Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, born in Geneva on 8 May 1828, was the first child of a wealthy, religious, humanitarian and privileged household. (Note that although he was baptised Jean-Henri, the most common way that he wrote his name was « Henry ».) He seemed destined to become a priest, but he was so hopeless at French, mathematics and particularly Latin that this idea had to be abandoned. As a young man, around 1848, Dunant took part…
There are associations that have been created to promote religious or political agendas or to defend more « humanitarian » issues. Good causes are numerous, and the intentions admirable. But, as the saying goes, « the road to Hell is paved with good intentions ». Attending the annual general assembly of one of these organizations recently was quite a revealing experience. What should have been a pleasant forum for stock-taking turned into a nasty squabble where people quarrelled like cats and dogs. It…
