Posted on 03/27/2013 4:54:30 AM PDT by IbJensen
SEATTLE, Washington, March 26, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) - At the annual Starbucks shareholder's meeting in Seattle last week, company CEO Howard Shultz told a shareholder that he should buy stocks in other coffee businesses if he didn't like Starbucks endorsement of same-sex "marriage."
Shareholder Tom Strobhar had pointed to what he argued was a significant drop in sales following a boycott launched by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) protesting Starbucks support of homosexual "marriage" in Washington state.
"In the first full quarter after this boycott was announced, our sales and our earnings, shall we say politely, were a bit disappointing," said Strobhar according to a ChristianNews.net report.
Strobhar questioned whether it was a prudent business move for Starbucks to risk share value by supporting gay "marriage."
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Schultz, after interrupting Strobhar twice by asking What is your question? told the shareholders, Not every decision is an economic decision.
Click "like" if you want to defend true marriage.
The lens we use to make decisions is the lens of our people. We want to embrace diversity, Schultz said. He then told Strobhar, If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38% you got last year, it's a free country. You can sell your shares in Starbucks and buy shares in another company. Thank you very much."
The National Organization for Marriage has urged customers to "Dump Starbucks," over its corporate-wide position that the definition of marriage between one man and one woman should be eliminated and that same-sex "marriage" should become equally "normal."
"As such, Starbucks has deeply offended at least half its US customers, and the vast majority of its international customers," the group states. The group also says, "In many areas of the world where Starbucks does business, the concept of 'gay marriage' is unheard of and deeply offensive to cultural, moral and religious values.
"In taking these actions, Starbucks has declared a culture war on all people of faith (and millions of others) who believe that the institution of marriage as one man and one woman is worth preserving."
The boycott campaign's petition against Starbucks has been signed by over 57,000 individuals.
"Starbucks is using its resources to invalidate traditional marriage in the US and redefine the institution of marriage despite the strongly held views of so many of its customers, including me," the petition states. "Therefore, I will no longer purchase anything from Starbucks until you change your corporate values to be more reflective of my own."
The American Family Association (AFA) also encourages coffee drinkers to no longer support Starbucks but take their business elsewhere. They also asked customers to let Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz know they don't agree with his company's aggressive attempts to re-define marriage.
Starbucks is clearly standing with those who worship the anus. I can only hope they drown in their coffee!
Chic-fil-A sells coffee.
More amazing ... people in America wanting and willing to pay three times as much for a cup of it.
I didn’t read your post before posting my reply, but I see now why starbucks coffee tastes like shit.
I don’t buy their coffee because I hate it, but this just gives me another reason to not drink it.
People should talk with their dollars. Do not buy Starbucks!!
DO NOT BUY STARBUCKS!!!
For the life of me, I don’t understand why any company takes any political position on anything. They are in business to sell their product or service...nothing more. It seems extremely dumb to me.
Starbucks recently initiated a new corporate strategy, purcasing Central or South American coffee growing plantations. Makes me think of Harry Belifonte’s “DAY-O!” Starbucks will soon face some harsh realities.
It strikes me as totally stupid to put ones business in jeopardy over this issue.
What cards does this guy have in the deck?
The sodomists apparently rinse their dipsticks in the brew.
BTW: Starbucks is the worst tasting coffee I’ve ever encountered. I fail to see the appeal.
Starbucks: tastes like ass smells.
I love Starbucks. My wife buys it at the grocery and I have it every morning. Never again, and that’s a promise. I plan on boxing up my remaining coffee and shipping to HQ in protest. Does anyone know of a coffee that equals it in flavor? I’m a black coffee only guy. Er uh African american
“I never understood how starbucks got so popular selling coffee that tastes like burnt s***.”
LOL! And pay some snooty barista $4.00 a cup for it.
McDonalds’ & Dunkin Donuts’ coffee has Starburps skinned a mile.
I don’t care for Starbucks coffee (actually had it maybe only once, but it is hard for me to drink it at their prices, even if someone else is paying) and I don’t support redefining marriage, BUT, it is their corporation and they are free to take positions that hurt their profits. I agree with Starbucks— if you don’t like their practices, sell your shares.
Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee is far better anyway. No loss.
I have a lot of friends that don’t like their coffee but love their latte’s and other drinks. However, they are now dead to me and, I hope, all my facebook friends who see the link to this article on my timeline.
People should talk with their dollars. Do not buy Starbucks!!
And most owners are the pleasant, smiling Punjabi.
(Just ask Joe Biten)
I’ve never had starbucks coffee. I’m one of those silly people that thinks its retarded to pay $4.00 for a cup of coffee beverage. And I don’t buy water either. I make really great coffee at home and work, and at home I have my own well in an area that has numerous big springs, and my water comes straight out of the artesian auquifer. But if I had shares, I’d sell, and if I bought their coffee, I’d stop.
May I suggest a nice store bought brand and a French press for your coffee? It’s easy and your will produce a wonderfully, uniformly excellent cup of coffee. Cheers and enjoy...
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