have to throw the first one away.

[TommyO]

228. For one quote out of 63?

Talk about over-reacting!

[NVMojo]

92. if I can't get a non-christian cup then I won't be going there either ...

[mikelgb]

211. that makes you

just as ridiculous as the guy who wouldn't use the cup that said gay on it. There is nothing wrong with free speech even if it has the word *gasp* "God" in it.

On edit: does anybody even read the post before opining on the headline?

[Brooklyn Michael]

222. Yeah!....Hey, wait....

I already don't go to Starbucks because....

A) they're a mammoth corporate entity that doesn't need my money while they put smaller, better coffee shops out of business, and...

B) their coffee tastes like fresh-roasted ASS.

[Mad_Dem_X]

224. LOL - I don't go there either

Never have...no particular reason, but now I definitely won't.

Edited for spelling

[Carolab]

3. Hey, Starbucks, wake up and smell the BOYCOTT!!! n/t

[SammyBlue]

4. Another reason I don't go to Starbucks.

I get Jesus on my coffee, the waiter's getting coffee on their dumbass, stupid looking uniform.

[pokercat999]

115. I'm sure you're joking of course.

[Centered]

198. Why is it the waiter's fault?

I see no reason to assault the waiter (who is probably a fellow Dem.)

Please say you didn't mean that. Besides the Bible is a great book, War, Sex, Betrayal, Sex, Death, Sex... if the religous uber-nuts actually read the book they would be the first to ban it from schools and burn it.

[Taxloss]

6. Hooray for Theocracy!

Hey Rick - I've got a purpose that isn't limited to self interest and I don't believe in your God. Fuck off.

[QC]

117. Theocracy?

Is Starbucks the government now?

[liberal43110]

131. Of course not

No, but the Christian fundamentalists have spread the lie that Christians in the U.S. are persecuted and discriminated against. They have used threats, intimidations, and the courts (packed with conservatives) to impose Christianity on the country. Companies like Starbucks are not the government, but they are cowed by the religious right, which wants to institute a theocracy.

[noonwitch]

219. Nobody is intimidating Starbucks, they are just looking for christianbucks

Starbucks probably figures it can make more money by appealing to christians.

True christians of any stripe should be offended that a company is using their beliefs to try to make an extra profit, although I'm sure that the author of " The Purpose Driven Life" isn't complaining.

[msongs]

7. which god does this quote mean?

god of the ancient jews, the mormons, the catholics, the southern baptists, the south seas cargo cult, the hindus, buddhists (if they have a god), the god of ....?

how about thor, zeus, the turtle with the world on its back?

the corporate greed god of the bushco and his dems followers?

my the list is endless.

Msongs
www.msongs.com

[rodeodance]

121. or Gia

[stepnw1f]

8. LOL... Starbucks Gives Money to Dems

It's fine with me.

[Zhade]

12. Yeah, insulting atheists and agnostics and Buddhists and Shintoists and..

That's nothing! Teaching people to think they're less worthy because they have no god? No problem!

Dems can be bigots, too, you know. We had a whole bunch way back, called the Dixiecrats, remember?

(Not that I'm saying Starbucks can't do this. It can. They have the right. But I'll obviously encourage people I know not to drink their high-calorie drinks anymore. That's MY right.)

[stepnw1f]

34. Good Point Zhade

I totally abandoned the idea that all other religions were dismissed, while one was promoted.

[Maraya1969]

45. Yea and what about us who believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

I think a nice quote about his noodly appendage wrapping comfortably around our shoulders would be appropriate.

[Lubernaut]

46. Doesn't bother me either.

The Righties are upset too because Starbucks is also quoting a gay author on one of their cups.

[DesertRat]

49. Fine with me too n/t

[Voltaire99]

106. That's part of the problem.

If your "LOL" comes so cheaply, we can begin to measure how corruptive are political contributions.

FYI, Chuckles: we don't need labor and farmer exploiting corporations buying this party.

[northzax]

145. labour exploiting?

um, you do know, right, that Starbucks pays above minimum wage, and that you only need to work 20 hours a week to qualify for health insurance with very low premiums? find me a coffee shop that offers those kind of benefits and wages, Starbucks, for all it's faults, treats its employees well.

[Zhade]

165. You realize the poster is referring to non-American workers, right?

Like, those who pick the beans Starbucks uses, and manufacture the cups, and so on?

[northzax]

173. it can be hard to tell

with all the ritualized, knee jerk starbucks bashing that goes on around here.

[drfresh]

184. self-delete -nt

...

[Liberal Veteran]

9. Darn, I was hoping for "Jesus loves you. Everyone else thinks you're...

...an asshole." cups.

[msongs]

10. lol nt

[Evergreen Emerald]

144. hahahaha

Now that's what I'd like to see too.

[Zhade]

11. Hey Rev? Fuck you.

I have an AWESOME life without any god mucking it up, thankyouverymuchmrselfrighteousprick!

[Canuckistanian]

13. This is so obvious...

This is appeasement for the sin of putting supposedly pro-homosexual messages on their cups.

What a sleazebag company.

[Cha]

21. God, I didn't even think of

that. I wondered why the hell they would start that up.

[ThumperDumper]

28. That was the first thing...

I thought too.

Jewish cups next?
Muslum cups?

.

[Kailassa]

38. And cups to celebrate the buxom twin goddess, Bra.

[fortyfeetunder]

142. If Starbucks really wanted to make a statement

Then they should have featured religions of all faiths, yeah, I say, lets include the Wiccans, etc. on those cups. (The beauty of diversity).

Corporate America should cease from pandering to the Christian zealots, its almost like we have our own Taliban...

[October]

29. Yup. They're weaker than their coffee. /eom

[Ken Burch]

238. How about this? appease Christians AND Gays

by reprinting sermons from the Metropolitan Community Church on those cups?

Then, after everyone in the Starbucks finishes their coffee, they all stand up and sing "Love Will Keep Us Together"?

C'mon, it could work...

[fshrink]

15. Just like in the good old USSR

Get ideology and vodka as a bonus. Used to be get a bourbon and capitalistic ideology as bonus. Funny as things have turned around.

[susanna]

16. Hmmmm....

I think that they chose Rev Rick Warren because he is quite reticent about revealing his political leanings, or at least that is the way I see it. He does not appear to be a super-fundie at all, at least to me. (I saw him on Dateline or some such, and they asked him pointedly about politics. His answer was clear: "that is not my domain." Very different MO from the rest of the fundie pack, IMHO.)

Methinks Starbucks chose him because he does not yet have a negative connotation as a faith-based huckster. Had they chose Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell, well, that would just be suicide...

In the end, I don't know what to make of this. It sure is interesting.

[Gregorian]

17. That's highly offensive. And I believe in god!

I'd like to know what the purpose is.
Why? Like we're not divided enough without that?
Who cares?
I believe, but I don't shove it down people's throats.

[NoodleyAppendage]

18. "You were made by God and for God..." utter christofascist bullsh*t

So, we are supposed to be "uplifted" by a message that essentially states that our existence is one of playthings for some mythical being??

Translation - "Zardoz"

B

[Joseph Christ]

19. If you really cared about small business....

...you wouldn't be going to starbucks anyway. And this is not even taking into account that their coffee is the liquid equivalent of the food at McDonalds.

