Emblems of our Faith
Emblems have been around for years but it is illustrative to look at the use of emblems with regard to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The red cross emblem was established in 1864. Being a very European movement it later added the Red Crescent (1929) because wars were very popular in Europe and Islam was a part of the south eastern gateways to Europe. If I found my self helpless and in need of help I would not take offense at a person wearing a Red Crescent helping me if it was done in kindness and competency. But the ICRC has gone down that road of Western countries having a red cross and Islamic countries a red crescent. The ICRC was not established as a religious organization that does good things. It has always has been a secular organization that tried to provide humanitarian aid. But that emblem, the cross, is to offensive in Islamic countries that the the Red Crescent was adopted. It is remarkable that the cross has this power. So does the Star of David.To not offend others the ICRC has not allowed Israel to adopt the Star of David for Jews. Why would this be? I can only speculate that it is to offensive to other faiths: Islam and Secularism (yes Secularism is a faith). The ICRC has reasoned that it could not allow a religious emblem to be used or everyone would want one. But the fact remains that the cross is a Christian symbol and the crecent adorns the tops of many mosques.
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