Attention: Latte Lovers
I believe in free speech.
Even though it's never free.
I show my name, face, and other assorted body parts sometimes to prove a point, stand behind my words, back up my beliefs, and get you going.
That's right, baby. To hell with the consequences.
Obviously.
Newspapers, writers, pundits, radio talk show hosts all do the same thing. They stand up for what they believe in and, for that, they are to be commended.
What if you don't agree with what they say?
Cry about it.
Post anonymous comments like other chicken shits who don't have the courage of their convictions.
Read something else.
Turn the station.
Is it fair to contact sponsors and ask them to pull their ads?
Absolutely.
Whether I agree or not with the sentiments behind individual efforts, we all have a right to exercise our own freedom of speech by voting with our wallets. We contact companies to let them know that we won't be doing business with anyone who supports something vile or corrupt.
Or gay.
Socially responsible boycotts work. So do scare tactics. How you view them depends on which side you're on.
So what happens when a company pulls its support for progressive ideals? Happens all the time. What works for us, can also work against us.
Therefore, as always, it's up to us.
Locally, Starbucks received a complaint about The Independent and pulled the paper from all its Pikes Peak locations.
If we don't complain, they won't bring back Colorado Springs' only alternative newspaper.
For those who are interested in contacting Starbucks regarding this shift toward conservatism:
Email The Independent and they will forward all emails to Starbucks.
Call the coffee chain directly at 1.800.23.LATTE or visit their website.
Starbucks, headquartered in Seattle, is a large contributor to progressive causes and candidates. When a local activist called their customer service number, they said they wanted to hear from all of us on this issue.
What works against us, can also work for us.
So get on it.
posted by kate @ 9:06 AM
26 comments
26 Comments:
hmmmmmm - prostitution?
If one staunchly believes in these statements, then why be so self serving as to want Starbucks to even exist except to distribute the Indy?
"Did the Indy, like some papers, write about how coffee plantation workers in Ethiopia earn $2 a day and sell the beans to Starbucks for about $1 a pound, coffee that Starbucks puts in glitzy bags and sells for as much as $26 a pound?
No, we didn't.
Did we write, as other papers did, about how Starbucks apparently tried to block Ethiopia's efforts to trademark its best coffee, which would increase the selling price, give the plantation workers perhaps another dollar or two a day and — gasp — affect Starbucks' annual revenue, which was, last year, about $8 billion?
There are plenty of other coffee shops, of course. Locally owned shops that don't ship their profits to corporate headquarters in Seattle, where teams of Starbucks folks devise new ways to make bigger profits off the backs of $2-a-day Ethiopian children. "
Jes pimpin' for the Indy.
Finally you wrote something worth reading...quite a nice change for you. Why dont you post your name, what are you afraid of...your points would have so much weight if you stood proud and identified yourself instead of hiding in anonymity!
Personally, I dislike Starbucks for the very reasons you mentioned.
Cheers!
Dalia
Awwwwwwwww......why don't you go whine and cry to your mommie, kate?
Dalia:
I copied that from the Indy.
The very paper that wants to be in Starbucks.
Go figure.
Anon 6:20 AM
What difference does it make whether a comment is anonymous or not? Really.
Either it has something of substance, in which case you can and probably should address it, or it doesn't, in which case you can ignore it.
So what difference does it make?
Anonymous comments are allowed on my site for a reason. I want to know what most of you think. Otherwise I'd follow the advice of most of my friends and relatives and ban them.
But the fact that they are anonymous, makes me wonder if the person leaving such comments even believes in what he/she espouses. Otherwise - why not leave a name? Or are you ashamed or embarrassed by your views? Scared I'll run into you at a family reunion or local bar and harrass you? I won't. I'm a delight.
Now, there are people who are afraid of being fired or ridiculed - those people are cowards or smart - depending which way you look at it.
Then there's the confusion over which anonymous commenter you might be - the freak show who thinks I hate Christians? Then that alone makes the rest of what you say suspect. Or are you the one who thinks I should cry to my mommie?