[Isere]

22. Uh, oh!

Starbucks gives its 100% of its political contributions to the Democratic Party so we need to keep this in mind.

Nevertheless, I will refrain from buying any coffee in a cup with a religious message on it. There is always Peets!

[schrodingers_cat]

216. Yay Peets!!! Yummy good, asskick strong, no proselytizing!!! (n/t)

[StuckinKS]

23. A few months ago,

a female hostage in Georgia touted Warren's book as her inspiration for getting the murderer holding her to turn himself in. Later, we find out that it was actually her offer to share her crystal meth stash with him that did the trick.

I don't think that scenario will make a good comment for a venti latte.

[Joseph Christ]

25. haha.

This made me smile. Thank you.

[Maraya1969]

50. "Make sure your first aid kit contains some Crystal Meth" You never

know when you are going to need it.

[daleo]

72. Is this for real?

I do recall the hoopla about the book. I hadn't heard any meth angle.

[beam me up scottie]

75. Yep. From CNN:

Smith gave alleged courthouse shooter drugs
Details revealed in new book

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Ashley Smith, the woman who says she persuaded suspected courthouse gunman Brian Nichols to release her by talking about her faith in God, discloses in a new book that she gave him methamphetamine during the hostage ordeal.

Smith did not share that detail with authorities after she talked her way out of captivity.

In her book, "Unlikely Angel," released Tuesday, the 27-year-old Smith says Nichols had her bound on her bed with masking tape and an extension cord. She says he asked for marijuana, but she did not have any, so she dug into her illegal stash of crystal meth instead.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/books/09/27/courthousehostage.book.ap/

Don't you just love it?

[daleo]

154. Well, I am gobsmacked, as the British say

This is just too much, even for a cynic like myself. She will fit in well with all the other religious hypocrites out there.

[liberal43110]

132. True?

Is that true, or are you joking?

:hippie:

[daleo]

155. Check the CNN link upthread.

It is true and amazing.

[Straight Shooter]

26. How does this square with the Starbucks logo?

The goddess of the sea or whatever that fascinating creature is.

Someone needs to remind Ranger Rick Warren that Jesus didn't drink coffee. Now if Warren wants to expand into the olive oil business ....

[mondo joe]

30. I'll buy Starbucks as often as I do now, but I'll ask not to get the God

cup.

I am a bit conflicted - I don't like the quote. But I'd rather they include a lot more quotes from a lot more sources.

[Carolab]

39. Try Caribou instead. At least they're not doing this, which is sick.

Or buy organic grounds and make your own. It's cheaper (and better)...carry a thermos to work. This is what I do. Millstone makes a great one, Mayan Black Onyx. I'm addicted. Of course if you are buying lattes that's a different story. I hate lattes. What's the idea of ruining a great cup of joe with all that sugar and milk? Blech!

[mondo joe]

44. I prefer independents. But sometimes Starbucks is most convenient, and

I'll continue to use it.

I thought it was obnoxious of the fundys to get pissy about the gay cup, so I'm not about to do the same.

And though I like independent roasters better, Starbucks is among the best corporations so I don't mind buying a reliable coffee from them.

PS: I don't usually do lattes, but if I do it's always a double short which is a much better coffee/milk ratio. And never sugar.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

129. Looking to an American corporation for "courage"

is like looking to a tiger for "compassion." It's a non-sequitur. Corporations respond to market forces based upon a codified requirement to serve the stockholders the way a tiger responds to a need to hunt and kill. In each instance, it's what they do.

Some religious weirdos apparently wanted a weirdo quote. Starbucks, accordingly, obliged some sector of its consumer base.

The initial, visceral reaction to this is to lash out against yet another example of the theocratizing of American everyday life. Yet when we do so, do we not engage in the same bigotry that was evinced by the fundie hissy about the words of a gay man? Of course we do. Bigotry is bigotry, and unless we want to play the "Animal Farm" game, we can't pretend that all bigotry is equal, except for the fact that liberal bigotry is more equal than others.

If you go to Starbucks and get a cup w/ Mr. Warren's little blurb on it, I suggest you go your merry way, drink your java and throw the cup away. You were immunized against that fundies hooey in the first place. Now you've been "purpose driven" and kept it out of the hands of some impressionable kid or brain-dead Repiglican. Maybe the next cup will be the one with the quote from Louise Leakey or that Maupin fellow.

Let's leave the hissies to the Children of the Corn.

:banghead:

[Maraya1969]

52. They are in so many Barnes and Noble stores you would think

they would leave the quotes to famous writers not some religious guy who has gotten a following.

[Orangepeel]

160. he is a religious guy with a best selling book

:shrug:

I'm not at all offended by this. They have a wide variety of quotes by a wide variety of authors. This one, at least, while it doesn't square with my beliefs, isn't specific about what "God".

[mamalone]

111. Actually they do...

The cups have quotes from all sorts of authors about all sorts of things. This quote is just one of many...there was a furor a while back because some folks were "offended" by a quote by a gay author. Honestly I am glad to see they have this quote as it shows a reasonable diversity on their part.

[mondo joe]

116. I know - I mean I'd like even more. My only real gripe about this

quote is that it's so authoritative. I'd feel much better if it was someone expressing in some personal way their feeling about God rather than telling readers that they're shit without accepting god.

[mamalone]

189. I hear you there.......

btw..I love your sig quote:-) Was it Ghandi who said that?

[mondo joe]

194. Yup - Ghandi. Or was it Groucho? I always confuse them. :-)

[Kailassa]

31. To support Christianity now is to support the evil done in its name.

I'm one of those who believes that message, but I will not patronize any establishment that pushes it at people in that way. A belief is just that, a belief, and for anyone to push their belief at another is a sign of disrespect.

These days, I can no longer morally call myself a Christian, because so much evil is being done in the name of Christianity that by supporting it in any way, we are helping feed an evil genie that I'm afraid we will never get back into its bottle. It seems to me it's time to throw out the baby with the bathwater and start over.

A new evangelical church has sprung up very suddenly in Australia, Hillsong, teaching what we call "american christianity," the belief that if you are a good christian you will be rich. This same church is encouraging people to volunteer to work as missionaries to completely "virgin" tribes in South America. These tribes are on land wanted by American corporations, and they are enticed off the land and seduced into dependant poverty.

It's my belief that the CIA have been behind many of the mad cults that have come and gone. Having discovered for themselves that religion was the simplest tool for coercing people, they experimented with various types of religious manipulation to see which was the most effective. The ultimate test was whether they could persuade people to kill not only themselves, but even their children.

This is why the government is hand in hand with rabid christianity these days. They can use it to prevent people even learning to think, they can make people do terrible things and believe they will go to heaven for it. Not on a large scale yet, but they plan to seriously feed the Kool-aid to more and more people, until it works like immunizing the population, and the few left who can think for themselves will be lost amongst the moranic multitudes.

[mitchum]

33. Two hucksters in business together...one sells overpriced coffee...

and the other sells fairy tales. Seems a good match.

[PatriotGames]

231. I like that! LOL

[niyad]

35. quite apart from the ubiquitous starbucks, can we remember that this is

one quote out of about 60 or so--and that ANYBODY is free to send one in? if you don't like his, send in one of your own--might make it.

