The Ottoman Empire had signed the treaty recognizing the Swiss style cross as a symbol of neutrality and charity in war time. When war came, all they saw was a Crusades style Christian cross. What an opportunity to display Christian charity by not then allowing the Ottomans to rot. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
This stamp is from 95 years after the Russo-Turkish War that first saw the Red Cross operate under a Turkish Crescent. Given that, it is amazing how much the image chosen by Turkey still imparts Christian charity for Muslims.
Todays stamp is semi postal issue SP53 issued by Turkey in 1973. It was a three stamp issue recognizing the 50th anniversary of the child protection program of the Red Crescent Society in Turkey. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 45cents.
Russia was in a pretty bad state after the Crimean War. The Black Sea was completely under Ottoman control and the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire was now guaranteed by Great Britain. However according to the then Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Gorchakov, Russia was not sulking, she was composing herself. One benefit was that the Ottomans had agreed to treat non Muslims in their area more equally.
If only they had done so. However the repression of both Slavs in Bulgaria and Serbia and Armenians in Turkey itself and Lebanon took on a new severity with African recruited Bashibazouks empowered to plunder.
Russia, with it’s blood ties to both the Armenian and Slavic peoples felt that it was time to intervene and fighting occurred both in the Balkans and Armenian areas of eastern Turkey. Britain tried to hold Russia back but the result was that Bulgaria and Romania were freed of Turkey. There was much population shifting as Balkan Muslims and Jews ran to Turkey and Armenians ran to Russian controlled areas of the Caucus mountains.
Being the first war after the Red Cross was formed to give aid to war wounded who previously had no organized system of help. Perhaps surprisingly, given the importance of blood ties in this war, the Red Cross tried to help the wounded of Turkey. At first the much needed help was refused. The Swiss Cross did have Christian roots and the whole operation dripped of uniquely Christian charity. To show how deep the Christian charity went. the offer was made to operate under a stylized Turkish Muslim style crescent. It was more important to help the wounded than display who was offering the help.
In later years, the Red Cross agreed to operate under different symbols in Israel, Iran, and India. Over time this meant more globalist bureaucracy and less charity, but no good deed goes unpunished here in this world.
Well my drink is empty but I may have a few more while contemplating the idea of extending charity to those that hate you. Does that go too far into self abasement? Come again soon for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.