{"id":15,"date":"2010-11-16T08:47:05","date_gmt":"2010-11-16T08:47:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/activistfaith\/2010\/11\/thank-starbucks-this-christmas.html"},"modified":"2010-11-16T08:47:05","modified_gmt":"2010-11-16T08:47:05","slug":"thank-starbucks-this-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/activistfaith\/2010\/11\/thank-starbucks-this-christmas.html","title":{"rendered":"Thank Starbucks this Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

While many companies have moved toward “Happy Holidays” and away from “Merry Christmas” during this time of year, my local Starbucks barista politely offered me a cup of their Christmas Blend<\/a> this morning. This may not seem like a big deal, but I could list an entire page of companies that have removed the word “Christmas” from all of their marketing in recent years. To see one company continuing to include the “reason for the season” simply made me happy.<\/p>\n

The philosopher in me, however, was forced to ask “Why?” Why would Starbucks keep Christmas in the name of its products? There might be a few believers in corporate who pushed for it, but the more likely reason is quite American of them–people BUY it. So here’s a little activist faith moment for you. If you like the tradition of companies mentioning Christmas in their products, then support their efforts through buying them.<\/p>\n

I’m personally going to ask for the Christmas Blend every time I’m at Starbucks between now and the end of the year. If thousands of us do the same, I’ll bet you a Venti Christmas Blend coffee we’ll start hearing stories of companies responding with “Merry Christmas” even more next year.<\/p>\n

To see what Congressman Henry E. Brown stated on this issue last Christmas, check out his article from US News and World Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

DILLON BURROUGHS is an author, activist, and cofounder of Activist Faith. Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books include “Undefending Christianity,” “Not in My Town” (with Charles J. Powell), and “Thirst No More” (October 2011). Discover more at DillonBurroughs.org. <\/p>\n

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While many companies have moved toward “Happy Holidays” and away from “Merry Christmas” during this time of year, my local Starbucks barista politely offered me a cup of their Christmas Blend this morning. 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