I was buying starbucks deliberately after that nonsense in houston about the maupin quote.

and, from other boards where I post, it is clear that many people were unaware of the quotes.

[Taxloss]

36. Caution: don't persecute the Christians.

They get awfully sensitive about that.

Shaping society to suit their beliefs, they're enthusiastic about that. Criticising this sort of idiocy apparently classifies as "persecution".

[Zhade]

56. Wait, someone actually called criticism of this persecution?

Please tell me you're not serious. No one can possibly be that petty and ignorant of what real persecution is!

[beam me up scottie]

62. It's only a matter of time.

Wait for it...

[Zhade]

65. Hey, OT, but - is your NG name a ST:TNG reference?

To a certain captain saying a certain thing to a certain ensign?

[beam me up scottie]

69. LOL!!!

How did you know?

I was briefly absent and got renamed by those clever NGites.

:evilgrin:

[Zhade]

70. Family was (is) HUGE ST:TNG fans.

It was easy. :)

(That reminds me - another series to rewatch!)

[Taxloss]

80. Clever?

Hardly.

You flatterer, you. :D

[beam me up scottie]

82. Uh oh.

Now there's three of us.

We're a gang!

[Taxloss]

84. Fetch the kindling and faggots! Let's light the pyre!

Unleash the lions!

Actually, much as I'd love to do a spot of persecuting, I have to go to bed. Nice to see you around though, hun.

[beam me up scottie]

86. S'ok. We'll do it tomorrow.

:hug:

[Zhade]

166. Hey! Don't use me to light any fires!

It wouldn't work anyway, since I'm only half-faggot - a haggot, I guess?

(Wow, that's a really unflattering term for a bisexual male. I hope it doesn't catch on...)

[Taxloss]

83. I'm sure they will.

You must remember that to Christians in America, "persecution" means the same thing as "not getting our way".

Edit: typo.

[Zhade]

163. Agreed, but I don't think we should goad anyone into acting as we expect.

I don't think it's fair to make a statement that paints some group as having done something they haven't done yet, even if it's bound to happen.

It's a bit trigger-happy, I think. I wouldn't like them doing it to me, so I try to refrain from accusing someone prematurely.

YMMV.

[goforit]

37. Adios Starbucks.......May ya loose big!

[madrchsod]

40. i just read a couple of articles from the fundys

and their criticisms of his "ministry" and i agree with them. it was a cold day in hell cause i agreed with their arguments of his playing fast and loose with doctrine. one critic wrote-paraphrasing- he appeals to white 46 year old baby boomers who got to get their shit together before they die..yup he`s a new age elmer gantry

[G_j]

146. fundys don't play "fast and loose with doctrine"?

I know nothing about this guy BTW, but I can't imagine how a single word out of the hypocrite's mouths on this subject has any credibility.

[beam me up scottie]

43. When are they going to quote Richard Dawkins?

The quote they picked is offensive.

There are plenty of religious leaders with damn good messages, in this atheist's opinion.

Why choose this one?

[alcibiades_mystery]

47. They can sell them at Baylor

When they try to sell one to me, I'm gonna demand another cup.

If they say they don't have any, I'm gonna demand my money back. I'll do this in every Starbucks I see.

[CardInAustin]

51. Hmmmm....

Seems like I am the only one that doesn't think it is that big of a deal. If I understand the promotion correctly, they are using quotes from all sorts of people....not just religious/Christian. If this was the ONLY quote being used, or if they were all religious, I would be alarmed. But in this case it just seems like another quote.

Don't sweat it.

[billr]

53. not just Starbucks

Here's a link to USA Today article on other companies


Oct. 19- Coffee drinkers could get a spiritual jolt with their java in the spring when Starbucks begins putting a God-filled quote from the Rev. Rick Warren, author of the mega-selling The Purpose-Driven Life, on its cups.

(snip)

"Americans are more accepting of overt religiosity these days, and corporations are good at figuring out how to do it with a light touch, one that's not going to scare off unbelievers," says sociologist David Halle, director of the LeRoy Neiman Center for the Study of American Society and Culture at the University of California-Los Angeles.

Alaska Airlines has put baseball-card-size prayer cards on hot-meal trays for 30 years "just to differentiate us from the competition," spokeswoman Amanda Tobin says. "Compliments have always far outweighed complaints."


http://www.beliefnet.com/story/177/story_17740_1.html

[Starbucks Anarchist]

55. I don't see the big deal here.

[marmar]

60. Me either...

Yes, it's a religious-tinged quote, but it's a quote by a noted person. It's not saying "convert or die!" It's an inspirational message that no one will notice anyway, I don't think Starbucks has some nepharious agenda to convert its customers.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

66. Not to mention it's only one of many quotes.

It's not like Starbucks is trying to convert people, either. And how often do you read what's on your coffee cup in the first place?

[MirrorAshes]

99. This is a big point, it'd be different if this was going out on every cup

i dont nessesarily condone it, but i dont think its a huge deal either.

[beam me up scottie]

67. Tinged?

It's a freaking sledge hammer.

Why not quote something less in-your-face?

This is the religious equivalent of quoting Sam Harris' now infamous
"There is no God and You Know It".

When they put that on the cups I'll capitulate.

[Zhade]

74. Oh, a NOTED person. Well!

That makes it all better, doesn't it?

[Zhade]

63. The comments are insulting and exclusive to any who don't believe in god.

Since I'm one of them, I have a problem with the arrogance of the "good Rev", and Starbucks for giving him a platform from which to look down on us.

Like we don't get enough derision just for existing, now people who shell out ridiculous amounts of money for hot, bitter, dirty water (apologies to Will Durst) will be reading this crap and internalizing it - and I know a LOT of liberals go there. We don't need them to look down on us, too.

It's in bad taste - ironic for a chain so many people seem to think serves great coffee.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

71. I'm an atheist, too.

I have no particular opinion of Rick Warren one way or the other. If he is looking down on us, it's not like Starbucks is the only venue where he is doing so.

And I don't think millions of people will take anything written on coffee cups to heart, no matter how much they pay for it.

[Zhade]

73. Probably not, but it's the principle of the thing.

It is insulting to many of us, and it's dissapointing to see a place like SB run with it - after getting rid of the pro-gay ones.

You're not required to take it as personally as I do. Maybe you're right. But it still bugs me.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

78. Starbucks didn't get rid of the pro-gay ones.

That was Baylor University specifically that did.

The way I see the Warren controversy is as a matter of balance. Warren's response was prompted by an evolutionist's quote. In terms of politics, Al Franken donated a quote, as did Jonah Goldberg, so it all breaks even on the end.

In terms of being offended, I can understand why you believe the way you did. But for a religious person, the evolutionist's quote may be offensive to them. I don't think Starbucks is trying to do anything besides create a marketplace of ideas.

[beam me up scottie]

79. Dr. Leakey's quote:

"1.6 million years ago a youth died in Africa. His body was swept into a swamp," the quote reads. "In 1984 his bones were painstakingly excavated to reveal a species on the brink of becoming human. All people on earth have one think in common. We share a single African ancestor; the same as this young boy."

