Patriotism

Important Update:

A friend pointed me in the direction of Snopes.com. I wish I'd known about this before I created that post. Turns out this, while not wholly untrue, was primarily a misunderstanding which occurred in 2004. The sergeant who wrote the original e-mail has tried to rescind it, but the rumor persists.

Yes, Starbuck's would not fulfill such a request but solely because its corporate policy forbids donations to individuals. It does, however, encourage its employees to support individual service members in this way.

Sorry for the confusion. I've been a little too busy lately to fully research the issue before I posted. You may return to your usual coffee consumption without a guilty conscience.

I received this e-mail recently from a nurse friend whose husband is a policeman. They have many friends who are/were military. Although I wholeheartedly disagree with the politics of the war in Iraq, I must agree with the author that there is no purpose or honor in denying the troops. These young men and women are there for a variety of reasons...some because they agree with their Commander-in-Chief, some simply because they couldn't afford to go to college without the government's help. Regardles of politics, they deserve to know that the American public honors them for the job they do. They deserve our support.

---forwarded message---

This was a surprise!
****************************************************************************** **********

Recently 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 not support them by buying any of their products! As a war vet writing to fellow patriots, I feel we should get this out in the open. I know this war might not be very popular with folks, but that doesn't mean we don't support the boys on the ground fighting street-to-street and house-to-house for what they and I believe is right.

If you feel the same as I do then pass this along, or you can discard it and no one will never know.

Thanks very much for your support. I know you'll all be there again when I deploy once more.

"Semper Fidelis"
Sgt Howard C. Wright
1st Force Recon Co
1st Plt PLT

---end forward---

Food for thought for those who regularly patronize Starbuck's. I think I might reconsider that next purchase and opt for the diner coffee instead. Do as your conscience dictates.