On November 1, Starbucks released its annual “red cup” to kick off the holiday season. The 2015 design features a simple cup colored a cranberry ombre with no snowflakes, trees, or grinning snowmen. Not even a week after Starbucks released the holiday cup design, a dispute broke out that Starbucks’ red cup was “anti-Christmas” and an attack on Christianity. At least 9.2 million news stories arguing the “Starbucks Red Cup Controversy” are now pasted across the internet. It’s saddening that there are people in our country who are more concerned with Starbuck’s “lack” of Christmas spirit than real world problems. Instead of throwing fits like toddlers over the color of a paper cup, the world should stay focused on larger issues.

The ordeal began on November 5, when evangelist Joshua Feurstein posted a video of himself criticizing Starbucks and its red cup. Feurstein’s video, titled “Starbucks Removed Christmas From Their Cups Because They Hate Jesus” claims that Starbucks made its coffee cups plain red to remove any concept of Christ and Christmas. I don’t know about you, but I don’t see how jolly snowmen, twinkling lights, and snowflakes represent Jesus Christ and the Christian religion. I believe that Feurstein and the other activists out there making a fuss about Starbucks’ choice are the kind of people who give Christians a bad name. Basing one’s religion off of a disposable cup is not honoring one’s deity.

Starbucks’ decision to go with a minimal design was with all good intentions. The simplistic yet festive red hue gives customers a blank canvas to interpret their holiday spirit any way they wish. Anyone, no matter his/her religion, background, or what holiday he/she celebrates can be inspired.

According to news.starbucks.com, president of Design and Content Jeffrey Fields said, “In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cups designs. This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories.”

Starbucks is not attacking Christians and trying to take away the Christmas holiday. Rather, Starbucks is simply going a different route this year with its holiday cup design. Yes, it may seem less “Christmassy” without the festive adornment, but the difference between last year’s red cup and this year’s is that the 2014 cup was adorned with pine trees. That’s not a shocking difference. Starbucks still continues to make their signature holiday beverages, sell their cheery merchandise, and decorate their displays and windows. In fact, I walked into Starbucks the other day, and as I was waiting in line, I spotted a huge Christmas tree advent calendar available for purchase. The company is not in any way trying to rob people of Christmas. Spending our time and energy arguing over a paper cup is not only frivolous, but unnecessary.

“I think that there are more important issues in the U.S. to talk about right now than what a cup looks like,” said junior Sophie Grieser.