The ancient African youth is a reference to the famous "Turkana Boy" fossil, a well-preserved skeleton of a young Homo erectus, found by Dr. Leakey's father, paleontologist and conservationist Richard Leakey, in the early 80s. The quote also reflects a key tenet of the KFRP--that all humans share a common past and, as a result, a common destiny.

http://www.kfrp.com/news_item_022605.htm

Yeah, I can see why a LOT of people would find that offensive.
Some of them used to wear white sheets and pointy hats.

I live in Bubbaville.
The local Starbucks is always empty.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

81. If someone doesn't believe in evolution, it might be offensive to them.

And it wouldn't necessarily have to do with race.

[beam me up scottie]

85. I'm sure it's offensive to both types.

Racists and creationists.

I'm even MORE offended now that I know what this is in response to.

Starbucks is like the Kansas Board of Education.

Both cater to those who view science as an affront to religion.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

87. What?

So they have one quote that mentions God and that makes Starbucks anti-science?

[beam me up scottie]

88. You said it yourself.

His quote was in response to one made by an evolutionist.

People might be offended by Dr. Leakey's quote.

So they gave equal time to creation.

Just like Kansas.


And fyi, fundies use the term "evolutionist".

Dr. Leakey is called a scientist everywhere else in the world, more specifically a paleontologist.


On edit: In the future, please don't misrepresent my posts.
Thanks.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

89. But Starbucks didn't solicit Warren's quote.

Warren himself felt compelled to submit his own.

And I'm not a fundie. I'm an atheist, which is quite different, as you know.

[beam me up scottie]

90. Did I say you were a fundie?

Stop doing that.

I don't care what you are, personally, I prefer not to use their terms.

It only strengthens their cause.



Did Starbucks choose this quote or not?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

91. You seemed to imply that I was, but I guess I'm mistaken.

Yes, Starbucks chose it, but they didn't solicit it. There's a big difference.

I hardly think parallels between Starbucks and the Kansas BOE are fitting. One involves teaching children about the world. The other sells overpriced coffee.

[beam me up scottie]

95. Are you kidding?

Do you really think that the Kansas Board of Education wants to teach children about the world?

Crippling the teachers, IMO, is hardly in the students' best interests.



And since Starbucks chose this particular quote from this particular money grubbing zealot, they appear to be placating the uber-religious who view science as a threat to their meme.


In all fairness, they have every right to be worried.

Science has always been a threat to blind faith.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

100. I was referring to the intended purpose of education boards.

Not what the Kansas BOE has done re: intelligent design.

Here is your quote:

His quote was in response to one made by an evolutionist.

People might be offended by Dr. Leakey's quote.

So they gave equal time to creation.

Just like Kansas.

I was addressing the point you made here. You imply that the equal time concept of Starbucks and the Kansas BOE are similar in terms of impact.

Starbucks is not part of some elaborate scheme to evangelize all non-believers. They make overpriced coffee, that's it. This quote thing is just another PR stunt. And I think they could do a lot worse than Rick Warren. Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, etc. come to mind.

[beam me up scottie]

101. Well, Warren's pretty bad.

And since it's being announced that this is his response to the "evolutionist" quote, I expect I'm not the only one who will see this as an appeasement.

And I think that's probably what they had in mind.

If you think about it, lefties love Starbucks.

How many of us are creationists?

Why piss off your customer base by printing an endorsement of christian fundamentalism in a country that's under siege by the talibornagains?

Insults aside, it's a risky and possibly stupid business decision.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

102. I think you're reading too much into this.

Considering that Starbucks stores are literally everywhere, it would be fair to assume many conservatives/RWers frequent them.

And many people won't make the connection that Warren's quote was a response to Leakey's quote. If they read the quote at all, they will see it is just the opinion of a religious person, that's all.

You also can believe in God AND evolution. They're not mutually exclusive.

[beam me up scottie]

104. The two are mutually exclusive to Warren.

And since this story is being carried by the msm, everybody who reads it will make the connection.

You do realize how completely insane it is for people to think that science is anti-religion, don't you?

Science and evolution are neutral.

It is simply appalling to me that some people see nothing wrong with the mind set that believes science needs to be "countered" with religious myths.


And I'm reading into this what I see every day where I live.

The current government was installed and is controlled by christian fundamentalists.

In this country there are states that have laws on the books that prevent atheists from holding office.

They are replacing science textbooks with bibles.

They are enacting laws that deny me my reproductive rights.

They believe that the United States is a christian nation and they are in the process of establishing a theocracy.

They want to bring back the dark ages.

We are under siege.

So not only do I take every corporate religious endorsement seriously, I take it personally.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

105. I understand where you're coming from.

And I certainly do not deny the theocratic takeover of this country.

I do realize the fallacy of believing science is anti-religion, but not all religious people believe such a thing.

But the millions of people who read this story are totally outnumbered by the many millions of people who didn't. Like I said, most people will simply not care about some stupid quote on a coffee cup. DUers have to realize that the general public is not nearly as informed and up-to-date as we are. They don't obsess about every small detail of world events like we do (not that it's a bad thing, necessarily), and therefore they will not embark on some anti-science, anti-infidel crusade.

The only ones that will (and have) don't need a quote on a coffee cup from an evangelical pastor to set them off.

[beam me up scottie]

108. But that's exactly why I do speak up.

And why we all should.

If we would have obsessed about small details, or hell, even big ones, a few years ago, our government would never have been hijacked.

So I do speak up.

Nobody has to agree with me.

But a lot of people do and many of them are much more vocal than I.

And shutting up, IMO, is what got us into this mess.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

110. I applaud you for speaking up. That is your right and mine.

I just don't think you can compare Starbucks' quote program with the ascendancy of *.

By comparison, what Starbucks is doing is like the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. * coming into power and the destruction he has created is like Stalingrad. Major, major difference.

[mamalone]

112. yep

Actually..a lot of those mega-churches have a Starbucks onsite, or so I hear. I have never set foot in one of those places meself.
Personally, I see the addition of this quote to their line-up as an appropriate nod to the diversity of their customer base.

[Kailassa]

109. And if I don't believe in coffee, the existance of Starbucks

might be offensive to me.

I can't understand the idea of not being free to state scientifically proven truth. But then, I was brought up in a land founded by convicts, not a land founded by puritans. No-one has done more in my life to drive me toward atheism than so called "christians" who'd most likely run Jesus down in their SUVs if they actually saw him on the street.

[Zhade]

164. But then, coffee is known to exist.

This 'god' we all allegedly need has never been shown to be anything but a fanciful tale.

So there's a difference, which I know you know.

(Btw, that picture is awesome.)

[Zhade]

168. Oops, my bad.

It was late, near the end of my shift - I misread that part.

[LostinVA]

137. SB kept Maupin's quote on its cups n/t

[beam me up scottie]

76. If I wanted to be saved, I would have bought his book.

Again, poor choice by Starbucks.

With all of the liberal religious leaders to choose from, they go and pick the white version of Creflo Dollar.

[Jack_DeLeon]

153. Some asshats just like to get worked up over nothing...

I dont.

[JVS]

213. You're just covering for your namesake!

;-)

[Aimah]

77. What am I supposed to do with my...

Starbucks gift card?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

94. Give it to me.

:)

[rodeodance]

123. or me. Beggers can't be chosy

[Raine]

97. Use it anyway

they already got the money for it so if you don't use it you're only depriving yourself.

[truthisfreedom]

93. let 'em shoot themselves in the foot. who cares what happens to them

anyway.

