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 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. |
