Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Red Crystal

"Red Crystal" doesn't grab you like "Red Cross," but that is what has been introduced as a compromise in order to get the Magen David Adom (MDA, Red Shield of David) of Israel into the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Organization. Israel had been excluded for 57 years, since it applied for membership first in 1949. There is no secret why it was rejected, the Muslim countries refused to allow an organization with a Star of David to be included, even though everyone from the beginning admitted that MDA was fully qualified medically. Naturally, Israel refused to adopt a cross symbol in order be admitted. But, since the rules had been changed to allow the Muslim nations with their "Red Crescent Organisations" and even a single exception was made for the Red symbol of Iran (which was subsequently dropped after the Khomeini revolution adopted the red crescent), there was every expectation that a change in the rules could be made to admit the MDA.
But, not so, as one of many anti-Israel actions, the Muslim nations refused to accept Israel as an equal. Several years ago the American Red Cross let it be know that it would not cooperate with the International Red Cross organization unless this travesty was overcome and Israel was admitted, and for five years the ARC has not paid its fees to the IRC. Finally after years of negotiations a compromise was reached, that the Arab nations still opposed, a red crystal or diamond-shape was introduced. Thus when acting internationally as part of the IRC, the MDA can put its Red Star of David inside the crystal. A large majority voted for this compromise at the recent IRC meeting and, lo and behold, problem solved!
The MDA and the Israeli Government was glad to be able to accept this compromise to be included in the IRC. But wait a minute, is the MDA equivalent to all other organizations? Yes, except insofar as the symbol goes. The Red Cross and Red Crescent are not to be included inside the Red Crystal like the Red Star of David but remain standing alone. So there is one rule for the majority and one for the minority. It was sold with the idea that as other minority groups/countries might come along with their own red symbols they could easily be incorporated into the red crystal, but those already there, the Christian and Islamic countries, will not have to do this. They are the majority and they will retain their independent symbols. There is no likelihood that the Swiss would consider changing the famous Red Cross symbol, and the Islamic countries will never allow their Red Crescent symbol to be included inside a red crystal. So a form of discrimination is again institutionalized.
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Correction: The last sentence of my previous message, that an IDF force had entered Gaza, which I saw reported in CNN, was incorrect. According to reports today, a force is "poised" to enter Gaza, but has not done so for fear of losing the hostage Cpl. Shalit that the terrorists are holding.

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