140 Comments

That was beautiful, thank you.

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Thanks, Baldmichael!

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I might have added that in my 20's I cut out a piece from The Daily Telegraph. I should have it somewhere in the muddle!

It mentioned bringing up their Downs Syndrome child. They took longer to learn but learn they did. And they grew into a responsible adult. It just took, time patience and love which we all need.

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I think that "Downs Syndrome" is just a catch-all phrase for children with disabilities, and even problem children who are just extremely defiant but really have no real problems. These children are all over the map, and I really think need to be evaluated on an individual basis.

That being said, I am totally against "institutionalizing" anybody unless it is absolutely necessary.

Many families can be so uncaring, and that is sad.

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

It sure was. And, funny, I also hate, "Shit happens, and then you die."

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Thanks, Howard!

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Jan 18Liked by Donald Jeffries

Donald, you see significance and meaning in everything that happens...because you are able to perceive the truth. Nothing is random. Of course the carrot cake was a sign. Thank you for the touching post.

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

I do know that Don has a great audience. I enjoy interacting with them.

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Thanks, Kris!

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

Thank you Don. Your essay showed a very human element that I think many lack these days.

About 14 years ago, I discovered Gonzalo Lira. I read his essay on how hyperinflation will happen. It was very insightful and I routinely read all of his essays because I valued his insight. One day, he wrote an essay about his dog that had just died. He went into great detail about how that dog changed his life for the better and how he now had a hole in his life. That essay changed my perspective of Gonzalo. It humanized him. He was more than a political or economic pundit. I don’t mention this to equate your brother and niece to Gonzalo’s dog, but to illustrate that God is very resourceful in bringing out the best in us.

I’ve only followed you for a short time, but I value your opinions and insight. Today, I discovered that I value your human compassion as well.

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I appreciate the kind words, John. Thanks.

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thank you for sharing that about Gonzalo Lira, john anderson. Lira had a very human side, lareger than life but seemed not to care too much about his own. sad ending for him but good to know he wrote an essay about his pet that he loved and missed..

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I heard Gonzalo Lira was recently offed by the Ukrainian goon squad.

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Jan 18Liked by Donald Jeffries

Thank you for your beautiful piece. It brought tears to my eyes, thinking of my loses of loved ones and how every soul brings so much to our lives, even though at times, you have thoughts how are we related. Yet, they are the threads that create better parts of us. Bless all the people who are no longer with us and bless us to move forward with more consciousness and love to give to others. Thank you.

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Thanks, Betsy!

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You definitely touched something in me with this one Don. These special people are blessed with a capacity for love and happiness that should shame all "normal" people. I wonder if they are God's messengers of pure love? There was a young fellow in the Walmart I used to frequent who was Downs Syndrome. He didn't work there and I assume his parents or a caregiver was in the store somewhere. While my wife was shopping I would sit and chat with him and you could tell how happy he was. A substantial amount of people would stop and stare but no one ever tried to get involved. Maybe they were afraid that he was contagious. In that they were right. I never left him without feeling happier. seeing pure innocence is so uplifting. Enjoy your niece on her birthday as she is one of the true gifts in life. I wish her many more.

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

When I worked at the newspaper warehouse, there was a developmentally disabled old man, who had a job sweeping the floor. He was always so happy. He called himself "Huggy Bear" because he loved to hug people. I liked his hugs. I was there for quite a while before someone explained to me that Huggy Bear was developmentally disabled. I just thought he was a happy old guy.

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Denise is the happiest person I've ever known. Norm MacDonald had a funny standup about that, albeit he liberally used the "r" word. Thanks, Kris!

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I have met such people too. One of them was Jim Haynich. I still recall how one day while waiting in the school line he was really exasperating me and I slugged him, and he was crying. And boy did I feel like the idiot for the rest of that month before Christmas. The faculty was utterly flabberrgasted. They wondered how a saint like me could do that to such a frail child.

I still think that no matter how many prayers I say I will have to somee Purgatory time for that.

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I like that thought, Peter- God's messengers of true love. Thanks!

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Jan 18·edited Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

Thought provoking. Thank you.

Today is the 2nd anniversary of my friend waking up in SPITE of her hospital protocol, remdesivir (aka, RUN-death-is-near) and the ventilator. She is alive and well, and beginning to decrease her oxygen and even go a couple of hours/day without it. Many who were treated with run death is near and out on ventilators died, as I’m sure you know. Most were given so many drugs that suppress your system, they basically killed them. Sickening.

I’m so sorry for your loss.

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I'm happy for your friend, KC. Thanks!

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Yup. It is time to stop talking about 'dem evil Nazis, and start talking about those evil Americans. Sadly, this did not happen overnight. I do think many of those nurses had abortions. When you can snuff out the baby in your womb, what's a few patients in the hospital when your boss says it is okay?

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Jan 18Liked by Donald Jeffries

Beautiful story! Here's to Ricky and Denise. Guess what Don, there are no coincidences!! All God given

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Thanks, Robin!

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Yup. If I lived to be a million years old I would never figure out, just learn to more and more greatly wonder at, the mysteries of God.

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The mysteries of God are what make life interesting and full of wonder. We just have to be awake and open to see the miracles.

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I see a miracle every time a dog has puppies.

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Jan 18Liked by Donald Jeffries

My husband has a nose-blowing cold. "You might want to wait on Donald," I said. "It will make you cry." 😊

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Jan 18Liked by Donald Jeffries

My condolences, but this suggests colds (human rhinovirus infections) persist. I'd wondered if covid's viral exclusion might have eradicated them. Did you check it really be rhinovirus with zinc, vitamin C, and specific symptomology?

