The American Red Cross has in recent weeks replenished its previously depleted blood supply, put into motion plans for new, larger blood preservation centers, and saved or contributed to saving countless lives. Why then are so many incensed by the Red Cross’s actions?
In an expected, though unprecedented wave of red, hundreds of thousands of Americans waited for hours to have their blood taken, and were under the mistaken impression that the blood would be used for victims of Sept. 11. The Red Cross, not wanting to discourage potential donors, took as much blood as people were willing to give. Unfortunately, the desire to give was too great, and the Red Cross was forced to burn the excess, which Red Cross spokeswoman Blythe Kubina says was “overall a very small percentage.”Critics think that if blood was discarded and money was not directed expressly to the victim’s families, then those resources were misappropriated and the Red Cross is reckless. The truth is that every blood donation, even those discarded, yields some lifesaving byproduct, usually in the way of plasma or platelets. “The point is that the blood and the money donated are going to help people both directly and indirectly. Whether or not they are victims of a specific tragedy seems irrelevant,” said Assistant Professor of Philosophy Vance Ricks.
Few resources are as renewable as blood. Within weeks a donor is able to return, and yet because of the close personal association we have with our blood, people are offended at their body juices being discarded.

The Red Cross has always sent out mass appeals, and they have always been heeded by far less than is needed. Normal donations average from 20,000 pints per day, but from Sept. 11 to Oct. 11, over one million units came in each day, according to the Red Cross. Said first-year Darriel Cannon, “why should people be upset about the burning of a by-product? Restaurants throw out their old food; how is this that different?”

The events of Sept. 11 gave people a direct moral imperative to give blood. It made people notice a need previously ignored. By bringing blood donation to the consciousness of many who had never given before, the potential for people to now donate on a regular basis is greatly increased.

The need that was once largely ignored is now seen as a result of tragedy. One can only hope that America will not need another reminder.