So come up with a nickname. Just to help the rest of us either take you seriously or blow you off - depending which way you look at it.
I agree with the comment about Starbucks. And so, therefore, I don't give them my business. (Well, that and because coffee makes me want to choke.) But even if Wal-Mart, KFC, or any of the dozen or so places on my boycott list stopped carrying a progressive paper because of one complaint, I'd encourage people to try to change their minds. It'd make it easier to hate these corporations if well-intentioned and kind-hearted souls didn't frequent them, but they do. And if they can grab The Indy on the way out, why not? We gain nothing by only preaching to the choir.
If you don't hate Christians, why do you bash them so much? Just curious.
I have never been to a Starbucks, ever. So I haven't put money in their pocket, and probably won't.
Nor have I read the Indy until today. And I doubt I will ever read it again, except by happenstance. So I haven't put money in their pocket, and probably won't.
But since the $26/wk ($140,608,000.00
) Indy printed all of those things about the $8 Billion Starbucks; I can see why money is no object for the Indy.
Their 104,000 loyal readers, contrary to their media kit statement, may have to go a little far from now on. Especially all of those readers that were going to Starbucks.
It appears that, by writing the above response, they gave up their position to overcome the one dissenting voice.
I doubt Indy really cares about Starbucks at all, and never did.
Undesignated
Who goes to Starbucks anymore? That's like sooo 2007.
tiny...
Just wanted to see if I was missing anything by checking the Anonymous button. Strange... I feel a tingling sensation.
They tried to make me go to Starbucks but I said no no no...
Quakerjono
And tiny's right...anon does produce a slight tingling sensation. And then the wind began to switch, the house to pitch and suddenly the hinges started to unhitch. Just then the witch, to satisfy and itch, went flying on her broomstick thumbing for a hitch.
hold on...I need to get a drink and some popcorn!!!
Dalia
know why witch's don't wear underwear?
to get a better grip!
undesignated
Doesn't matter if I agree or not, but maybe Starbucks was exercising their right to free speech by pulling the paper. The street works both ways and businesses are allowed to run their businesses and put forth the inmage they want. So protest or whatever. I don't think its about conservatism.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brew your own (8 O' Clock)! Fight like a brave, don't be a slave or some s**t like that.
Not to get all serious and fuck up all the hilarity but... Anon Anon brought up Starbucks rights to free speech. I find it interesting how pervasive the thought is that constitutional rights apply equally to corporate entities. Not saying they do or don't just posing the question.
I don't think Starbucks was doing anything other than making a corporate decision to appease a complaining customer. Which is their right to do.
People have a right to contact them in support or contact them and ask them to change their minds and allow The Indy to return.
Let's not create a constitutional conundrum where there isn't any.
And I wear underwear. So there goes that idea.
And tiny...you feel a tingling sensation...but it has nothing to do with pressing the anon button.
This is fun...
Hate Christians? No, I don't believe she ever said, nor implied that. What inane dribble. I don't like people telling me what to think and what to believe. I don't like people that don't like people that are different. Color me reactionary. Think what you want, but let me think!
Perhaps AndyMan can tells us all why the witch couldn't have babies?
cuz of all the Hollow Weenies around them?
Hoo, Yah! That is correct!
"The Sky Is Falling, also known as Chicken Little, Chicken Licken or Henny Penny is an old, classical fable of unknown origin about a chicken who believes the sky is falling. The phrase has also become used to indicate a hysterical or mistaken belief that disaster is imminent."
Mockman Didajob
OH, geez, just what we need a global warming nutcase propagandist. Swell.
"If we don't complain, they won't bring back Colorado Springs' only alternative newspaper."
Typical victim status.
Victim gets kicked out of house.
Victim disparages "homeowner" and says very mean things.
Maybe it is true. Possibly is.
But victim wants back in house.
Go figure.
I always wonder, do anonymous posters think they're making a point, or making a joke of themselves?
At least they don't have silly pretend-super-hero avatars.....
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