The culture wars raged on in Seattle again this past week. Microsoft had a change of heart. And Starbucks decided to tune out the Boss.

Microsoft switched back to its original public position on legislation that would protect the rights of gays in the workplace. The reversal comes just 15 days after an anti-discrimination bill was defeated in the Washington State Senate by one vote. The measure would have added to a state law that already bans discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, marital status and other factors.

Over a year ago, Microsoft came out in support of similar legislation. Critics claimed that the company then bowed to pressure from the Rev. Ken Hutcherson, a Redmond pastor who threatened a national boycott of the software company if it supported the anti-discrimination measure.

Microsoft now believes it made a mistake in backing down. CEO Steve Ballmer explained to his employees the change in company stance: "After looking at the question from all sides, I've concluded that diversity in the workplace is such an important issue for our business that it should be included in our legislative agenda," Ballmer wrote.

Another Seattle-based company, Starbucks, also found itself this week navigating the tricky waters of values and commerce. Although Bruce Springsteen's latest album debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts, Starbucks won't be leading the charge to sell "Devils & Dust." The album sports an advisory label warning - a first for the Boss - because it includes a track titled "Reno," which mentions anal sex with a prostitute.

A business journalist from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer called me this week to ask whether we should expect companies to act as guides for personal ethics. To tell the truth, I don't think anyone is looking for a coffee company for moral guidance. Customers do come to trust an editor's choice, on the other hand, and Starbucks is positioning itself as an editor of fine coffee beans and quality music.

Above all, I respect Starbucks right to choose the kind of musical content that it wants to offer to its customers. It should come as no surprise that Starbucks would be cautious - many companies feel as if they are operating in a cultural tinderbox. Make the wrong values choice and you could ignite a storm of controversy, with your company turning into an icon at the center of the firestorm.

To an outsider, however, Starbuck's editing of choices for its customers does seem inconsistent. The Seattle PI journalist informed me that starting in June Starbucks has an exclusive six-week deal to sell a 10th-anniversary, acoustic version of Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill." The first hit from that album, "You Oughta Know," included the lyrics: "An older version of me/Is she perverted like me?/Would she go down on you in a theater?"

It is hard not to be cynical about the selective application of values. A more sophisticated judge of music would take into account the fact that Springsteen is legendary for his stories of personal redemption, a possibility alive even for those who have fallen into the gutter.

The difference is, the embers of controversy burning around Morissette's album have died down. The Springsteen album is still new and unproven. Wal-Mart, which has a history of banning raunchy music, has decided to stock "Devil and Dust" on its shelves. I would not be surprised to see the Boss' album in Starbucks in six months as well. In the meantime, Springsteen fans will be seen in the corner table, frappucino and IPod in hand, spinning out their own personal play list.

Tell us what you think of Starbucks' decision in the space below.

Read the Seattle Post-Intelligencer article: Starbucks Tunes out the Boss.