[Scooter24]

96. Doesn't bother me one bit...

I'm still a welcomed customer and stockholder :)

I don't see a problem, and it seems to be a short campaign. It's only a cup people, you drink your coffee and throw it in the trash. I've been going to Starbucks for years and I can barely describe the cup design.

[WatchWhatISay]

98. Just quitting isn't going to get us anywhere.

If it is true that they support Dems more than Repugs, we shouldn't abandon them so easily.

They are probably doing this because they heard from the other side. Well, we could start a campaign to let them hear from us, and my guess is they'd hear a lot more from us than the other side.

Lets at least try to help them learn to be truly good corporate citizens. I believe it is possible.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

103. Get Over It

Starbucks is a solid, progressive company. People who get into hysterics about this are overreacting. Their quotes series is diverse and I'm sure they'll represent a diverse range of viewpoints.

BTW...you do realize that fundamentalists can't stand Rick Warren, right?

DTH

[Voltaire99]

107. Nope. Neither solid nor progressive.

It's sad how easily people fall for corporate propaganda.

Starbucks doesn't pay a living wage, and uses mainly non-fair trade coffee. It's silly to call such a chain "progressive."

FYI: shoving religion down the throats of coffee drinkers isn't "progressive" either.

[curt_b]

114. Starbucks Union

V99
You’re right. What struck me as I read this thread was the lack of attention to the labor issues at Starbucks. The IWW has been trying to organize Starbucks shops for a few years now and many members/employees have have been fired and some arrested. I think it was around the time of the 2004 RNC when an informational picketing effort in Manhattan was hit pretty hard by the NYCP. i can’t find a link right now, but I remember one of the pro-union arguments being that the company’s constant race to open new shops at all costs precluded their ability to pay a living wage. The company as expected pulled out the “duty to our stockholders” line, which should be getting kind of worn these days as worker’s jobs, benefits and pensions disappear to appease Wall Street. One of the hurdles to organizing big box retail and food chains is that Americans still think of those work places as “not real jobs”, a temporary stopping place for students, over qualified job seekers, part time housewives, etc., rather than the reality that those jobs are becoming one of the few “real job” options.

http://www.starbucksunion.org/

[sadiesworld]

125. Nice post, curt_b.

A new labor-rights voice on DU is especially welcome! :hi:

[curt_b]

158. thanks n/t

[Missy Vixen]

217. Here we go again

>Starbucks doesn't pay a living wage, and uses mainly non-fair trade coffee. It's silly to call such a chain "progressive."<

Starbucks, according to those we know that work there, pays pretty damn well. I'd also like to add that Starbucks offers PAID HEALTH INSURANCE AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS for their PART TIME EMPLOYEES. Evidently it's more important to be ideologically pure than to support a company that insures and educates its employees on its own dime.

How many of the coffee shops those on this thread frequent pay health insurance and educational benefits to their full-time employees? (Does the vaunted Pantera Bread Company insure and educate their employees?)Also, how many of those employees are paid a "living wage"? Of course, how non-progressive of me to stand up for a corporation. :eyes:

I'll be going out this morning to get a Frappucino at the local Starbucks. Thanks for the reminder.

Julie

[Kukesa]

133. Starbucks gives 100% of their political donations

to Dems. Link here:

http://www.buyblue.org/node/1898/view/summary

(I'm also a share holder and they're splitting 2 for 1 next week.)

[0007]

113. All the Christian Soldiers will start drinking Starbucks coffee. N/t

[rodeodance]

119. we have two fair trades -but I see most go to Starbucks--easy location

and young yippies.

[Ian David]

141. I usually use the local Honey Dew chain myself

Decent coffee, excellent Pistachio muffins, and they donate Democrat.

I need to research Mary Lou's and see who they donate to.

On-edit: I can't find any political donations for Marylous on either Fundrace.org or OpenSecrets.org

The exact name of the Domestic Profit Corporation: MARYLOU'S NEWS, INC.

Mergered with : SCOTT'S NEWS, INC. on 12/2/97
Mergered with : DANRONZO CORPORATION on 12/2/97
Entity Type: Domestic Profit Corporation
Identification Number: 042977778

http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corp/corpsearch/CorpSearchSummary.asp?ReadFromDB=True&UpdateAllowed=&FEIN=042977778


http://www.marylous.com/


<snip>
The ATHENA Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential.
<snip>
The event sponsored by Bay State Gas Company, also featured guest speakers, Vicki Donlan, publisher and founder of Women's Business Boston and Women's Business New York and Marylou Sandry, founder of Marylou's Coffee. Both women spoke about the rise of their businesses and their current day success.
More:
http://www.metrosouthchamber.com/0702news.html



Spreading the news

Coffee shop queen keeps her empire growing by maintaining the rightblend of products
Sean McFadden
Journal Staff

HINGHAM -- Marylou Sandry says she had no idea what she was getting herself into.

<snip>

Since, then, the little independent that could has grown to 18 locations on the South Shore, where she and husband/partner Ron Sandry have been longtime residents, and now finds itself in direct competition with the "big" guys of the coffee klatch biz, like Dunkin' Donuts.

Marylou's locations range in size from 300 square feet to 1,800 square feet -- the largest being a 1,400-square-foot location in Manamet that opened in July. Six have seating at a coffee bar, and seven have drive-through windows.

Her payroll and revenue have also risen: In the summer months, she staffs about 350 (about 70 percent full-time, 30 percent part-time), and last year, she generated about $10 million in revenue. If her projections ring true, Sandry's revenue will grow by about 12 percent this year.

<snip>

At one point, in the early '90s, she recalls, her employee turnover had reached near crisis-level: "People would stay with you for a day, and if they were hiring for 10 cents more next door, they'd jump ship."

She says retention finally perked up when she began offering new incentives, such as management training, profit-sharing and partial health care coverage.
More:
http://www.bizjournals.com/entrepreneur/2005/02/07/

[onenote]

122. why are so many so afraid of ideas?

I don't agree with Warren's view in the slightest, but I'm not afraid of it and being exposed to that view. In fact, exposure to views contrary to my own, which then requires me to think about them and about my personal beliefs/non-beliefs is a good thing, not a bad thing.

If your beliefs (or non beliefs) are so tenuous that a quote on a cup at Starbucks is threatening to them, then you need to explore how deeply felt those beliefs/non-beliefs are. If they are strongly held, then what is so threatening about a contradictory idea.

People who are convinced that they have all of the answers and don't want to be exposed to any ideas that are contrary to theirs are foolish, whether they are on the left or the right.

onenote

[muriel_volestrangler]

143. And here's another Starbuck's quote on that:

"Imagine we are all the same. Imagine we agree about politics, religion and morality. Imagine we like the same types of music, art, food and coffee. Imagine we all look alike. Sound boring? Differences need not divide us. Embrace diversity. Dignity is everyone’s human right."

Bill Brummel; Documentary filmmaker. His programs focus on human rights issues.

[tammywammy]

150. Great post

What surprises me about all this "I'm done with Starbucks" is it's the same thing that many on here deplored when fundies refused to be served with a cup that has a quote about homosexuals.

Starbucks is a good company, I know I worked there for 3 years. They pay well, with regular raises and availability for promotions. Good health insurance and other benefits. They have great environmental awareness and community programs. And while only one coffee is labeled "fair trade" they pay well for all their coffees, not just the fair trade.

