It seems the Red Cross of Great Britain is valiantly trying to become a completely neutral charity. Isn't that an oxymoron?
Scanning this article (click the title), I was chagrined at first, and then it became funny, especially in the last paragraph. It seems the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) tried to find a less prickly symbol than the cross five years ago and amidst boos, hisses and criticisms finally gave up the task.
This was just going to be a simple story, written before I went to bed. Now, after all this research into the background of the Red Cross, where it came from (American Red Cross came through the efforts of one Clara Barton). The ICRC began in Switzerland due to one man's observation of a battle fought in 1859 in Suferino where 40,000 men on both sides fell wounded and dead with no medical help. Henry Dunant persuaded locals to minister to the wounded without prejudice. An amazing feat.
The hooha concerning the religious nature of the symbol, a cross, is what spurred the international committee to try to design another symbol. Purely for neutrality since the Muslim countries were beginning their own Red Cross organizations. Somewhere in the first part of the 20th century, they adopted the Red Crescent which was immediately adopted by Russia and several Muslim countries. I'm confused now.
If the thing is not religious in nature, then why must they conjure up a Red Crescent, a Red Crystal and what's up with this Red Lion and Sun thing? The Red Star of David is nationally recognized in Israel, but the Jews adopt the Red Crystal for protection in international conflicts.
Can't the leadership of the Red Cross discern that we are divided along religious lines no matter what their symbol is?
So the Brits can't have Christmas decorations in their 430 Red Cross stores, yet they can sell Christmas cards with angels and nativity scenes "to help the charity".
2 comments:
I contribute to the Red Cross here in Australia. As far as I know, I don't think there has ever been an issue here. I think Australians treat it as a secular organisation with neutrality in times of conflict. And if people get picky why can't they give to other charities without problematic names/symbols etc i.e. Medicins sans frontiers.
A friend of mine was working with Red Cross a while back and showed the film of the history of the Red Cross at a nearby church. I found the movie quite enlightening and it firmed up my knowledge quite a bit. I think the point of organisations like Red Cross is to show respect to everyone irrespective of things that may divide us such as race, religion, ethnicity, gender and age.
Oh, it is GREAT to see you again:)
I agree. The Red Cross should be gender, race, religion and ethnically neutral to give aid without prejudice.
I just find it ridiculous that they had to adopt so many different logos just to make some countries religiously comfortable. Ah well, if the world made sense, then it would be so very boring.
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