Saturday, May 01, 2010

Army Hospital Emblem Challenged Because of Religious Content

AP reported Thursday that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has protested to the Army over the religious symbol and motto on the emblem of Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado. The central feature of the emblem is a cross with a pointed base, said to be an emblem of mercy and a symbol from the Middle Ages when pilgrims carried this type of cross to mark a campsite. The emblem also carries the Latin motto "Pro deo et humanitate," which means "For God and humanity." MMRF head Mikey Weinstein says: "This continues to add more fodder to the argument that we are Crusaders. It's exactly what fundamentalist Muslims want." The Army will review the MMRF complaint.

Meanwhile, God and Country blog carries an extensive response to the MMRF complaint, picturing numerous other Army emblems that carry imagery from a wide variety of religious traditions.