[flygal]

156. exactly

I worked for Alaska Airlines who put a prayer card with their meals. It's a real in-offensive verse that many people commented positively on and few negatives. Now, I personally am not religious but about 99% of my friends are and most are liberal.

[Zhade]

210. It has nothing to do with fear. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

So get THAT through your head right now.

It's about giving a hack who looks upon those of us who don't believe in unproven gods as lesser human beings a platform.

If they had used another quote from the guy, one that didn't demonstrate the arrogant, smug assumed superiority of some believers, I wouldn't have even posted in the thread.

Maybe it's a little thing to believers, who by and large don't experience discrimination in this country, but to us it's just another dig - more "you can't have a happy life without god" bullshit.

Nothing fear-based about it.

[onenote]

220. so the answer when you don't like someone's ideas is to suppress them?

onenote

[Zhade]

225. Please show me where I said the quote should be suppressed.

You can't, because it never happened - in fact, I already said that SB is allowed to do this. So you can take your strawman and...retract it.

[onenote]

229. You said you were opposed to giving the author of the quote a "platform"

"It's about giving a hack who looks upon those of us who don't believe in unproven gods as lesser human beings a platform."

So you don't want to "supress" the quote, you just don't want it disseminated.

I think I'm going to decline your invitation to retract my statement.

onenote

[Zhade]

237. You're still misrepresenting my words. Stop it.

Being opposed to something is NOT the same as calling for its suppression.

It's intellectually dishonest of you to suggest otherwise. Just because I don't like SB giving the jerk a platform does NOT, repeat NOT, mean that I want him to be silenced. I would prefer that SB not give him the platform, but I have not once demanded he be silenced.

So yes, you do need to retract your lie that I am calling for his suppression.

[SammyWinstonJack]

124. Lost me as a customer forever!

:puke:

[coffeenap]

127. Rick Warren cares about MONEY!! I know someone who worked

for him--he was the most corrupt capitalist I knew--before he went to work there. OMG--what a crock! imo, of course.

[callady]

130. Why would any progressive traffic in Starbucks Junk in the first place?

USA: Starbucks Beans Not So Green
by Shireen Deen, Valley Advocate
March 25th, 2002

News of the Mexico City shop came as Starbucks was presenting its first Corporate Social Responsibility report at its annual shareholders' meeting in Seattle last month. The report emphasized the company's claimed commitment to doing business in socially, economically and environmentally responsible ways, to benefit the communities around the world where it does business.

But according to activists, Starbucks isn't doing enough. They charge that while Starbucks claims to be green, in fact, it has done little to keep genetically engineered ingredients out of its foods and beverages or to promote Fair Trade, shade-grown coffee.

Coffee plants naturally grow in the shade, under the cover of a diverse biosphere. But unless your coffee says "shade grown" on the bag, it was probably grown in a field for easier harvesting and greater profit margins. The clear cutting of land to create these fields eliminates many edible plants that locals live on. "Fair Trade," meanwhile, means that the farmers who grew the beans were paid a living wage for their work. There are several organizations that certify goods as "Fair Trade," including Equal Exchange and Tranfair.

Recently, activists across the world gathered at Starbucks shops to leaflet and protest the company's hypocrisy. The organized action, spearheaded by the Organic Consumers Association, ran from Feb. 23 to March 2 and was timed to coincide with Starbucks' annual meeting.

http://corpwatch.org/article.php?id=2170

Since February 2001, the OCA activists in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and other countries have protested and leafleted outside of nearly one thousand Starbucks cafes, demanding that the company:
• REMOVE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS FROM THEIR FOOD AND DAIRY PRODUCTS ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS.
• IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS FOR COFFEE PLANTATION WORKERS.
• BREW AND SERIOUSLY PROMOTE FAIR TRADE COFFEE IN ALL OF THEIR CAFES.

PLEASE GET INVOLVED!
Please contact the OCA office at: 218-226-4164 or [e-mail] for more information.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR THIS EXCITING CAMPAIGN!

http://www.organicconsumers.org/starbucks/index.htm

[Ian David]

134. I have no problem with it in the context of the other quotes.

See related threads:

The Starbucks Challenge: South Weymouth, MA store # 07374 redeemed!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5122505&mesg_id=5122505

The Starbucks Challenge: South Weymouth, MA store # 07374 fails the test
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5102312

[niallmac]

135. Will Starbucks have quotes on cups representing non Christian views?

If so I can live with a God statement now and then. If NOT. If this is just feel good stuff for a bascally Judeo Christian American market then I call BS. The campaign needs to be free and open to all philosophies of life.
I have enough daily Christian only cliches spouted about me thanks anyway.

[lakemonster11]

187. This is one Christian quote among many non-Christian ones.

[Ian David]

136. Better than Starbucks: Panera Bread Company

Much, MUCH better food. Better politics. The coffee is okay, but I don't think they have Fair Trade.

And Panera Bread company has free wi-fi access! At Starbucks, you need to buy T-Mobile access.


Panera Bread Company

$6,500 to Democrats
$0 to Republicans
$0 to Others
$6,500 in Total Contributions

Panera Bread is ready for an epochal change in American eating habits. The company is a leader in the quick-casual restaurant business with more than 740 bakery/cafes in about 35 states. Its locations, which operate under the Panera and Saint Louis Bread Company banners, offer made-to-order sandwiches built using a variety of artisan breads, including Asiago cheese bread, focaccia, and its classic sourdough bread. Its menu also features soups, salads, and gourmet coffees. In addition, Panera sells its bread, bagels, and pastries to go. Approximately 70% of its locations are operated by franchisees.

More:
http://www.buyblue.org/node/1642/view/information

[LostinVA]

139. Our Starbucks has free wi-fi

[Kukesa]

178. Starbucks gave $23,800 to Dems last year,

and nothing to Repukes.

Link here:

http://www.buyblue.org/node/1898/view/summary

[Ian David]

138. Is there a way to modify Starbucks cups and stick them back into the pile?

So that they end up serving their customers in cups that have Flying Spaghetti Monster quotes on them?

[tammywammy]

151. No

While I worked there, if I handed an empty cup to a customer and they gave it back, it went straight into the trash. You never know what someone could possibly do to a cup (not saying you'd do anything other than change the quote, but there's some really sick people out there).

[Ian David]

140. More Starbucks cup threads from DU (the GLBT Forum)

Since the Starbucks at Baylor U. is pulling cups with 'gay' quotes ...
Topic started by kweerwolf on Sep-20-05 10:46 AM (12 replies)
Last modified by mitchtv on Sep-22-05 03:55 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=16530


Cups with gay author's quote pulled from Baylor Starbucks
Topic started by kweerwolf on Sep-20-05 10:32 AM (6 replies)
Last modified by BlueJazz on Sep-20-05 11:09 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=16524


Tempest brews over quotes on Starbucks cups
Topic started by kweerwolf on Sep-01-05 02:58 PM (1 replies)
Last modified by dwickham on Sep-08-05 01:30 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=15862


Signature picture, offensive or funny?
Topic started by Meldread on Aug-29-05 10:08 PM (11 replies)
Last modified by FuzzyDicePHL on Aug-30-05 03:18 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=15724


Those Crazy Religionists... Will They Ever Stop?
Topic started by arwalden on Aug-14-05 12:35 PM (6 replies)
Last modified by sakabatou on Aug-15-05 01:12 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=14993


Radical right goes after starbucks.
Topic started by RedXIII on Aug-10-05 05:56 PM (22 replies)
Last modified by kbm8795 on Aug-11-05 10:57 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=14813

[Wise Doubter]

147. Do YOU believe in GOD ??!!

Guy #1: "Do you believe in God ?"
Guy #2: "No"

BANG BANG, you`re DEAD !!

