Poverty. Homelessness. Unemployment. Cancer. Suicide. Drugs. Terrorism.

And people are concerned about a red cup?

It never ceases to amaze us how the smallest events can cause outrage. On Nov. 5, conservative Internet evangelist Joshua Feuerstein posted a video criticizing Starbucks’ decision to release a plain, red holiday cup, accusing them of being too politically correct and “wanting to take Christ and Christmas” out of the picture.

People immediately started posting their opinions on social media. Many people supported Starbucks’ decision, like we are now. #ItsJustACup, #IStandWithStarbucks and #StarbucksRedCup were popular hashtags.

This controversy is absurd on multiple levels.

Firstly, Feuerstein and his supporters have also failed to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the history of Starbucks’ holiday-themed cups. Starbucks first began releasing the holiday-themed cups in 1997, and since then their design has continuously evolved, incorporating snowmen, snowflakes and other various winter-themed elements. These cups simply haven’t (and never will) declared a stance on Christianity, as their designs are only vaguely related to the season in which Christ’s birth is celebrated. The only way these cups will relate to religion is if people make it a religious issue.

If those outraged at Starbucks’ design had actually taken time to research the company’s decision, they would have realized that the vice president of Starbucks’ design and content, Jeffrey Phillips, claimed legitimate artistic reason behind the choice. He explained that it embraces the “simplicity and the quietness” of the holiday season. Neither of these themes are opposed to Christianity (and arguably, they come close to the sort of reverence a Christian might have toward the season), and they certainly aren’t a part of a secularist conspiracy to push Christianity out of the public sphere.

This incident is not anything for Christians or non-Christians to worry about, but it does leave one important lesson: tolerance. Some people celebrate Christmas, and others don’t, but in no way will Starbucks’ ever choose a side. Respect the people that don’t celebrate Christmas. Respect the people that do. Respect Starbucks and their decisions. The company is not participating in an imaginary “war on Christmas,” but rather merely made an artistic choice, one with a misinterpretation that has left some Christians, like Feuerstein, looking foolish and petty.