Coffee Talk? Meet you at Starbucks!

I’m not a fan of Starbucks’ coffee (never thrilled with the taste), but I don’t see the company as the evil empire.  In fact, they are making positive steps in buying sustainably; working on improving their cups so they don’t use so much paper; treat their employees decently (health care!); and in general are an American success story.  Plus I’d rather have people overdose on Starbucks than McDonalds, but I digress.

Being of Armenian descent, I’m disturbed that some in the Armenian community have this ridiculous idea that somehow Starbucks’ profits are going to Israel.  Some in the Muslim community, as well as in the Loony Left, also insist this is true.  Call it what you want—anti-Semitic, anti-corporate, misinformed.  I call it just plain ignorant—and WRONG.

For crying out loud, Starbucks is a public company that’s accountable to its shareholders.  They have operations in several Muslim Middle Eastern nations; oh, and by the way—none in Israel; all stores there were shuttered in 2003.  Get over your conspiracy theories; it’s just not true—read Starbucks’ discussion of all these rumors.

I try to buy organic coffee when I can, and I try not to frequent Starbucks if I feel there’s a preferable store nearby.  I don’t like seeing Starbucks on every corner, but they are doing something right.  I mean, the stores are clean and bathrooms sanitary.  People seem happy there.  Never mind:  what is despicable is outright lies and misinformation.  If you don’t like Starbucks, don’t buy their coffee.  But don’t spread lies or rumors.  You’re screwing over some college kid or teenager that’s saving for his college tuition—or even supporting his family.  But lying about an individual or organization, and shouting even louder because you think that will make it true, makes you look like a cretin.  Learn the facts; or learn to read.