Hiding behind a crystal

[occuserpens]

Detailed understanding of this PR operation is crtitical for dealing with ME conflict. What happens is that after years of negotiations, ICRC and Israeli officials finally came to the compromise decison which makes Israeli membership in ICRC possible.

Since Israelis (unlike Chinese, Japanse, Indians, and others) do not want to accept the red cross symbol, ICRC accepted new, religion-free symbol - red crystal which Israeli equivalent of Red Cross can use.

Still, JPost is not happy! The way it works, they always have argument #10001 to blame the whole world for "discrimination".

JPost: Hiding behind a crystal: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1132475720505&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
The new Red Crystal is a simple, bold diamond shape - called a "crystal" at the request of South Africa, since "diamond" had connotations of slavery. MDA will continue to use its current symbol, the red Star of David, in Israel, and internationally can use either an empty crystal or one with a Star of David inside it.

By bowing for so long to the utter rejection of the symbol of the Jewish people, and then devising for it a second-class status, the international community legitimized a hatred that is the antithesis of the Red Cross mission and the cause of many of the casualties it treats.

Thursday's decision on the new symbol was, in a step almost unheard on such issues, taken by a vote rather than by consensus. Over 20 Muslim countries, led by Syria, voted no. For these countries, even hiding Israel behind a crystal was plainly too much tolerance. And in the end, it was not just Israel that attempted to hide itself from a hatred in many Islamic countries so deep it extends even to those who would save their own peoples' lives. It was the entire West as well.

[Coastie for Truth]

1. I agree with the editorial

I am a Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team Captain. The Red Crystal is my AVATAR.

You don't want disaster assistance from this dhimmi - fine? I'll go help somebody else in need. I don't get paid for disaster assistance - pure volunteer.

"Coastie"
American Red Cross "Disaster Assistance Team Captain"

[occuserpens]

2. With whom do you agree:

with JPost who hates the red crystal and claims "discrimination" - or with me? I say there is nothing close to discrimination about the red cross or red crystal.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. I am the guy in the mud

with the white hard hat and the grey vest--

I am the guy in the shelter unfolding cots and passing out blankets

I am the guy in the food line dishing out the food

I am the guy taking down client information and putting it into an ATLAS database.

I volunteer - I don't get paid.

It costs me money - I am self employed -- and if I am at a shelter or a flood or fire or other disaster --- I am not working.

None of the people I help are second class.

I am not second class.

None of the people I help are dhimmis or Jim Crows. They may be of a differenr race, religion, creed, nationality, ethnicity -- but they are not dhimmis or Jim Crows - they are people in need.

I am not a dhimmi - or a Jim Crow.

And I think the Crystal is a mark of second class citizenship in the world community. (citizenship - but still second class)

But the service to humanity is more important then the recognition - or the degree of citizenship.

But I really think for a liberal/progressive to say "accept second class" is neither liberal nor progressive. It is racist.

I agree with the editorial in the JPost - not with you -- but if you are a disaster victim -- I will give you aid and compassion.

Because I am a Red Cross Volunteer, and a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, and a Liberal and Progressive.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Colorado Blue]

7. Uh - hello? There is JUST a little history attached to the

Star of David and the people who've worn it.

Can't believe a "progressive" isn't aware of this, and that it differs substantially from the history of the Hammer & Sickle.

Furthermore, when help from Jews is refused even in catastrophic disaster zones - does THIS count, maybe, as discrimination?

[Chautauqua]

5. A little more detail?

You say "there is nothing close to discrimination about the red cross or red crystal" so can we assume you'd be in favor of telling all the Moslem countries that they shouldn't use the Red Crescent (approved by the IRC) and should go to the "non-discriminatory" Red Cross and that they can't be members of the IRC if they don't?

(A little background, when the International Red Cross was formed they had three recognized symbols:

• Red Cross - orignally the Swiss flag with the colors reversed
  
• Red Crescent - for Moslem countries where the Cross was considered offensive
  
• Red Lion and Scimitar - for Iran where the Cross was considered offensive (not used since their religious fundamentalists overthrew the government in the 1970s)
  Attempts to add the Red Shield of David have been rejected by the IRC for decades
  

[Coastie for Truth]

6. Re: "Attempts to add the Red Shield of David have been rejected by the IRC

"Attempts to add the Red Shield of David have been rejected by the IRC for decades" - because originally unanimity was required. It took two major compromises--

1. Consensus instead of unanimity.
2. A totally innocuous symbol instead of the Red Shield of David.

And even with those compromises - 37 abstentions and negativce votes.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[Behind the Aegis]

9. Were I a Muslim human rights advocate, I would be ashamed of that record.

n/t

[Jim Sagle]

11. I never heard that record. But if you play a few bars, I can fake it.

Baba buey!

[barb162]

10. "Over 20 Muslim countries, led by Syria, voted no."

A sad commentary on the lack of tolerance by the Muslim countries

[Coastie for Truth]

12. I realize that

but the Red Crystal/Red Cross/Red Star of David/Red Crescent is my banner - and I feed and cloth all in peril, without regard to race, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation.

My identity is bound up in three magnificent obsessions:

1. The Democratic Party of Adlai Stevenson, John F. Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, etc.
2. The Red Crystal/Red Cross/Red Star of David/Red Crescent.
3. The United States Coast Guard

Actually, I always wanted to be a fire fighter in a big, urban, north eastern department, and wear one of those chick bait fire helmets and chick bait Maltese Crosses --- but my parents forced me to go to college (I know, now new hire fire fighters all have degrees - but I'm in my 60's). But the Red Cross and the Coast Guard are as close as I ever got.:shrug:

[barb162]

13. Ah, the "old line" Democrats

Those guys wouldn't be accepted by some on the left these days