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Ricky was perfectly healthy when he called 9/11 in the middle of the night, over a minor fall. He had no injuries from that, but once they tested him for COVID, and found out he was unvaccinated, the "protocol" began. He was a hypochondriac, but if he hadn't entered the hospital with no symptoms, he'd be alive and well today. Thanks.

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Oh God. I know these things have happened but it's still shocking to read about them. I'm not giving up hope that ALL the criminals who perpetuated these crimes against humanity will be brought to justice.

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Jan 18Liked by Donald Jeffries

Totally not the point.

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Then don't tell us your husband have a nose-blowing cold if he not have one.

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Sorry, I thought your comment was directed at Ricky's situation.

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That's so nice to hear, Retired Librarian. Thanks!

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Thanks for sharing this Don. Happy birthday to Denise and Ricky this Saturday Jan 20. I've been tracking coincidence and synchronicity in my own life for years. I once had a blog and the word synchronicity was in the title.

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Thanks, Mike!

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

My sweet grandson, Henry, has Down syndrome. He has opened my eyes to so much. IF we are life-long learners, we can learn so much from those who struggle to catch up all their lives. Thank you for this heartwarming, honest discussion.

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Bless your grandson, Carolyn. Thanks!

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

Thank you for sharing!! And your brother did hear you, and still does. ❤️

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Thanks, Healingroze!

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

I note that there is a high number of special kids and adults dying from looking at the obituaries. Terrible to consider that ds people already have heart issues and yet their parents were encouraged to vx them. A friend of ours has a ds boy 4yo and the medical fuckers made the parents get vx against their will in order for the boy to get his operations. Terrible evil being perpetrated on all. Your article speaks the truth. DS children and adults are so innocent and loving. Thank you. God bless

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

I saw it too in the local obituaries. Two men of younger age both passed suddenly in one week. They were both in care homes. Both had pictures with their faces beaming with happiness. Very sad. Obviously government policy is to inject the poison shots in all of them.

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

It was. Truly shocking around Christmas time here in Ireland to see so many faces of special people in one particular week. And msm says nothing. But the people know. And God knows.

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Thanks, tom!

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

Happy Birthday to both Ricky and Denise. Their lives were not in vain. God Bless!

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Thanks, Fran!

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I would never direct the word, retarded, or even, slow, at someone with Downs syndrome, or Asperger’s or anything like that.

But I have always thought that those words were OK, when directed at someone who is just behaving stupidly.

I suppose I’ll continue to think about it and maybe change my mind, about that.

I usually get kind of annoyed at people who are offended by such terms because retarded just means slowed and so it seems an apt description of someone with those kinds of issues and therefore, accurate when applied to someone without those issues who was speaking or behaving stupidly.

But as I said, maybe I will rethink it, because I find your article very hard to argue with. So thanks for sharing all of this.

I also must confess to an inordinate discomfort around people with those issues. Do I think that they are catching? I don’t think so. But the discomfort is there. This article encourages me to work on that, as well.

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"

Scott Stuart

Scott’s Substack

2 hrs ago

"I would never direct the word, retarded, or even, slow, at someone with Downs syndrome, or Asperger’s or anything like that.

But I have always thought that those words were OK, when directed at someone who is just behaving stupidly.

I suppose I’ll continue to think about it and maybe change my mind, about that."

Change it right now, fool. To use the name of a disability as an insult is whacko. How do you think those with those disabilities feel about that?

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Lots of good people use the word without ill intentions, James. I think it really depends on whether or not you have someone close to you that has Down Syndrome, or something similar. Then you will feel differently. Thanks.

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Call it a difference of opinion, then. I'd still never use it, in that manner...that would be foolish behavior, even if unintended. Some have that disability...why remind them of it? You might as well put a sign on them. Would you use "cripple", in the presence of one who has a permanent leg disability? I understand that you mean no harm...but, still, some will be hurt and offended. Just use "stupid", because that's a human condition, at least occasionally, which can be sometimes corrected, rather than a disability, which can't be, and which a person would presumably rather not have, or perhaps even be reminded of.

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I agree with you, James. There is no reason to use the word. Many good people do, though. I admire Jason Whitlock a lot, but he uses this word far too often, and doesn't seem apologetic about it. I can assure everyone that those who have some kind of challenge like Down Syndrome definitely know the word, and cringe at it. Denise certainly does. As you note, there are other generic terms like "stupid" which work just as well. Thanks.

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I understand that, Scott, and have heard that explanation from others. I can just tell you that my reaction to the word changed dramatically upon the birth of Denise. I'm glad that this piece gave you food for thought. Thanks!

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Yes. I’m certain I’d feel differently in your shoes. Thx for allowing my honesty without just reflexively throwing me under the bus.

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Jan 19Liked by Donald Jeffries

Your encounter with Ricky via a Safeway carrot cake put a huge smile on my face.

I assure you Ricky is in the comforting arms of our Heavenly Father.

I too had a similar experience shortly after my son passed away in 2018 just shy of his 40th birthday. I wanted to know if he was alright. God answered me so profoundly I was awestruck and burst into tears of joy. The thought still brings tears. I wrote about it which I’ll send privately.

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I'm sorry to hear about your son, Dennis. I can't imagine how painful that was. Thanks.

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Jan 18Liked by Donald Jeffries

So loving 💕💕💕

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Thanks, Nancy!

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