Every November Starbucks reveals a new holiday cup and for reasons I cannot understand, some people view this as a monumental event—there are actually websites dedicated to the “red cup” countdown. But this year’s minimalistic design has some Christians yelling “humbug” at Starbuck’s lack of Christmas Spirit.   

Along with its seasonal beverages such as peppermint mocha and chestnut praline latte, red cup’s arrival is eagerly anticipated. Multiple winter-themed designs have been featured on the iconic red cup since its first appearance in 1997. Past designs have included Christmas ornaments, snowflakes and snowmen. This year: nothing.

“This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories,” said Jeffrey Fields,  Starbucks’ Vice President of Design and Content (in a statement). For consumers that means picking up your order in a plain red cub with a slight ombré fade, and no Christmassy images.

Former television and radio evangelist Joshua Feuerstein took to his Facebook page, with its over 1.8 million followers, and declared Starbucks is waging war on Christmas.

“Starbucks removed Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus,” Feuerstein wrote, asking his followers to start using the hashtag #MerryChristmasStarbucks and asking baristas to write “Merry Christmas” on their cups instead of their names in protest.

I’m not very religious, but I was brought up in the church, and I don’t remember being taught that the design of a Starbucks cup has anything to do with Jesus and Christianity.

Maybe I’m missing something, I don’t know. But really? Are we really complaining and protesting a cup?

I am so confused….Who cares what a stupid Starbucks cup looks like? Yes, I admit, the cup seems to lack the usual jolly holiday spirit and reminds me more of blood than Christmas, but it’s a cup. Just order your coffee with its fru fru name, sip it quietly, then throw it away (because that’s what you do with cups, you throw them away) and get on with life.  

Only in America could this be an issue.

Shouldn’t we be discussing the state of homelessness in America, the racism controversy at the University of Missouri or the fact that Donald Trump is still in the presidential race (now that is some seriously scary sh—). You know, things that actually matter?

I blame the money, the privilege. Some of the biggest issues in our lives are getting the new iPhone or what name brand clothing to buy or what we want for Christmas. We’re shallow, and the fact that we’re arguing over a stupid Starbucks cup is proof.

If people really want to talk about the war on Christmas, then they should change the subject from Starbucks to consumerism and how Christmas has become nothing more than another commercial holiday for many.