Posted on 03/23/2012 5:57:22 AM PDT by Kaslin
The Opera House in Seattle was the setting for Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and the annual board meeting of his church of Starbucks.
That's what it felt like -- what with the heart-stirring videos, the soulful songs of Grammy award-winning Esperanza Spalding, and a real Baptist preacher (Rev. Calvin Butts), not to mention free coffee and doughnuts.
Jonathan Baker, head of the National Organization for Marriage's Corporate Fairness Project was there to ask if the board really approved the statement that gay marriage is "core to the Starbucks brand."
Yes, Schultz said. Most of the room there applauded, but what happens in Seattle doesn't stay in Seattle.
Another shareholder asked how it could possibly be in the shareholders' interest to wade into a hot-button political and cultural issue. A few brave souls in the audience applauded.
I was going to ask a question, too, but Schultz cut off questions just before I spoke, leaving me the sole person standing before a microphone with a question in my heart to ask:
Millions of good, honorable, decent and loving people believe that marriage is the union of husband and wife for a reason -- these unions make new life and connect children to a mom and a dad. Of all the sustainable ecosystems Starbucks might want to support, surely this one is worthy of a company that bills itself as a company with a conscience?
I wanted to tell Schultz personally that we at the National Organization for Marriage were going to ask all his customers, employees and vendors who do not support gay marriage to make their presence known.
I don't generally support boycotts, especially not the kind gay marriage advocates have launched that target whole business enterprises if any one major partner personally donates to a measure like California's Proposition 8. It's wrong because the basic norms of business are that people of differing moral views, even on deeply felt moral issues like gay marriage and abortion, need to work together to grow a company to serve their customers and shareholders.
But Starbucks has voluntarily decided -- as a corporation -- to associate its brand with a major political issue, the CEO just confirmed. I was in the room. I heard him.
Customers across the world have a right to know that contrary to the promises made by the corporation in the Middle East and elsewhere, Starbucks does subsidize political causes. Drinking a cup of Starbucks coffee, sadly, means supporting gay marriage.
The National Organization for Marriage, which I co-founded, in response this week announced a national and international protest: DumpStarbucks.com. We are asking customers who oppose gay marriage to call both their local Starbucks branch and company headquarters to communicate that they wish to be able to buy a great cup of Seattle coffee without promoting gay marriage, and to switch to another brand of coffee.
Speak out, and stop being invisible to powerful men like Schultz. The business of America may or may not be business, but the business of corporations is to make an honest profit by serving all their customers well, both those who favor and those who oppose gay marriage.
I got an email the other day about Starbucks. Allegedly, Marines in Afghanistan wrote to Starbucks asking them if they would send some coffee. Allegedly, Starbucks responded by telling the Marines thank you for their support of their business, but that Starbucks does not support the war, nor anyone in it, and that they would not send the troops their brand of coffee.
Don’t know if it is true or not, has anybody else heard about this? Or is it urban myth?
I got an email the other day about Starbucks. Allegedly, Marines in Afghanistan wrote to Starbucks asking them if they would send some coffee. Allegedly, Starbucks responded by telling the Marines thank you for their support of their business, but that Starbucks does not support the war, nor anyone in it, and that they would not send the troops their brand of coffee.
Don’t know if it is true or not, has anybody else heard about this? Or is it urban myth?
McDonalds coffee is GOOD. I never go to Starbuck’s because it is ridiculously expensive. I guess an idiot is born every hour.
You're lucky, out here in the land of the fruits, nuts, flakes and crappy coffee, we get our DD coffee supply either shipped in or brought back in suitcases on trips to the east coast.
I went from my local starbucks to an independently owned coffee shop. The lady running the place had a baristika (Obama Logo) on her pin collection.
Gay marriage is a fad, it will pass. But Obama’s destruction of this nation will have effects for years to come. ANYBODY but Obama.
The closest Dunkin Donuts is in Las Vegas. But I travel to Phoenix every couple of months - they have a bunch there!
It's like those idiots who believe TSA is great at screening for terrorists because they are so expensive.
But she already knows how I feel haven't bought a Starbucks coffee in 20+ years, did my own personal boycott years ago. Had a friend that lived in Schultz neighborhood, very fancy neighborhood. He was building a house on Lake Washington and asked his friend the Mayor of Seattle if he could put his driveway through the neighborhood park to his home as it was easier and cheaper, of course the mayor said yes and my friend went ballistic, gathered petitions and stopped the creep from ruining her park.
You found the best kept secret in coffee...!
Agree about 8’o’clock coffee.
Gevaglia is good too, but much more expensive.
Several months ago there was threads on FR about boycotting Home Depot due to their pro gay stance and people said to shop Lowes. Well the last two weekends I went to Lowes they had Girls Scouts selling cookies in their lobby and there have been numerous threads on FR about why you should not by Girl Scout cookies and the GS's were now a progressive organization.
Sooner or later every store will have some policy I disagree with so screw it I shop where I want and don;t let this little stuff bother me.
SRS, who can keep this crap straight?
-—Proud to report I’ve never been to a Starbucks. Mostly because the prices are ridiculous.-—
For me, it’s the size names. You’ll have to cut my nuts off before I’ll say “Can I have a venti, please?”
Exactly. They don't understand that strong doesn't mean bitter. Also, I have no patience with jumped-up soda jerks who call themselves "baristas", and insist that you use stupid names like "grande" for a large cup of coffee.
We brew our own Dunkin Donuts at home, STRONG and not bitter.
Ever since this nonsense I have stopped going to Starbucks. I save about $100 per month and do not miss it. the problem is that Starbucks seems like it is in decline and they are trying anything to attract customers. The quality is not what it used to be and would not be surprised if the company went away in a few years.
Think outside the cup...
Chick-fil-A
http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Menu-Section/Drinks
http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Menu-Section/Breakfast-Items
.
Actually, it's only a dollar or two for a cup of weak, bitter swill.
Many, though, then pay another $4 for additives to kill the taste.
“Any business that ties its name to perverts does not get my business”
Amen, FRiend. I refuse to quaff that burnt, overated swill sh!t.
Spanish coffee and Jacobs here in Germany are far, far better!
“You’ll have to cut my nuts off before I’ll say “Can I have a venti, please?”
LOL, you and me both. The few times that I have been in a Starbucks (HORRIBLE coffee, btw) I refused to use their stupid names - I use small, medium, or large.
It really takes no effort to brew your own coffee in the morning and you save so much money. Sad to say that over the years I have become a dedicated instant coffee drinker. I now have a taste for the stuff.
I guess I’ll just have to bombard Starbucks with emails that ask WHY ARE YOU SO INSENSITIVE? WHY DO YOU THINK HOMOSEXUALS ARE TO BE “FAVORED” OVER HETERSEXUAL COUPLES WHO CAN ACTUALLY PRODUCE ANOTHER HUMAN?
But don’t get me started. They don’t like military, either. So, look! LOTS of emails can spring from that stuff! YES!
Join me, please...
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