This year Starbucks has forgone holiday-themed cups for plain red which has some people arguing Starbucks is now against Christmas and Jesus Christ – a claim that is beyond ridiculous.

First of all, there has never been a symbol on a Starbucks cup that has been related to Christianity. In years past there were never any crosses, just things that represented, not even Christmas, but the season of winter. Starbucks can’t all of a sudden be against Christ because they changed their cups if the cups didn’t stand for him in the first place.

With that being said, even if Starbucks had previously used Christmas-themed cups, it would have been nice to have them change to seasonal cups to show acceptance of all religions. Someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas isn’t going to have the same appreciation for the cups as someone who does. This way, no religion or holiday is left out.

Even though the cups have changed, Starbucks still has Christmas-themed gift cards and even a Christmas Blend coffee. Being such a minimal change, it is insane to see people getting so worked up over it when there is still Christmas-themed merchandise being sold. It’s hard to say that someone is against Christmas because they made one unsubstantial change. That’s like saying someone who doesn’t like mashed potatoes is against Thanksgiving. They still support it, just in a different way than you.

Starbucks has backed the cups completely. “In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cup designs,” Jeffrey Fields, Starbucks Vice President of Design and Content said in a statement. “This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories.”

After seeing all the cool drawings people have done on cups in the past, Starbucks want everyone to be able to express their views on the holiday season the way they see fit. If someone wants to draw snowmen in support of winter they can, if someone wants to draw a Menorah to celebrate Hanukah they can. That’s the whole point of the red cup: To relate to more than just those who celebrate Christmas.

Thinking about it, this stance that Starbucks is making is more of a Christmas-esque thing to do than putting designs on their cups would be anyway. The whole point of Christmas is being with the ones you love and letting them know you love them. Whether it is in the form of gifts, songs, food, dance or prayer, Christmas brings people together in a way unlike any other holiday. By making the cups just plain red, Starbucks is letting their customers know that no matter what they celebrate, the value of their views will always be taken into consideration and will always be accepted. That’s one gift everyone could cherish: Acceptance.