Guy #1: "Do you believe in God?"
Guy #3: "Yes"
Guy #1: " Do you believe in MY God?"
Guy #3: "No"

BANG BANG, you`re DEAD !!

I can not for the life of me understand why some people have to rely on, what I call, the "Big Brother" syndrome - Or the "My Dad can beat up your Dad" syndrome.

With ALL the religions in this world - How can everyone of them claim to be right ?! No one knows the real truth, NOBODY ! Someone can believe they know with ALL of their heart, But No one know for certain !!


I WILL NOT GO TO STARBUCKS AGAIN UNTIL THEY REMOVE THE SAYINGS.

I thought church was supposed to be free.....HAVE YOU SEEN THEIR PRICES ???

[wmills551]

170. No one knows the real truth, NOBODY?

Sounds like you think you do!

[designforce]

148. Can't afford SBucks anymore

Used to go there everyday, then I realized how much I was spending, and when my income situation went down the toilet, I switched to making my own, not really, I switched to Cafe D'Vitta which you can find here:
http://www.caffedvita.com/about.htm

I get it locally at 5.29 a can which lasts me a week, so rather than spending that and more a day, I spend that in a week.

I have no interest in this at all, just pointing out alternatives to get your coffee fix...many flavors....and very good...

So I can't boycott SBucks, as I already do on economic basis, now if I were earning what I was 6 years ago, I would still be goinc to SBucks and I would not boycott, I would force the server to give me a cup which does not have the religious statement on it. I do it at other places such as my barber shop, I am forced to listen to the Limbaugh show when I get a haircut or listen to fox news, so I just speak up...even my barber is liberal trapped in the hell that is a red state and a red city..so I just let it out and make the repugs crazy, I get my jollies ruining their days with facts...

So don't hide, don't boycott, just stick it back in their face...

JMHO

[Roland99]

149. I almost took my daughter to one yesterday. NEVER again!

[Jack_DeLeon]

152. Oh NOES!!! What About seperation of Church and state?

Starbucks isnt owned by the state, they have every right to put whatever they want on thier cups of coffee.

Grande Mocha Frappachino 4tw

[FVZA_Colonel]

159. I agree.

They are a private company, and so long as they don't begin putting messages on their cups that would insite any sort of hatred (religious, racial, sexual, etc.), I don't have a problem with it.

[arwalden]

157. Which Coffee House Featured Cups With A Quote From Armistead Maupin?

... remember how upset the Church got about having a (gasp!) HOMOSEXUAL's quote featured?

[tammywammy]

167. That was Starbucks

So I guess this is the other side of the coin. They got upset about homosexuals...and DU gets upset because of religion.

Whatever, it doesn't bother me either way. It seems like they're being very inclusive with the quotes.

[arwalden]

169. So A Truckload Of Religious Quotes To Make Up For One Homo Quote.

... it sounds like Starbucks might have caved to religious kooks' pressure tactics.

[tammywammy]

172. No

It looks like one guy submitted his own quote to Starbucks and it happens to be religious.

Since Starbucks has said that all these quotes are from various philosophical caterogies, I think it fits that they'd also use a Christian one.

Here's a link to a story about the quotes:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002455480_starbucks29m.html

The Way I See It" campaign does not set out to take a political stand but The Way I See It" campaign does not set out to take a political stand but rather to encourage discourse, Starbucks spokeswoman Audrey Lincoff said.
<...>
Lincoff said the company does not characterize the personalities quoted on its coffee cups as liberal or conservative, but rather as a diverse group of artists, musicians, educators, activists and athletes.

Among them: music producer Quincy Jones, New Age author and alternative-medicine doctor Deepak Chopra, radio host and film critic Michael Medved, rap artist Chuck D and Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan.

The coffee company won't be pulling the Maupin quote — or any other — from the campaign, but in fact will expand it to feature quotes from regular customers.

[arwalden]

174. Oh, I see. Thanks.

[Endangered Specie]

161. I have never been to a single starbucks in my life

(I dont like coffee, but If i did I would go to the local shops, which I do anyways becaus they have other goodies)

[wmills551]

171. But have you been to a Hooters?

[Endangered Specie]

202. No...

a) When I'm eating, I prefer to think about eating, not the waitress who I dont stand a chance with and

b) Hooters girls aren't that beautiful imho... (aint in to the fake bleach blond, boob job, ton of makeup thing)

[Lilith Velkor]

175. "Take this latte, for it is My Blood..."

Yeesh, what a headline.

[realFedUp]

176. Peet's coffee....decide where to spend your money. nt

[Bariztr]

192. Peet's is the way to go

How can anyone call that watered down brackish hot water they serve at Starbucks coffee? I would be like calling a quarter pounder with cheese a filet mignon.

What they should print on those Starbucks cups is:

Contents contain no actual coffee.

[Danmel]

177. More pseudo religious psycho babble with your caffeine

Personally, I don't like that overraosted burned crap they call coffee anyway. The only way I can drink the stuff is loaded with sugar and whipped cream and I don't even use sugar in my coffee. So it won't affect me at all, but why would Starbucks even want to go to that kind of message???

[progressivebydesign]

180. I'm an athiest and have no problem with this.

If they are including OTHER views, then why would I stop going there? It's not like Starbucks is evangelizing people.. they are presenting other views, as well.

[Seabiscuit]

181. Guess I'll just continue brewing my own coffee at home.

I can drink coffee for a month for the price of one Starbucks mocha grande.

[lakemonster11]

182. Um, guys?

They've been printing philosophical/poetic/whatever quotes on their cups all year. This isn't any different.

I don't see why we should boycott them over this any more than the right wingers who wanted to boycott them when they quoted someone about being gay or about evolution (see the article).

Starbucks is going out of its way to print quotes from a variety of sources.

[tammywammy]

183. Thanks for the sensible post!

That's exactly what I was thinking about this whole thing.

[sleipnir]

185. I protest the hack writer getting a quote.

The guy writes fucking self-help books.

[lakemonster11]

191. I agree that his book probably sucks (can't say for sure, haven't read it)

but a lot of people do read self-help books, and his in particular.

My best friend works at a book store and swears she can predict which people will ask for it before they open their mouths.

[fortyfeetunder]

195. Well, I take issue with taking a religious POV

Starbucks has long touted itself with celebrating diversity. And the series on cups was a good business move.

This one, leaves me somewhat puzzled.

If Starbucks really wanted to take a religious bent, then they should be embracing diversity in religion, not focused on any one or two types of religious beliefs.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

223. It's ONE Quote

How is that a "focus" on anything?

If they continue this series -- which is questionable, considering the ridiculous brouhaha one religious quote out of 63 is making among some of the folks here, apparently -- I would bet money they will probably include quotes from people of other religions.

