Starbucks complaint is trivial
Tim Bryden
White Plains, NY
The day of and the days following Sept. 11, 2001, were difficult for everyone, both for us as individuals and as a country. I'm now additionally saddened (and mildly disgusted) to see one truly insignificant incident related to this horriffic day dredged up and used for something as trivial as reason to oppose a Starbucks in LaFortune.
The events of Sept. 11 were perhaps most difficult for those people who were near the World Trade Center and were fortunate enough to survive. In my opinion, the $130 charged to rescue workers for bottled water, while distasteful, was indicative of nothing more than a mistake made by a very frightened and confused individual still at his/her job in the face of hell on earth down the block. Also, please be sensitive to the fact that $130 represents quite a bit of inventory and salary to someone working hourly behind a counter serving coffee. Before you blame the corporation, please put yourself in the position of the individual.
Secondly, please be aware that big corporations don't operate like families, small businesses, or small communities like Notre Dame. News travels slow. Decision making is decentralized. Those in positions of power are nearly impossible to get in touch with in a timely fashion. Presidents and CEOs do not open their own mail. It's impossible and irresponsible to conclude only pressure from the media moved Starbucks into action. I doubt it.
What really counts is that the Starbucks corporation corrected a mistake made by an individual employee caught in exceptional circumstances and then went on to make significant efforts to support the resuce effort.
So if you oppose Starbucks, don't spend your money there. If there's a real reason to keep Starbucks off our campus or a compelling need to preserve the Alumni Room, please do some real investigative journalism: Write about it for our benefit.
Lastly, out of respect for the dead and their loved ones and our country, please don't trivialize the events of Sept. 11 for use in something as small as the Starbucks debate on campus.
Tim Bryden
White Plains, NY
class of '87
Jan. 28, 2002
All Viewpoint Stories for Tuesday, January 29, 2002
