Anger at Red Cross 'shop ban on Jesus' - Unbelievable!

Evening Times UK ^ | November 13, 2003 | Evening Times UK

[Damocles]

Anger at Red Cross 'shop ban on Jesus'

The British Red Cross was criticised today for 'banning' Jesus from its shops for fear of offending minority faiths.

The charity has told volunteers not to create nativity scenes or put up advent calendars if they have pictures of Mary and Joseph or the three wise men.

Customers wanting to support the charity by buying Christmas cards with a religious message will have to settle for 'Season's Greetings'.

The British Red Cross earns about £30million a year from its 392 shops. It said the policy is designed to to underline its reputation for impartiality, allowing it to work in some of the world's most dangerous places.

Now it faces demands from MPs to overturn the "offensive" decision.

Tory Nigel Evans said the policy was "political correctness gone mad".

The Ribble Valley and Fulwood MP said: "How can the Red Cross, sporting a Christian symbol as its name and logo, exclude Jesus, or other religious symbols, from a holiday celebrating His birth?"

He has tabled a Commons motion calling on MPs to press British Red Cross chief Sir Nicholas Young to rethink.

A Red Cross spokes-man said: "We have to be seen as neutral if we are to work effectively."

[Damocles]

As though I neede another reason to not support the International Red Cross

What the heck do they think the "Cross" in Red Cross represents?

PC Idiots...

[Mamzelle]

Send your dollars to Salvation Army.

[Semper Paratus]

Christian blood is OK but not what stirs it.

[MissAmericanPie]

I have heard donations to the Red Cross are way down, they need to be non-existant after their disgraceful actions regarding the distribution of monies to the 9-11 families.

[BluH2o]

Wildly exaggerated PC runs amok once again.

[Damocles]

Already do that...

[CindyDawg]

Time to change their name to the Red XXXX

[Killborn]

Needs new management.

It's a d@mn shame when a good organization turns rotten from being infested by idiots.

[LadyPilgrim]

That statement is a fact!

[BabsC]

What the heck do they think the "Cross" in Red Cross represents?

It is a reverse representation of the Swiss National flag.

The Red Cross was created as a non-religious entity so it could provide aid everywhere.

[anniegetyourgun]

Coming soon to all agencies in the U.S.

[Damocles]

And where did the Swiss National Flag derive its use of the "cross".  Read on...

Hint:  Christianity

 

 

	The Origin of the Swiss Flag

Among the flags of contemporary European countries, that of Switzerland is one of the most ancient and one of the most modern. It has a white cross in a red field; the cross is the same length on all sides and each arm is one-sixth longer than its width. The flag looks back upon 700 years of history. To trace its origin, one must go right back to the very beginning of the Confederation. Already in the early Middle Ages, the cross was, more or less, commonly used on coins and seals and, as a symbol of the Christian faith, it was carried into battle on the banners of the various warring parties. Documents and records show that the white cross, which appeared on the banner of Schwyz (one of the first Cantons which gave its name to Switzerland) in the year 1240, had been bestowed upon the Canton by the Emperor Frederick II as a token of its freedom. And from that time onwards, the citizens of the Confederation used a white cross, made of long strips of linen, as their common sign in battle to distinguish themselves from their enemies. Every man in the army either wore it on his tunic or on his armor. Although each Canton had its own flag in battle, every Swiss carried the white cross as his battle standard. As the national flag, the white cross first appeared on a red background on the Confederation's seal in 1814. It has been officially in use since 1848, when Switzerland was transformed from a loose federation of different Cantons into the present Confederation with a central government. Its acceptance as the national flag is mainly due to the initiative of General Dufour. The use of the red cross on a white background, which is actually the Swiss flag reversed, was granted to the International Red Cross to commemorate the organization founded by Henri Dunant, citizen of Geneva. Indeed, the plenipotentiaries of 35 nations, assembled in Geneva on July 6, 1906 to revise the "Geneva Convention," stated as follows in the enacting clause concerning the symbol of the International Red Cross: "To do homage to Switzerland, the heraldic arms of the Red Cross on a white field, which is formed by reversal of the Swiss Federal arms, shall be maintained as a distinctive emblem of the medical services of most armies.

[Theo]

Red XXXX

Yep. Or maybe just use the name used in much of the Middle East, the Red Crescent.

[fiscally_right]

Yes, well does that really matter? The Red Cross is fundamentally a nonreligious aid organization. In muslim countries they change the symbol to a red crescent, that doesn't mean they have an obligation to sell Ramadan cards..

[Damocles]

And if I recall correctly Jean Henri Dunant, the Swiss born founder of the Red Cross, was an ardent Christian businessman.

And if it has no Chrisitian significance, why then do they feel the need to change it to the Red Crescent in muslim countries?

[nmh]

I wouldn't give the Red Cross the sweat off my behind.

As for "banning Jesus", I don't worry about that. Someday He'll tell them, He never knew them either.

[AD from SpringBay]

Well then send them a bunch of your money and your blood. Have fun while you do it. Choose you this day whom you shall serve. As for me and my house...

[nmh]

And did you know the Swiss flag cross is the cross of Christian faith? Duh!

[fiscally_right]

Right... Actually I did donate blood the other day, what a coincidence?

[Damocles]

...obligation to sell Ramadan cards...

This does not refer to the "obiligation" to sell, but rather the banning of the sale of items associated worldwide with the season of the year.

It's simply another little attack aimed at sanitizing the world of all things offensive (read Christian).