The Red Cross in the Cross Hairs?

INSIGHT magazine ^ | October 12. 2001 | Kelly Patricia O’Meara

[Liberals are Evil Socialists!]

The socialsits who hate private charity and seek to socialize all aid are at it again here. Balance and perspective please!

[shadeaud]

Bill O'Reilly has promised that he and his staff will continue to monitor the charitable organizations that have received donations for the victims'families of the WTC. I hope he has more luck than he did with the investigation of Mr. Jessie Jackson.

[Clifdo]

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give any money to the Red Cross!! If you want to contribute and make sure that the money reaches its stated destination, contribute directly to the people or to The Salvation Army. I have worked for them for many years as a lay person and they are 150% conscientious about seeing that a contribution reaches its destination. They are a church after all and they know that God is watching one's every movement; plus, they are not administration heavy. Their officers if necessary do menial tasks such as cleaning the toilets in their Corps without complaint. Without a doubt, they are the most self-sacrificial organization I have ever seen.

[foolish-one]

One reason I don't donate to the Red Cross any more: during the flood of 1993, billboards in and around St. Louis requested donations and specifically stated that any and all monies collected would be used and/or dispersed locally. Although I don't recall the exact numbers, approximately $17mil was collected and $8mil used/distributed. The remaining $9mil went into the national Red Cross general disaster fund. When questioned about this, the local head had no heartburn at all about keeping the remaining funds despite the promise on the advertising or the intent of the donors. His position was that the funds would be put to good use in the event of another disaster and he was sure the donors would understand and want it that way. Sounds almost logical except nobody asked the original donors what they thought about this sudden change in plans or offered them their money back and, it it wasn't the Red Cross, there would have been prosecutions for fraud involved.

[IW]

For a organization that charged our boys in WW2 for coffee, doughnuts, tooth paste, gum and razor blades, why is this not a surprise.

[Blagden Alley]

There is a story about the forest fire around Pine Junction, CO (just up from Phoenix Park) last Summer in the Gazette-Telegraph in Colorado Springs where a lot of people were also pissed off at the Red Cross. The Red Cross gave the impression that money given locally would be channeled back.

It wasn't.

All money given to the Red Cross goes to its general fund. Period.

[Churchillspirit]

Damn! Send a check to the Red Cross the day after the WTC disaster. Oh, well.......

[blackdog]

About the only case where western civilization is as evil as we have been told. That is, western bureaucrats and politicians who lust for power, money, and influence. My dad who fought in Korea always told us not to give the Red Cross the time of day. He is a kind generous man of both his time and money. He is also always right when he rarely gives his opinion.

[George Smiley]

I have heard that the American Red Cross was forced to adhere to the policies that had already been set in place by the UK Red Cross.

[xm177e2]

My dad who fought in Korea always told us not to give the Red Cross the time of day

Similarly, my grandmother remembers her family being helped by the Salvation Army when she was a refugee in Europe, so I DO donate to that group. What these charities do or don't do will come back to them.

The Red Cross won't become obsolete any time soon, though, because they hit up businesses for money, they've got entrenched fundraising networks, and most people have a positive opinion of them, so politicians and other public figures won't speak out against them.

[RobbyS]

Sorry, I'm with them. I never give blood or money to the Red Cross. My Dad had direct experience with the Greed of the Red Cross during the New London School explosion back in 1937. He used his personal (Luxury) car to ferry the Red Cross types between the Tyler, Texas airport and the disaster site, and as he was dressed like a workman, they took him to be a flunky and as they sat in the back seat, openly discussed their demands for money upfront to a local government offical before they would commit to anything. This bunch is devoted to fleecing the public and is accountible to no one.

[snippy_about_it]

That's right, my dad said they charged for everything during WWII and my grandfather gave them a sealed envelope to deliver to my father while my father was quarantined for TB during the end of the war and it was delivered, opened, minus 1/2 the money in it. When my grandfather complained to the Red Cross they said they took half of all the money for their operating expenses. Needless to say my family donates locally to shelters or to the Salvation Army, that's it!

[Y2Krap]

Assure the Children.

http://www.Cyberspacers.org

[Texbob]

People just now finding out what crooks the Red Cross are? Military men who served over seas found that out very Promply. Every disaster they chase money and put out a very small fraction of what they collect. For the past 40 years I have called them the legal thiefs.

[Think free or die]

The only thing I give to the Red Cross is blood. My parents have always told me that the Salvation Army was kind to them when they were destitute immigrants after WWII. Mom's first cup of hot coffee after the trans-Atlantic voyage came compliments of the Salvation Army. We've supported them ever since and never had cause to question their integrity.

[Inspectorette]

People just now finding out what crooks the Red Cross are? Military men who served over seas found that out very Promply. Every disaster they chase money and put out a very small fraction of what they collect. For the past 40 years I have called them the legal thiefs.

After the October 1989 earthquake in Northern California, I told my then supervisor (a cantankerous but kindly old guy who had fought in WWII) - that I had sent a check to the Red Cross and he threw a fit! He told all of us that the Red Cross had made them pay for everything they provided to them during the War. He hated them with a passion.

[Amore]

My late father served in WWII. AFTER I contributed to the Red Cross for the WTC attack, my Mom told me that my Dad would never, ever donate to them. I suspect his reasons were similar to your Dad's. Damn! And here I was feeling good that I hadn't donated to United Way! (at least I knew better than to do that.) I'm glad O'Reilly is looking into this.

[monkeyshine]

For what it's worth, the Red Cross won't recognize their Israeli counterparts. The Red Cross only recognizes 2 symbols, the red cross and the red crescent (arab). It will not recognize the red star of David, even though the Israeli group abides completely with the rules of the Red Cross and wants to be recognized by the International Red Cross. The International Red Cross goes along with the Arab boycott of Israel because they are afraid of losing support from the Arab donors.

[Estra Jean]

My family has had an almost 60 year tradition of contributing to the Salvation Army rather than the Red Cross because of experiences my Mother's brothers had when they were serving in the Armed Forces during WWII. Packages from the Red Cross always had strings attached to them; packages from the Salvation Army came free and with no red tape. Tradition dies hard--and our gratefulness to the Salvation Army lives on.