Starbucks

[grunt]

MY APOLOGIES TO STARBUCKS FOR THE FOLLOWING POST. I'LL LEAVE IT UP SO THE REST OF THE POSTS WILL MAKE SENSE. GUESS I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.

This probably belongs in the "Soapbox" forum, if so feel free to move it.

I got this in an email the other day as well. Regardless of what you think about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the guys over there deserve all of the support we can give them. They are the ones doing the bleeding and dying, and the ones that will be as screwed up over what they saw and did there as the guys that went to Viet Nam, whether they wanted to or not.

I can only pass this on. Words fail me.

Recently, Royal Marines in Iraq , wrote to Starbucks because they wanted to let them know how much they liked their coffees, and to request that they send some of it to the troops there. Starbucks replied, telling the Marines thank you for their support of their business, but that Starbucks does not support the war, nor anyone in it, and that they would not send the troops their brand of coffee.

So as not to offend Starbucks, maybe we should support them by NOT buying any of their products! I feel we should get this out in the open. I know this war might not be very popular with some folks, but that doesn't mean we don't support the boys on the ground, fighting street-to-street and, house-to-house.
If you feel the same as I do then pass this along. Thanks very much for your support. I know you'll all be there again when I deploy once more.
Sgt. Howard C. Wright 1st Force Recon Co 1st PLT.

PLEASE DON'T DELETE THIS. .. PLEASE PASS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR E- MAIL LIST, IN MEMORY OF ALL THE TROOPS WHO HAVE DIED, SO THAT WE MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE!

Also, don't forget that when the Twin Trade Towers were hit, the fire fighters and rescue workers went to Starbucks because it was close by for water for the survivors and workers, and Starbucks CHARGED THEM! ! !

AN ADDED NOTE TO THIS: STARBUCKS HAD STORES ON SEVERAL MILITARY BASES IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARE NOW BEING REMOVED BECAUSE OF THIS.

There are 227 Starbucks stores across the UK, and there's no doubt that our soldiers would get the same response from this company, so let us do our bit and boycott Starbucks to show them how despicable their actions are.

I've never been a Starbucks fan/customer anyway, as it strikes me as conspicuous consumption, and a waste of money. After reading this, I'll do without, if Starbucks is the only option for a cuppa, and I'm a confirmed addict (usually 12-20+ cups a day, of strong coffee).

Personally, I was for going into Afghanistan, but not Iraq. And beyond that I will not say anything, because I am not articulate enough about what I think to not start a Homegrown war on the subject.

Cheers

[ohiorganic]

According to SNOPES this is false www.snopes.com/politics/military/starbucks.asp

I don't buy much from Starbucks either. I have visited their stores perhaps 4 times in my life. Don't like the coffee much.

But one would have to wonder why they would ever make such a decision-Not to serve the troops in a country that is so damned flag waving patriotic-that would be suicide in the USA. Yes they are run by left leaning people but these people are business people as well and any good business person knows to separate your personal political stance from your business. otherwise you just might alienate 1/2 of your customers, lose them and go under in short order.

[flowerpower]

I could never understand how Starbucks got so popular. Their coffee sucks. I try to hunt down a Dunkin'Donuts. At least they actually brew the flavored coffee.

Outback Steakhouse provided tons of food and drink during the first days of 9/11. And they were feeding everyone steak and chicken sandwiches.

[lavandulagirl]

Even before I saw that there was a Snopes link I knew this was false. The local Starbucks shops in the Tri-Cities area of WA collected boxes to send to troops during the first couple years of the war, and may still do it. When we moved here to CA this summer, the local shops were collecting coffee donations for the fire lines... you could buy a discounted bag of beans, write a note of thanks to the firefighters, and the baristas took it to the staging area and prepared it and served it.

This, conspiracy theorist that I am, looks like just another way to discredit the "elitist" groups, with their "fancy coffee and liberal views". I wouldn't be surprised at all if it shows up on Newsmax or Fox before election night.

By the way... I do drink Starbucks, but I lived in Seattle, where coffee is supposed to be chewy! ;D The guys who actually own the company are mostly self serving pricks, so there is NO WAY they'd make a PR blunder like this, which would hit them squarely in the pocketbook.

[jason]

While the snopes link said the letter was false the basic idea seems pretty much true. They only donate to local non profits, which the military is not. I don't know. I guess I don't really care much about starbucks or who it gives coffee too.

[canadamike]

If I had coffee to give, I am not sure I would give it to the army. And I feel it is disgusting to put the weight of the wars on those that are dying for their country. Like the Vietnam boys, the girls and guys in Irak are no less heroes because of the bad political choices that sent so many to the grave and even more diseabled in their body or their soul forever.

It is just that it would be the job of the army to provide it. It has been done in Canada by ours in Afghanistan with Tim Horton's coffee. In Irak, a big chunk of the cash spent is GIVEN to big corps for reasons we'll never know, but we know who they are and how buddy buddy they are with certain people.

If I was the Starbuck's owner, would sure think that it is normal to have a share of the pie for my business instead of the other friends of the VP. The money is there anyway, if I don't get it some Cheney's friend will end up with it.