Starbucks, Gun Nuts, and Karma
Karma score: 66/100
What is that about? Who knew that people who need to wear a gun in public to make up for raging insecurities even liked Starbucks? We would have imagined, if we had ever taken the time to imagine, that gun toters got their coffee at bait shops.
Personally, we don’t want to see some mouth breather in Ranger Joe drag holding up the line while he tries to comprehend the difference between tall, grande, and venti. Nevertheless, Starbucks has refused to ban guns in its stores, even though it has the legal right to do so—and even though it has been petitioned by gun-control advocates to do so.
Some chains, California Pizza Kitchen and Peet’s Coffee & Tea among them, have banned guns from their restaurants, even in open-carry states, because of the impact guns might have on non-gun-carrying customers. Starbucks ought to man up and do the same.
“I think [Starbucks'] policy shows complete disregard for the safety and sentiments of their workers,” says Erik Forman, a Starbucks barista and union member in Minneapolis. “The only thing worse than a yuppie upset with how their frappuccino turned out is a yuppie with a gun who’s unhappy with how their frappuccino turned out,”
C’mon, Starbucks. This isn’t Deadwood. Do the right thing, or at least offer armed and unarmed sections in your stores.
Today in Karma History
03/17/461
Saint Patrick, Christian missionary, bishop, and apostle of Ireland, died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland. Born in Great Britain, most likely in Scotland, Patrick was part of a well-to-do Christian family of Roman citizenship. At the age of sixteen he was captured and enslaved by Irish marauders.
Patrick worked as a herder in Ireland for the next six years. During that time he depended on a deepening religious faith for comfort. Following the counsel of a voice he heard in a dream one night, Patrick escaped and found passage on a ship to Britain, where he was eventually reunited with his family.
Some time later Patrick had another dream. This time an individual named Victoricus gave him a letter, entitled "The Voice of the Irish." As he read the letter, Patrick heard the voices of Irishmen pleading him to return to their country and to walk among them once more.
After studying for the priesthood, Patrick was ordained a bishop. He returned to Ireland in 433 and began preaching the gospel, converting thousands people, and building churches around the country. After forty years of living in poverty, teaching, traveling, and working tirelessly, Patrick died on March 17, 461, in Saul, where he had built his first church.
Much of what is known about Patrick's legendary life comes from the Confessio, a book he wrote during his last years.