From: "Keith Barnett" Subject: Fw: Words Fail Me Date: 05 November 2008 16:26 Dear Member, Please read the forwarded message from one of our troops in Iraq. I for one will NOT be buying from STARBUCKS in future. Regards, Keith ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 10:45 PM Subject: Fwd: Words Fail Me Recently, Royal Marines in Iraq, wrote to Starbucks because they wanted to let them know how much they liked their coffees, and to request that they send some of it to the troops there. Starbucks replied, telling the Marines thank you for their support of their business, but that Starbucks does not support the war, nor anyone in it, and that they would not send the troops their brand of coffee. So as not to offend Starbucks, maybe we should support them by NOT buying any of their products! I feel we should get this out in the open. I know this war might not be very popular with some folks, but that doesn't mean we don't support the boys on the ground, fighting street-to-street and, house-to-house. If you feel the same as I do then pass this along. Thanks very much for your support. I know you'll all be there again when I deploy once more. Sgt. Howard C. Wright 1st Force Recon Co 1st PLT. PLEASE DON'T DELETE THIS. .. PLEASE PASS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR E- MAIL LIST, IN MEMORY OF ALL THE TROOPS WHO HAVE DIED, SO THAT WE MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE! Also, don't forget that when the Twin Trade Towers were hit, the fire fighters and rescue workers went to Starbucks because it was close by for water for the survivors and workers, and Starbucks CHARGED THEM! ! ! AN ADDED NOTE TO THIS: STARBUCKS HAD STORES ON SEVERAL MILITARY BASES IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARE NOW BEING REMOVED BECAUSE OF THIS. There are 227 Starbucks stores across the UK, and there's no doubt that our soldiers would get the same response from this company, so let us do our bit and boycott Starbucks to show them how despicable their actions are.
Whilst it appears to be true that Starbucks charged for water bought by emergency crews on 9/11 this site snopes.com: Starbucks Refuses Marines refutes the allegations about the troops. Since I am no longer allowed to drink coffee it is academic, they won't miss my business!!!!
Not so sure about this In my opinion this is just another one of those chain emails doing the rounds. I have seen variations of this and as has been pointed out the Marines [US] has now changed to [Royal] Marines. All this serves to do is clog up email servers around the world. If there is genuine evidence that this company does not support our servicemen and women. Lets see it and we can make comment otherwise don't post it. Regards Hugh
Must admit i got caught by a couple of 'military' emails before, they are very convincing and just hotwire straight into your brain. Logic doesn't come into it at times. It does make me wonder though, why people want to send these emails? Just what do they get out of it?
As Nana has pointed out, this just seems to be another of those Chinese Whispers, where someone heard from a friend of a friend etc. There maybe a number of reasons for boycotting Starbucks, primarily for serving crap coffee, but I don't think is one.
I think it is very easy, on the Internet, to post something that is untrue and before you know it, it has gone around the Web and is taken as fact. I do think it is right to challenge something like this which is dubious to say the least. As an ex-serviceman myself, I would be the first to support this if I thought it was true. Regards Hugh
This message came to me by way of my regimental association. If as you say it is not based on fact I apologise.
I have received a few emails like this too. I did post the first, about the Red Arrows and the 2012 Olympics because it came from a reputable friend of my husband. It transpired that it too was unfounded but ..... at the time I had no idea that one could validate the information. In some respects I am guilty again because I have no knowledge of the veracity of the Snopes site either. Who keeps the keeper????
I have approached R.M.HQ and asked for verification or denial, if they are allows to comment. I shall of course keep you posted of the outcome. Again this was posted in all sincerity.
Keith, I don't doubt your sincerity and you posted this in good faith so there is no need to apologise. Indeed, if this turns out to be true, then I will need to apologise to you. I would be interested to hear what RMHQ have to say. Regards Hugh
I am very interested in what your RMHQ has to say. I would have thought that they would be up to speed on rumours such as this one may be.
The official statement from Starbucks Rumor Response: Misinformation About Starbucks and the United States Military Read the links at the bottom too - seems to be a regular thing to accuse Starbucks of some slight or another against some military force
I have had confirmation that the snub to the marines was a complete hoax. Started by a Master Sergeant in the Marines (US) as a bit of fun ? The mind boggles at the fact that someone can be so stupid. I can only say that I too was stupid for not confirming before posting. It will not happen again. I took on face value that coming from my Regimental Association it must be true. My thanks to NANA who tried to point me in the right directiom (Snoops) Their answer refuting this statement was sent to me by a friend in Aldershot. It would appear the complete opposite was true, with the troops receiving very generous supplies from Star Bucks.
As the saying goes " you live and learn from your mistakes " Everyone at some stage makes the error as you have Keith so don't feel bad about it John
Thanks for getting back to us Keith. As others have stated, our cynicism was in way a reflection on you. You posted in good faith, and if the story had been true then there would have been a very good reason for boycotting Starbucks, and any other store who behaved in such a way. Now, what I would like to know is why do some people behave in this manner. Apart from the "it was a joke" excuse, the repercussions for both the store AND those troops who benefit from Starbuck's generosity means that the story was at best in poor taste and at worst highly malicious. At a time when Britain is finally supporting the troops, despite disagreeing with the government's actions, I think we need to be very careful and rigorous in quashing such stories, unless we can provide definate proof that there is substance to them.
Assume that you omitted the "no" from the second sentence in error!!!! I think that these are the same mindless individuals who never ever think through the implications of their actions, nor perhaps care what the outcome might be. Why would anybody spend hours writing spurious code for viruses, think it funny or whatever to destroy anything of beauty, vandalise anything nevermind a memorial of any sort? My personal exception to the mindless ones are bullies who I believe are fully aware and intent upon achieving the outcome (good job I'm not in charge eh????)
I love that phrase. I think the issue is they take great delight in upsetting others and stirring up trouble. They seem to think it gives them power and makes them stronger and better than everyone else. Last time that happened to a friend of mine, he sat down and wrote a worm and sent it back, this particular worm though obliterated the pranksters computer to such a point it had to be replaced. Served him right.
