Parenting Quote by Eduardo Galeano
““FATHER OF THE RED CROSS The Red Cross was born in Geneva. It grew out of an initiative by several Swiss bankers to help the wounded abandoned on the battlefields. Gustave Moynier led the International Committee of the Red Cross for more than forty years. He explained that the institution, inspired by evangelical values, was welcomed in civilized countries, but repudiated by the colonized. “Compassion,” he wrote, “is unknown among those savage tribes that practice cannibalism. Compassion is so foreign to them that their languages have no word to express the concept.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Open Veins of Latin America, Eduardo Galeano, 1971
Red Cross origins tied to Swiss philanthropy; compassion seen as foreign by colonized peoples, highlighting cultural bias.
In simple terms: Compassion was viewed as alien by some cultures.
Key Takeaway
Recognize cultural perceptions of compassion.
Themes
history
colonialism
humanitarianism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- humanitarian aid
- colonial critique
- cross‑cultural work
Key Concepts
cultural bias
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does culture shape empathy?
- Can humanitarian aid bridge such gaps?
A Different Perspective
Compassion can be misunderstood across cultures.
![“[N]o one ever eats an ice-cream cone at a funeral, or a fire. The Red Cross doesn't drop ice-cream cones into third-world countries. If you're eating an ice-cream cone, it's just very hard to believe things have gone completely to shit. That there isn't still hope.” quote by Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7eb/jonathan-tropper-1555_cones_n-o-one-ever-eats-an-ice-cream-cone-at-a_480551.jpg)
