tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264148977155820969.post4997544598669678543..comments2024-01-28T15:51:01.643-05:00Comments on Spirit of a Progressive: Starbucks' Bold, Brave Experiment in FutilityPeter Feganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949239024795435039noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264148977155820969.post-30618745505852145112015-03-22T10:17:11.009-04:002015-03-22T10:17:11.009-04:00Sir:
And yet, you continue to offer up nothing of...<br />Sir:<br /><br />And yet, you continue to offer up nothing of substance on how a discussion of race should take place. Apparently, this is your remedy: Start (the discussion) with your friends and family; write a letter to one's elected officials; vote for candidates who address relevant concerns. Wonderful! Guess what? That's been going on forever among those who are so inclined. Do you have anything else? This is like those dreadful smoking PSAs in the NY metro area. They're absolutely awful. Of course, the people for whom they're intended - i.e., the smokers - couldn't care less about the underlying message and just laugh it all off. For almost everyone else, however, it's like fingernails on a blackboard, inducing profound annoyance and causing a quick search for the remote.<br /> <br />Attitudes on race begin with the individual. These attitudes are a reflection of one's inner heart and soul; they are a component of one's being. Can racists remove the toxicity that permeates their hearts and souls? Well, sometimes they can. Invariably it's an individual discovery, or epiphany, if you will. However, there are some who will never see the central flaw in their character that makes them less of a person. For these individuals no amount of national discussions on race is going to do the trick. If you truly believe otherwise, and think you may have an idea or two on how to reach *these* people, then that would certainly be a most interesting thing to read.<br /><br />Thank you for the opportunity to respond. <br />Prof. Walter Jamesonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264148977155820969.post-44361376710877125092015-03-21T15:29:36.068-04:002015-03-21T15:29:36.068-04:00Having lived my entire life, so far, in Seattle, t...Having lived my entire life, so far, in Seattle, the cradle of Starbucks, I can tell you that Howard is a decent person, who just wants to help others to be decent, too. I agree with you that this is not the way to go about it, and I feel for his employees, who will be dealing with the fall-out. Gotta give the guy credit for caring and trying though! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com