Unity is defined as “the state of being united or joined as a whole”, this should not be a liberal concept. As humans, it should our goal to be united against things such as racial subjugation, inequality, and inequity. Yet, this country has been divided by nearly every subject politically and there does not seem to be any relief in sight. This election has been brutal and all of us are ready for it to end. We as a nation need to come together to protect our future and live in unified harmony. It was with that mindset the newest Starbucks cup was unveiled. A new “Green Cup” that is meant to symbolize unity ahead of the election has sparked outrage on what’s known as “White Twitter”. The timing of the cup’s release, as well as its political message, drew swift and harsh criticism. A cup won’t fix our problems, but it somehow it can make the masses bleed with anger.
In a statement on the new Starbucks cup’s release, the company indicates that the new green cups are specifically for the election. To remind us of unity and help us come together:
“DURING A DIVISIVE TIME IN OUR COUNTRY, STARBUCKS WANTED TO CREATE A SYMBOL OF UNITY AS A REMINDER OF OUR SHARED VALUES, AND THE NEED TO BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER,” SAID HOWARD SCHULTZ, THE COFFEE GIANT’S CHAIRMAN AND CEO.
One line and 132 faces appear on the green cup, each one a caricature representing members of a global community. Designed by artist Shogo Ota who says he hoped the design would serve as a symbol for “stitching people together as a united community.” The faces of Shogo’s own friends and his family inspired him: his 94-year-old grandmother in the hospital in Japan, his wife, his toddler son, his brother, his buddy from Zimbabwe, a friend from Uruguay, and the list of those who empowered his imagination goes on.
This is not the first time the nation has lost it’s mind over a Starbucks cup. Last year, a former Arizona pastor launched a viral campaign to boycott the company, after the company released a minimalist “holiday” cup without any typically Christian iconography.
Before reading any further, we want you to know the “Holiday Cups” are still on the way and are still red. They will be released in seven days, after the election. The cups are never released this early.
Some Twitter users threatened to boycott the company in response to the cup, accusing Starbucks of “political brainwashing” and spreading “liberal bias” by wading into the election.
@Starbucks stop pushing your liberal bullshit and sell coffee. Lifelong customer becoming disgusted with the forced agenda. #HolidayCupsNow
— Archie Bunker (@ArchieBunker19) November 1, 2016
Others were upset that the company’s cup did not carry a stronger holiday message and accused the company of attacking Christian values. Because they somehow believe November 1st to be Christmastime. It isn’t. Thanksgiving isn’t even here yet.
RT if you think @Starbucks is trying to take Jesus out of Christmas with the new cup. Make this go viral so Starbucks makes cups red again. pic.twitter.com/KjscsgpAxQ
— Jazmine (@JazzHandd) November 1, 2016
Not everyone hated the cups, and some have actually been waiting for the new holiday cups to appear–
I’m excited for the holidays because I wanna see if white people go all crazy at Starbucks again saying they’re having a war on Christmas
— ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@_dreavee) November 1, 2016