Evolution Surrenders!

There is no satisfying everyone. Why do they even bother? Time to take up the Rantburg version and just call it "thingy":

In Geneva diplomats from the 192 countries which have signed the Geneva conventions are meeting to discuss a third emblem for the international Red Cross. Red Cross officials hope approval of a third emblem will finally put an end to decades of controversy over the issue. At the moment, the only two emblems recognised under the Geneva conventions are the red cross and the red crescent; relief workers and ambulances bearing these symbols are protected under international law.

We need the Jewish Star, see...A meditating cobra, a sumarai sword...and ..um...a leie, and don't forget the u.f.o for the scientologist...now...getting mother earth pictured is also a must...

In war zones or disaster regions, they must be granted free access to people in need of help. We're actually trying to get a solution for the Red Cross, but some seem to want us to try to solve the entire Middle East conflict.

Oh? You must have noticed there may be a few problems there. Now don't jump to conclusions, but there there is a possibilty all might not be well in the region..

Swiss diplomat

Over the years, a number of countries have applied to have their own distinctive emblems recognised, but all have been refused. Francois Bugnion, director of international law with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), believes too many emblems could compromise protection. "Hundreds of emblems would mean they would not be recognised, and so they would not be respected", he explains.

Ha! We do not recognize your red thingy you sons of hamsters! Did you know your fathers smellt of elder berries!? Ha! Do not make us taunt you again! Ha!

"They would be identified with different countries, so instead of conveying the message 'this is an ambulance, this is neutral and must be respected', it would be a sign of identification which would run against the objective of the protective symbol."

I have an idea. How about the big red asterisk?

Red Star of David

I guess that is asking too much...

One country in particular, however, refuses to use either the red cross or the red crescent.

Israel's Magen David Adom Society (MDA) uses the unrecognised red star of David as its emblem. As a result, the society is still not a member of the international Red Cross movement, something which many Israelis see as unjust. Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Itzhak Levanon, shares that opinion. At present, only two emblems are officially recognised

I am unofficialy asking here that we use a picture of the Dallas Cowboys helmet.

"MDA is active all over the world," he points out. "In the tsunami, for example, or following earthquakes, we are often first on the scene, and we deserve to be part of the international movement." The problem is, the star of David is primarily Israel's national symbol, rather than an emblem of humanitarian relief.

Oh, ya noticed. It's also the subject of hatred from people like the racist Cytene and Boris of the blogosphere.

Arab states have made it clear they will never accept the red star being recognised under the Geneva Conventions.

O Rly!?! The crescent moon and cross were okay though? How about a pentagram?

At the same time, the conventions stipulate that national relief societies must use only recognised symbols outside their internationally accepted borders. That means Israel should probably not be using the red star in the occupied territories.

I can accept that crosses represent Christians. Crescent moons represents muslims. What's supposed to represent Israelis? Um...forget that last question. I have a feeling that I don't even want to know what the anti-semetic crowd out there thinks it should be.

Red Crystal

The wrangling over the issue has gone on for decades, and it is proving costly for the International Red Cross. For the last five years, the American Red Cross has withheld its subscriptions to the international movement in protest at Israel's exclusion, creating a shortfall of over $30m. The only solution seems to be a third emblem, and Red Cross officials have come up with a design they hope will please everyone. To be known as the red crystal, it is a red diamond shape on a white background.

Unfair! That is establishing the New Age movement as the established religion of the world! Most of us do not believe in crystal powers! But I guess when you let stupidity run the show, who knows what to expect next?

Israel has said it is ready to use it outside its borders, and, after some intense negotiations, the MDA and the Palestinian Red Crescent signed an agreement on working together in the occupied territories.

Syrian objections

On the surface then, everything looked promising for the approval of the new emblem.
Switzerland, as the repository state for the Geneva Conventions, sent out the invitations for the conference, and Swiss diplomats, who played a key role in getting the agreement between the MDA and the Palestinian Red Crescent, were initially very optimistic.

Be good Jews and stay second class citizens please. This whole thing about you having your own country is really quite silly,

Signed Mullah Asshat

But there is one issue which might get in the way - many Arab countries already see the third emblem as an unnecessary accommodation of Israel. Now that the MDA has agreed to work with the Palestinian Red Crescent in the occupied territories, some are suggesting that a similar agreement is necessary for the Golan heights.
Since this is also disputed territory, surely, they say, the Syrian Red Crescent should have a role there? "The Syrian Red Crescent cannot operate there," insists Mr Levanon.

Gee. I wonder why that could be?

"We have no diplomatic relations with Syria, the issue is simply not in the debate. But I'm not excluding that some Arab countries will try to raise it, and if they do, the losers will be the Palestinians," he says.

'Honest endeavours'

In the last few days, Geneva, normally a tranquil city, has seen a flurry of diplomatic activity, as officials try to reach a last-minute agreement. Masood Khan, as ambassador for Pakistan, is negotiating on behalf of the 56 countries belonging to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. "It's very complicated," Mr Khan says.

"We have Michale Newdow threatening to take action and require a bust of himself in place of all other symbols. He says they offend his daughter".

"All sides are making honest endeavours to reach agreement. We must create the right kind of environment where we have an understanding between the Israeli and Syrian national societies, because of the question of occupied Golan and whether the Syrian Red Crescent can operate there."

Frustration

For the Swiss, who have spent months working towards the conference, and whose foreign minister has made several trips to the Middle East and Israel in the last few weeks, this last-minute hitch is causing great anxiety.

"It's frustrating," said one diplomat who asked to remain anonymous.

And stupid.

"We're actually trying to get a solution for the Red Cross, but some seem to want us to try to solve the entire Middle East conflict." Nevertheless, most diplomats agree that there is, if not consensus, then at least a majority in favour of the red crystal.

I vouch we make it the red fark squirrel.

And some do also see the agreement between the MDA and the Palestinian Red Crescent as a small but hopeful step towards better relations in the Middle East. And, if the red crystal is approved, it could have big implications for the Red Cross movement.
Any country wishing a more neutral emblem will be able to adopt it and it is thought a number of countries with mixed religious populations may do so in the long term.
That would mean that the world's best known humanitarian movement, whose original emblem was simply a reversal of the Swiss flag, would start to look rather different.

And rather silly. The red cross was never meant as a religious symbol as far as I can tell. We let it become that way when the red crescent was demanded on, and given. Political correctness once again accomplishes its goal in making everyone stupid.