Is the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Symbol an
example of pandering to Islam?
At one time or another we have all looked at a logo and wondered what its meaning is or what hidden subliminal message might be
entering our subconscious to spur us into buying whatever the company has to
sell
When looking at the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) logo
for their Relay for Life what first comes to mind? What message does it convey
and what strikes us at first glance?
The ACS says that their Relay for Life symbol is a “simple
logo in the shape of a crescent moon and the rays of the sun, accentuated by a
single star to the left of it”. When seen in neighborhoods, storefronts,
college campuses and corporate buildings in the 24 countries which support this
effort it will remind all who see it of the “day and night battle for survival
many men, women and children face on a daily (and nightly) basis.”
However, not knowing that it was supposed to represent a 24-hour struggle against cancer, when I first saw the logo (out for several years now, but it was the first time I paid it any attention doubtless because I am more aware of Islam creeping in today than 5 years ago) immediately the STAR and CRESCENT conveyed the message, to me at least, that the American Cancer Society is pandering to Islam.
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| Our Lady of Guadalupe standing on the crescent moon |
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| National Flag of Turkey adopted in 1844 |
Design agencies charge thousands of dollars to create a company’s specific logo to catch our eye and transport their message into our minds. A company designed this logo with detailed instructions as to what the ACS wanted to convey. Undoubtedly before acceptance the logo was discussed with ACS’s corporate office and it is most certain that with the star and crescent so highly visible, more than one person recognized the overt Islamic character of the design. Nevertheless, the logo’s production clearly went forward, therefore what is one to think but that the ACS is pandering to Islam.
The logo could be
representative of Christianity with the sun as the SON, the three triangular
sun rays as the Holy Trinity, the star being the symbol of the Blessed Mother
as the Morning Star and the crescent moon that upon which she stands in the
image of Our Lady of Guadalupe but that would be carrying the symbolism too
far. It would be too complicated, non-Catholics would not understand, and moreover,
what secular corporate entity promotes Christianity today through their logo?
Of the 24 countries participating in Relay for Life situated
in the 24 time zones of the universe, only two are Islamic – Turkey and the
UAE. However one can be sanguine and proceed with the premise that ACS wants to
be inclusive of every society and culture participating in the Relay for Life.
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| Canada's Relay for Life logo |
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| Symbol of Islam |
Islam loves to leave its mark. Google "flight 93 memorial crescent moon" for all about how they wanted a 911 memorial in the shape of the symbol for Islam. Michelle Malkin had a whole expose.
ReplyDeleteFrom California,
ReplyDeleteAs far as I am concerned, the only religious memorial I want at ground zero is the cross at ground zero that God himself left there. To me it really said something -- that huge cross of wood left standing after most all else was destroyed.
Note
ReplyDeleteI am NOT an employee of the ACS, however I AM a proud 23 year participant and advocate for the Relay For Life. I have had the honor of meeting the "mother" and "Father of Relay as well.
The original Relay for Life logo from 1989 to late 90's was a very colorful pink purple and white logo with squiggles at the bottom half of the logo was a Moon with stars with the old ACS logo with the caduceus sword in the bottom left. That RFL logo was designed to symbolize 1/2 overnight, while the other 1/2 of the logo was a symbol of the sun. Back during this time, Relay was a 24 hour event everywhere. Cancer doesn't sleep so we don't either...
that logo was then redesigned to have more blank space in the logo for what I guess was easier reproduction, I don't really know. It's not so busy during this era. I believe from late 90's until just a couple of years ago. No squiggles, no fill in space. The words "Relay For Life" in the middle of the Moon/Sun appear. There is no American Cancer Society logo/verbiage on that logo, which I am sure is why it got changed...
then that logo was changed to what you will find now. the moon with the star, representing night, and 1/4 of the top right with the sun with the American Cancer Society Blue, White and Red logo in the bottom right 1/2 of the circle. There is also a 2 tone version of the logo. Still same symbolism - cancer doesn't sleep so we don't either.
The portion of the logo without the ACS logo in it is used for the entire Global Relay For Life program, with the host country's logo taking up the bottom right 25% of the logo.
No islamic symbolism - just symbolic of the 24 hour fight that cancer patients have, that 1 time a year, we supporters try to help carry.
http://relay.acsevents.org/site/DocServer/Why_We_Relay_Overnight.pdf?docID=160262
you can research "Relay For Life Logos" and "global relay for life logos" You will find the 3 transitions for ACS mentioned above and the logos for the Irish, Canadian, Turkish, Bermuda, and New Zealand's programs to name a few.
I, too, noted this odd congruence of symbology on a road side sign (in Canada) and found it puzzling, not to say unsettling. Clearly, in this day and age the most common and immediate association of a crescent and star is with Islam. And pace the argument suggested above, not even devout Catholics would likely configure Mary into such a design. And to add halal fat to the fire, this year’s first-in-series of CCS web site photos features a couple of Muslim women, one in hijab, at the centre of four. The Society’s own gloss on the graphic sounds arbitrary, reaching, and contrived, as though it was derived post hoc from the image rather than the image inspired by the idea. In short, it just doesn’t wash. Whitewashing is something else, however: Of all the symbols to choose from or create anew they just happened to light upon the one most loaded with unfortunate, not to say, cancerous, connotations. What can account for such an untoward subliminal campaign? My guess is: Follow the money. (Right back to Saudi Arabia.)
ReplyDeleteI saw one of the posters in question posted in our neighborhood which we had just moved to a few months back. The first thing that jumps out at you when you see it is "this is a muslim community" because you immediately see the huge, bold text over the crescent logo. Needless to say, I was not happy to see that. It wasn't until taking the dogs for a walk that i was abe to see the much smaller "relay for life" name.
ReplyDeleteI would guess that there is islamic influence on the logo. When I have free time I will do some deep diving to look into primary funding contributors and who may be on the board of directors for the organization.
It is sad that when you see the moon and stars all you see is muslim. I again can 100% tell you as 24 year now supporter that there is no intention for muslim symbolism. Just overnight symbolism, because cancer doesn't sleep, we don't either. We welcome all to participate though.
ReplyDeleteSupporting for 24 years and millions and millions of dollars usurped, only poisonous treatments... Wake up please
ReplyDelete