DTH

[drfresh]

186. Big flippin deal

I don't care, this doesn't bother me. Its just some stupid text on the bottom of a coffee cup.

Its funny to see some people in this thread say "I don't believe in God! This is an OUTRAGE!! Starbucks must suffer!".. whats the big deal? Its just a quote. Some people are too sensitive.

[kostya]

188. Too sensitive and very intolerant. Of all the things to get your brain

in a wad over! Starbucks is a private corporation, they can put what they damn well please on their cups. It's not like they put some religious message on all their cups.

Maybe folks have just had too much coffee overall. :>)

[Robb]

190. "Starbucks" is some kind of coffee company?

:shrug:


I fail to see, even after reading everything upstream, why we should care.

[pro_blue_guy]

193. At least the quote isn't anti-gay!

[allisonthegreat]

196. say it ain't so???

eom

[greekspeak]

197. I guess now I have another reason to boycott them.

So now the fact that their overpriced coffee tastes like condensed rehydrated burning will only be one of two reasons.

[callady]

200. Not to mention the Wal-Martization of the hip coffee

shop as well as the demise of the populist coffee counter. Wiping out the counter-culture and the mom and pops. The commodification and gentrification of everything. Nothing authentic. That's Starbucks.

Never bought Starbucks never will.

[zann725]

203. It's about time we ALL start calling tStarbuck's "800" Customer Svc. #

who pride themselves on being "responsive." That IS except for the Musak they blare, which somehow they condone as "boosting" CD sales...even though said Musak makes it nearly impossible to concentrate while using one's computer (equipped with Starbuck-backed HotTMobile). Musak which also makes it difficult for customers to hear one another talking, let alone reading or studying. Things which it appears customers actually come to Starbucks to do.

And the sub-freezer temperatures at Starbucks near me...which I'm "told," is set "low" to discourage people from sitting too long. So the intent is NOT to actually USE the Hot T-Mobile supplied...just buy it. Neither is it Starbuck's intent for customers to actually drink the expensive coffee and fancy danishes in-house...just grab 'em and run. And clearly the CD's sold there, NOT meant to be heard in full...just long enough to buy quickly and take home.

All those little "Barristers" turning their noses up if a customer's "tip" doesn't clang loud enough in the good ol' Tip Cup. A fact they focus on more than handing out receipts or proper change to customers. (I base this on the 10 or more Starbucks near me. Perhaps they are "different" elsewhere?)

[nickgutierrez]

204. As long as they don't just use Judeo-Christian religions...

...I'm fine with it.

(For what it's worth, I'm an Agnostic. :hi: )

[Ken Burch]

239. Yeah, in honor of the major coffee growing regions

they should have Yoruba, Aztec, Inca and Buddhist phrases as well.
Also quotes from Bob Marley on cups of Jamaican Blue Mountain.

[genieroze]

205. Boycott Starbucks, separation of caffeine and religion. lol

[obxhead]

206. klink

:toast:

[orleans]

207. religion--no thanks. bad move on their part.

it would be like putting up political quotes. (remember the old saying: never talk religion and politics in mixed company....over coffee!)

overall, i think starbucks is a good company, but they need to keep in mind that some of us abstain from religion and we don't want it getting shoved down our throats after we've paid over $4.00 for a cup of coffee. (some of us might even feel that religion is the root of all evil.....and please note that i did say "some of us MIGHT"--since i don't want to get the shit kicked out of me here)

[wtmusic]

208. why oh why

very disappointing. :(

[RJRoss]

214. Charbucks

I don't care what they put on their cups. I stopped buying coffee at Charbucks when I realized that freshly roasted coffee, freshly ground and properly prepared, is vastly superior to the swill Charbucks markets. There are plenty of independent coffeehouses in this area (Seattle) who offer a great cup.

That said, I rarely go out for coffee. It's much cheaper and more satisfying to make it at home. Of course, it will take me a few more years of NOT buying espresso drinks to recoup the cost of my espresso machine and grinder...

[BiggJawn]

215. Some Effin' "purpose"...

To be miserable, lonely and struggling?

Thanks a fucking BUTTLOAD, Jehovah!

"You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance and our destiny."

In other words, "I know what *I* am, but what are *YOU*?"

Sorry, but I must be really clueless, because NONE of this was revealed to me in those years that I WAS a bible burn-out.

Thus were the seeds of doubt sown.

[Flammable Materials]

218. I have no problem with this.

It's not as if Starbucks has gone on a Bible-thumping crusade. The quotes are from a variety of people and backgrounds. This is one cup out of 63. Threatening to boycott Starbucks over that is simply ludicrous. It's not like they're quoting James Dobson or Jerry Falwell or Fred Phelps.

And I'm an angry former fundie. I'll tear them a new one along with anyone else. But anyone who threatens to boycott Starbucks over a single quote on a coffee mug ...

[Squatch]

226. I'm burning the next Starbucks I see to the ground.

How dare they invade my coffee time with philosophical quotes. The only philosophy I want to read on a coffee cup is "Caution: contents may be very hot."

Think about it, people. Fucks with your mind.

[lies and propaganda]

227. boycott list just keeps getting longer

Target and Starbucks in one week, sweet.

Run in a hurry to get off those nasty gay quotes and whitewash em with some Jesus! Everybody Wins!

[PatriotGames]

230. What's the big fookin deal? There 63 quotes on there and...

people are going to boycott because of a single sentence?

Geez.

[tonekat]

232. I wasn't "made" for someone else's mythological god

And I was an accident, a lot of us were! LOL!
Now, I like Starbucks coffee, and I like that they are one of the few companies that bother to give their part time workers health insurance.
If I get a worship cup, I'll just ask the barista for an "insulator"...maybe I'll make my own and bring it with me! Hmmm, that has some potential..maybe something about the aforementioned Flying Spaghetti Monster!

[huskerlaw]

233. The day they put that shit on my cup

is the day I quit drinking Starbucks. Stupid bastards. I thought they were liberal?? :shrug:

[Initech]

234. Gee, how did I guesss Rick Warren was behind this?

I swear that man is starting a cult...

And this is yet another reason to avoid Starbucks like the plague! :puke:

[RPM]

235. if god wanted a born person to be born - then an aborted fetus must not...

... have been wanted by god.

Therefore, because abortion exists, it is ordained by god and perfectly legal.

[LanternWaste]

236. Hi. I'm Bob and I'm boycotting your store.... sheesh

Jumpin' jehosevat! Starbucks is attempting to reach a diversified audience with quotes worthy of bumer stickers? Tell me it ain't so, Joe (p/i)!

Never did have a cuppa coffee from a starbucks. Guess I'll give it it a shot (p/i) now to offset the one or two who belive that diversity is a good thing- unless it includes Christianity and who are now boycotting the place. And boycotting it with an entertaining amount of righteous indignation, at that.

"Hi. I'm Bob and I'm boycotting your store"

"Ummm... is it because of the quote thing?"

"You better believe it. It's damned offensive to me"

O-kay. The line for the christian's boycotting us is on the left."

"Hey! I'm an aethiest and I'm boycotting you because of the Christian-oreinted quote, not the other quote"

"Oh. Sorry... line's on the right, then. Hard to tell you fella's apart sometimes... all sounds the same after a while."