[tri-med] Re: A very nice passage about special children. (Religion mentioned)

Very well put Gary....I can't disagree with this logic...
 
Mohammed, dad to Nejoud (T18, 2 ½ Yrs) and hoping that one day she will be able 
to stand on her own just like Gary's precious daughter Hailey...
 


________________________________
From: Gary David <gcdavid@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:47:46 AM
Subject: [tri-med] Re: A very nice passage about special children. (Religion 
mentioned)

If I may intervene (at my own peril).
I don't think there is much issue with any 'religious' intonation in the 
article.  The larger issue for Mohammed (if I may) is the political positions 
of the source website, which really had nothing to do with the message itself.  
Without getting into the politics of the source website, it is pretty easy to 
see how their positions could be pretty offensive to some people.  But again, 
it is pretty clear (at least to me) that the intent of the original message was 
not to push those positions.

One of the interesting things for me is how people from innumerable backgrounds 
come together on this list (part of my academic research is on intergroup 
relations).  In modern society, we often find ourselves coming into contact 
with others who are very different from us on a variety of levels.  On this 
list, we are all bound by our shared group identity of being impacted by 
trisomy.  At the same time, that bound can be dissolved by the inclusion of 
some other group identity, especially when that identity causes some kind of 
major divide.  Politics is of course a biggie!  It was interesting to see 
people trying to avoid any political discussion during the election (and for 
good reason!).  We bring that up, and that we share in the same struggles kind 
of goes away.

In a diverse community (such as this), it going to be impossible to avoid 
potential offense at all times.  On the other hand, it doesn't make sense to 
start a trisomy vegan Boston Red Sox Green Party Country and Western NASCAR 
list (if all of those things could co-exist).  It wouldn't make much sense to 
pigeon-hole ourselves too much, because then we'll end up pretty much alone.

For me, it comes down to giving the benefit of the doubt (unless intent to push 
a certain potentially divisive agenda is clear), and perhaps a slight 
informational email off-list to draw attention to anything that is potentially 
offensive (albeit unintentional).  

Just some random thoughts from me.

Gary (dad to Hailey 27 months T13 mosaic who can now stand up all by herself 
from the floor, is talking (or demanding) in sentences, and moving faster than 
we can keep up with)




________________________________
From: Mohammed Taha <abuhamzeh@xxxxxxx>
To: tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 8:58:47 AM
Subject: [tri-med] Re: A very nice passage about special children. (Religion 
mentioned)

I did not object to the message as I stated in my original reply, I only 
objected about using the message to promote political and or religous issues. 
All you have to do is click on the web sites included in your message and you 
will see for yourself the political and religous nature of  the sites promoting 
Israel. I leave the rest to the readers to judge for themselves. 
No offense taken I only seek the truth...

________________________________
From: Barbara Farlow <b_farlow@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tri med lists <tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 8:40:40 AM
Subject: [tri-med] Re: A very nice passage about special children. (Religion 
mentioned)

I have no idea about the politics behind this article. I copied the copyright 
info because it seemed appropriate. 

I placed a warning that religion was mentioned for those who are offended by 
any such reference. 

Because the reference to "pure love" was one of the nicest pieces I have read 
with respect to trisomy children and to me, was not a religious reference but a 
humanistic and absolute one, I considered that the benefits of the article to 
the group outweighed any potential negatives.

Somehow I doubt that the Rabbi who wrote the article about special children 
specifically did so for the intent of furthering propoganda on a political 
front. Even if that was the case, they are nicer words than I have read from 
anyone from any faction, ever. 

Sorry that you took offense. 

Barb (Annie's mom)
www.anniefarlow.com



> Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:28:53 -0800
> From: abuhamzeh@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [tri-med] Re: A very nice passage about special children. (Religion 
> mentioned)
> To: tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 
> This is truly a beautiful perspective. The only distraction and bias that 
> took away from this nice message is the attached political web sites 
> promoting Jewish and Israeli propaganda. I don't see any other reason for it. 
> other than pure probaganda!!!!!!
>  
> I thought that we agreed to stay away from religin and politics and to keep 
> this web site to address our children's issues. 
>  
> Dad of Nejoud (T 18, 2 1/2 Yrs old)
> ________________________________
> From: Barbara Farlow <b_farlow@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: triwings <tri-wings@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; tri med lists <tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:21:50 AM
> Subject: [tri-med] A very nice passage about special children. (Religion 
> mentioned)
> Hello,
> 
> The Jewish mother of a disabled son with a genetic condition sent this to me 
> today. I think it is a beautiful way of understanding out special children. I 
> especially appreciate the idea of "pure love". I am sure you can all relate, 
> regardless of your faith.
> 
> (IsraelNN.com) Question
> A friend gave birth to a baby with a rare condition that has rendered
> her severely handicapped. She is not
> expected to live much past her tenth birthday. I just can't understand
> why G-d does that. If life has a purpose,
> what is the purpose of such a short and sad life?
> 
> Answer
> Every birth is a gamble. A soul enters the world innocent and pure.
> But it may not stay that way. This world is
> maze of diverging pathways, both good and evil, and the choice is ours
> which way we go. Once a soul enters a
> body, it is free and therefore vulnerable to corruption. While acts of
> good elevate the soul, every act
> of evil makes
> a blemish on the soul.
> Some souls are so pure, it simply isn't worth the gamble. These souls
> are too precious to risk being compromised
> by life in a body. They are too high to come down to this world. But
> the other option, not to be sent down at all, to
> never reach this world, would mean that we would miss out on meeting
> these holy and lofty souls and hearing
> their message.
> So these souls do come down. But in order to be protected from the
> potential evils of an earthly existence, they
> are sent down into a body that will not compromise their holiness.
> They enter this world in a form that is above
> sin, above evil. From a purely physical perspective we call them
> disabled or handicapped; from the perspective of
> the soul, they are protected. They will never sin. Their sojourn in
> this world is often brief and, in terms of this
> world, may seem sad. But they have retained their purity. And
> they
> have fulfilled their mission.
> These special souls remind us that true love doesn't need a reason. We
> often love others for what they give us -
> we love our children because they are cute, smart and high achievers;
> we love our spouse for the pleasure and
> contentment they give us; we love our parents because they care for
> us. This is love, but it is not pure.
> When a child is born that will never achieve worldly success, cannot
> provide the usual source of pride for her
> parents, all extraneous reasons to love her fall away and what's left
> is the purest love that there can be. These
> children are lovable not because of what they do for you, and not
> because of what they will one day become, but
> simply because they are.
> These pure souls remind us what love should be. Only such a pure and
> holy soul can elicit such a pure and holy
> emotion. We can only stand in awe of them, and the parents and friends
> who
> care for them. And we can only
> thank them all, for giving us a glimpse of what true love really means.
> © Copyright IsraelNationalNews.com
> Subscribe to the free Daily Israel Report - sub.israelnn.com
> Cheshvan 6, 5769, 04 November 08 07:08
> www.IsraelNationalNews.com
> 
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> 
> 
>                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
>                      www.trisomyonline.org
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>                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
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> 

_________________________________________________________________


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