You never know what is going to cause a firestorm when the Internet is involved. Who could have predicted that Starbucks’ new minimalist red cup holiday design would have made so many conservatives, Christians and Christmas lovers everywhere so angry?

I don’t think that Starbucks is waging a war on Christians. It’s just a cup after all people, and snowmen aren’t even Christian (at least I do not think they are). The only thing that Starbucks is waging war on is everyone’s pocketbook. Yes, a nearly $5 coffee is an act of war in my book.

But I still find Starbucks’ cups offensive. Why, you might ask?

Because it’s too early for Christmas! Thanksgiving has not even come around yet, and stores are already playing their Christmas music and prematurely decking their halls. Can we not just celebrate one holiday at a time any more?

I do acknowledge that Thanksgiving, with its turkey, stuffing and football, may not be able to stand up to the presents, trees, lights and all the glory that the holiday season brings in. I mean Christmas even has its own music, how can Thanksgiving stand up to that? But we still need to give Thanksgiving its due time in the spotlight, and it definitely is good to reflect with thankfulness on all that we enjoy rather than focusing on the negatives as we so often do.

But for some, Starbucks included, Christmas festivities starting on Black Friday is not good enough. Thanksgiving already seems to have been consumed by the Christmas celebration. What’s next, Halloween just turning into an early Christmas-themed costume party? It’s possible, and this may be true in only a matter of time with the way things are going.

So I am going to go Ebenezer Scrooge and Grinch on all the Christmas festivities up until Nov. 26. Then and only then will I partake in playing Christmas music and the sipping from the “highly offensive” plain red Starbucks cups.