Chris Bryant MP, a minister in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, says that the red cross logo used by the International Red Cross (IRC) is an offensive reminder to muslims of the crusades and should be replaced with the red crystal logo that the IRC have recently adopted.
It is believed that the red cross logo was chosen as a tribute to Switzerland’s perpetual neutrality, one of the key principles of the IRC. The red cross has since become a universally recognised symbol of the medical profession.
The cross isn’t a reference to Christianity – it isn’t even a Christian cross – but it hasn’t stopped some muslims from feigning offence at the symbol and successfully pushing for the adoption of an Islamic red crescent as an alternative logo. There doesn’t appear to be any corresponding call from Mr Bryant for the banning of the red crescent logo which I’m sure is just offensive to Christians and Jews as a symbol of the muslim invasion of the Holy Land.
We really must stop our politicians from apologising for the Crusades – not just because they ended 800 years ago but because they were an attempt to recover the Holy Land from Islamic invaders, not an exercise in Papal empire-building.
Technorati Tags: Red Cross, Red Crescent, Islam, Chris Bryant MP
Things like this get up the nose. It’s one thing the muslims saying it but for non-muslims to join in with it is weird.
what is the big deal about the crusades?
They won did they not?
Then what about the red crescent, is that not offencive to the catholics or something?
What about making the new logo, the Red Wonko?
Since the red cross is not a Christian symbol I fail to understand how it could be offensive to muslims. I don’t think most muslims are that easily offended anyway.
Seems sensible to have a Red Crystal – that way it’s not confusing for anyone, no?
No doubt the IRC wants to be seen as apolitical and nonsectarian, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they went for the crystal.
Or they could carry on using the red cross they’ve used since 1863 and that has become an internationally recognised symbol of aid and tell any Muslims that pretend to be offended by it as an excuse for promoting the Islamic red crescent to fuck off. Just a suggestion.
Dont tell them to fuck off, that would be unchristian, if they dont want treatment, fair enough, move on to the next casualty
Hi,
The British Red Cross have written a response to this story in the form of a q&a on their blog, which is here:
http://blogs.redcross.org.uk/emergencies/2009/07/your-questions-answered-the-red-crystal/
You might find it interesting!
Thanks
Alex
Interesting. It looks like the amendment to the Geneva Convention that gives recognition to the red crescent describes it incorrectly so I wonder what it’s legal status actually is.
The problem I have with this is that the more logos there are, the less likely they are to be recognised. Everyone recognises the red cross, it’s been around forever. The red crescent isn’t very well recognised, I think most people you asked wouldn’t be able to tell you what it meant. The red crystal? I wonder how many “enemy combatants” would recognise or respect it the same as they would for a red cross or a red crescent?