So we’re really doing this with the red Starbucks cups, huh?

I mean, this is where we plant our flag and draw our line in the sand? What will we think of to be offended by next? And when, if ever, will we see the hypocrisy in what we say versus what we do.

In the current age, words speak louder than action.

My social media feed is filled with cup lovers and cup haters. One post complaining about the media bias, the next post is a shared link to a story from the media.

I see Republicans, Libertarians and Democrats. I see Colts fans, Patriots fans, Bears fans, Packers fans, Pacers fans, Eagles fans, Cowboy fans. I see shared stories of someone having their last wish granted before dying of cancer, and someone telling us that bacon causes cancer and to never eat it again. I see Life Lessons from Garth Brooks and a post on how Bro Country is dead thanks to Chris Stapleton.

Well, does it matter to you that I ate some bacon last weekend? That I am not a Colts fan? That I find Florida Georgia Line’s music catchy?

What exactly is our obsession with a futile attempt at making others believe and think as we do?

I have no feelings about a red holiday cup, from an overpriced coffee shop, based out of Seattle, whose sole purpose is to make money off coffee concoctions. But it appears many others do have feelings. Very strong ones.

We’ve been warned of groupthink, of suppression, of fear-mongering, of the mob mentality many times over and long before now.

Ever read 1984? We still have not learned these lessons, and during a presidential election cycle, you’re bound to hear more references to Orwell’s warning on Big Brother.

Basically, the principles of 1984 are simple:

1. Pervasive surveillance.
2. Censorship and re-writing history.
3. Consistent fear-mongering of an unseen, vague enemy.

Do we live in an era where the world depicted in 1984 is our reality? That is for you to decide. I see the similarities all around me, though.

Nearly all the major blockbuster action movies (Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, James Bond’s latest outing in Spectre, most of the Die Hard and Mission: Impossible films and roughly 4,211 other movies over the last decade focus on government or universal surveillance.

And this doesn’t have to be in art – stories across the news deal with spies, spying, security breaches and hacking.

Often, Nos. 1 and 3 are combined: we need to watch everyone do everything because there is an enemy lurking in the shadows that we must stop. It’s “for our own good.” Just like getting those forsaken red cups off the market is for our own good, right? Because whatever you believe is right, must be so.

How many times must censorship occur before we truly recognize it? This founding principle of the United States has been violated many times over – by some of the greatest and worst leaders in our history. Why? Because of the claim that it protects us from the enemy (No. 3). So we change the press release, we limit the information (like the Kennedy assassination, perhaps) or re-write it entirely (No. 2).

History is written by the winners, yes – but it’s also written by the ones holding the pen.

Freedom is not a slogan. Freedom means the ability to find out the facts. If we censor those, we lose our freedom. Yet we must allow ourselves to believe in it entirely. This means the freedom of someone else to love red cups. This means the freedom of someone to not celebrate Christmas as you do. Your rights and mine are protected because theirs are and vice-versa.

Do certain sections of our society feel marginalized by the politically correct culture? Certainly. But for all the wrong reasons.

It is not about how loud your faith and beliefs can be that makes you right and another person or group wrong. The loudest have the most to lose in most cases, feel the most threatened and probably are scared of being marginalized the most. No mattering creates the coiled snake reaction. You feel cornered, so you lash out.

But none of this makes you right.

If you truly believe in what you are doing, then the belief itself should be enough.

We fight the wrong battles.

It matters not who your war is with, as long as there is someone direct your opposition to, then people can be easily manipulated and will willingly go along with things they would otherwise morally oppose.

Do we even know what we agree with? We disagree and oppose so much that who can keep track? We miss the chances in our daily lives to show people the kindness of our particular brands of faith, of our parenting, of our race or gender.

With all that in mind: is there a war on Christmas? Are we really that afraid that Christmas will be marginalized? Do we really fear the unseen enemy meant to destroy the holidays with non-secularly designed coffee cups? Or are we being manipulated into buying more stuff to prove how faith based we are?

Up to you to decide.

Just keep in mind that someone – a pastor – actually suggested going to Starbucks and buying a beverage in the red cup and make them write “Merry Christmas” on it. He asked everyone to join him.

That’ll do it!

Convince others that’s the best way to show your displeasure by spending money in a place you disagree with and a cup you are upset with. Line their pockets with money.

That will most assuredly teach that particular barista – who just needs a job to put themselves through school and who’s never met anyone on the Starbucks marketing team – a lesson in the true meaning of Christmas.

Meanwhile, the guy behind you is “Mike” and all he wants is to get his drink and get out of there.

Starbucks – and any other retailer – is not responsible for spreading the gospel of one religion. Their goals and objectives are to make money for their shareholders in the most cost effective manner possible.

The simple fact is that Christmas has been honored and recognized as a religious holiday for thousands of years by those who believe in it.

It survived the time before mass commercialization.

It survived before the Santa Claus Coca-Cola campaign, before Norman Rockwell painted it, before the shopping mall was invented, before Bing Crosby sang “White Christmas” – and yes, before Starbucks made Peppermint Mocha Lattes.

I think it will manage to endure beyond the #RedCups saga of 2015.

We The People, on the other hand, could still use some work.