The Red Cross has an almost “untouchable” reputation with the news media.
Media people almost seem to have a feeling that speaking badly about the group no matter what is almost un-American.
In fact, when veteran KMBC anchor Larry Moore had to read a story about how the Red Cross took quilts that were specifically made for tornado victims in Kentucky (story below) and instead sold them in its own thrift store, he almost seemed pained to even have to report it.
KMBC didn’t even put the report on its Web site.
What’s odd is that the Red Cross has been involved in a series of scandals dating back to World War II. Talk to just about any veteran and you will hear critical stories about the Red Cross.
The Red Cross has been caught accepting huge amounts of donations after disasters, but then spending only a fraction of that amount on victims. It happened with donations to 9/11 victims, the San Francisco earthquake and Hurricane Katrina, to name a few.
There’s a very good reason why many people prefer to give their hard-earned money to the Salvation Army. At least they know the funds will actually go to the people most in need.
Your story, although succinct, is spot-on. If the media don’t like someone, they refer to him as “disgraced”. Years after a scandal, a person will be referred to as “controversial”. But the Red Cross gets a pass. People should stop giving this organization money.
Incidentally, the International Red Cross (known in much of the world as the Red Crescent) is hated in certain parts of the world, primarily for its promotion of “family planning.”
Right on John! Anyone who has been in the military and encountered the Red Cross knows they are a mixed bag of good and not so good. As for the Salvation Army, my personal professional experience back in the mid 80′s, working along side them in the Northeast part of town, was that they are the very best in the business of helping people and doing it with incredible integrity and efficiency. While the Red Cross helped me with an administrative matter that I was grateful for while in the Army, I always had to pay for the donuts.