Month: February 2020

Today, Québeckers commuting by train woke up to trains being blocked by the natural gas pipeline protesters (https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/pipeline-protesters-plan-to-be-there-until-further-notice-as-exo-cancels-trains-on-candiac-line-1.4804798).

Yesterday for the third day, Ontarians travelling by train between Toronto , Ottawa, and Montreal, have been blocked in 18 VIA rail stations (https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/indigenous-rail-blockades-cause-chaos-for-ontario-travellers-commuters).

In BC, highways have been blocked by activists protesting the same cause (https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/84be145a-4c61-11ea-85c7-0242ac110002/?jwsource=cl).

What is ironic in the case of the train in Québec is that the citizens (and government) of La Belle Province are known to be anti-pipeline. Bambi says this because of the Lac Mégantic tragedy a few years ago, that has taught us how trains can be more dangerous than pipelines to transport dangerous yet much needed substances.

So why do all those “activists” go to that extreme, even miles away from the west side of our country?

In the National Post article above, travellers described their frustration (even if they understand the cause) because they missed a funeral or a wedding. One young woman missed the chance of seeing her boyfriend after a long month. Luckily, VIA rail will be reimbursing everyone, it seems.

Bambi can only feel for these travellers. She used to take that VIA train between Toronto and Montreal to a great extent, especially the fast route (4 hours). She once left work on a Friday evening in a rush and took the train, for a 24-hour trip, to say good-bye to her aunt in her last moments of her life. Had such interruption occurred then, Bambi would have been annoyed; regardless of the “activists” and their cause, even if she had sympathy for it.

Another question that begs itself: Why do our authorities allow all this to unfold, even when a decision was made in December to allow the company in question to proceed AND when the company consulted with 20 first nations who ALL support this project?

Why do we hear the name of one entity, the Hereditary Chiefs, and not other leading groups or Mr. or Ms. Average Person from their communities?

Anyhow, these questions are not the topic of this post but they cannot help not to run into Bambi’s mind whilst reading the news as she tries to understand all this.

To come back to the question raised by this post: “Is it OK to impose our convictions on others?”, Bambi is asking this question regardless of the cause of the day.  

For instance, a few days ago, animal activists stormed an organic store in Montreal, (https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/202002/09/01-5260228-des-militants-antispecistes-font-irruption-dans-une-epicerie-montrealaise.php) and a few weeks ago, a pig farm in Saint-Hyacinthe (https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/animal-activists-occupy-a-pig-farm-in-saint-hyacinthe-and-are-arrested-1.4719827),  and at one point, they invaded a restaurant serving beef and bothered the clients who went to relax and enjoy a good meal (https://www.mtlblog.com/news/canada/qc/montreal/montreal-restaurant-joe-beef-stormed-by-animal-rights-activists-video).

Why do we tolerate this form of so-called environmental activism that resemble more social “terrorism”? In the name of what? Of “climate change” that is resembling more and more a cult and less and less science?

Bambi, as a deer, is concerned by the driving of humans in her habitat (where we built highways). Imagine, if she, and her fellow deer of Canada, decide to block our highways and train rails to denounce this noble cause to her species. Will this be acceptable and tolerated by “human” Canadians?

In the following French article by Ms. Magaly Abboud in the l’Orient Le Jour, one of the Lebanese major daily newspapers (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1205941/pres-de-220-000-emplois-supprimes-depuis-octobre-60-000-depuis-decembre.html), we can read the following:

“About 220 000 job losses since October, 2019; 60,000 since December.”

“Over half of the businessses interviewed by Infopro in January 2020 have cut the pays of their employees.”

This is HUGE. This is sad.

Will the new Government get the trust of the Parliament of Lebanon tomorrow and on Thursday?

What about earning the trust of the people?

After all, they are the ones paying for their political leaders’ corruption (i.e., funds stolen… without accountability yet) and/or for their mismanagement?

To conclude this post on a note of hope, Bambi had wished (OK still wishes, if at all realistically possible?) to see the same level of professionalism and talent in the Lebanese politicians as in “Captain George Deeb, along with Co-Captain Karl Stefan,” who “managed to take control of the Airbus 330 while it was landing at Heathrow in London despite the storm”.

Indeed, “the move showed the professionalism of MEA captains” (“Lebanon online” on Youtube).

Bravo to the Lebanese pilots ?!

Whilst working and listening to the radio on the internet, Bambi heard a moving song about Beirut (the one below) interpreted by a beautiful male voice. She took a quick break to search the web trying to find this piece and uncover the man behind the voice. This is how she came across Ms. Talia Lahoud playing the guitar and singing.

What a moving talent. Indeed, she cannot help not to share her discovery with you, hoping you will enjoy it too.

The first video is about a famous song for Beirut by Feiruz (sub-titled in English). It was written during the Lebanese civil war:

The second song below, also sub-titled in English, is dedicated by Ms. Talia Lahoud to all the countries of the world. It is called “Mawtini” and it literally means my homeland.

If Bambi understands well, this has been the national anthem of Palestine at one point in time and then of Iraq. What a moving poem! What a superb music. According to a Wikipedia page, “It is a popular poem written by the Palestinian poet ʾIbrāhīm Ṭūqān in 1934 and composed by the Lebanese composer Muhammed Flayfil” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawtini_(Ibrahim_Tuqan_song):

Last but surely not the least, the third piece is John Lennon’s “Imagine”.  No need for introductions obviously. Of note, Ms. Lahoud sings it in both English and Arabic (her Lebanese Arabic version whilst the two songs above are in Standard Arabic):

Thank you Ms. Lahoud for your talent. Please keep nurturing it and generously sharing with us!

Mind you, Bambi is particularly moved to see (and imagine you also) singing in the entrance of your building in Beirut. Who knows? Perhaps you are a neighbour of her parents? Or maybe one of her sisters ?? Neighbours or not, from the same birth country or not, we are all surely relatives in humanity. The latter knows no boundaries.

The purpose of this post is to share a translation of an article by Mr. Mathieu Bock-Côté, published this morning in the Journal de Montréal as it is food for thought.

However, before introducing this translated article further below, Bambi would like to share the following personal comments: One of the several reasons she did not vote for our current government again is illustrated in this older cartoon by YGreck in the Journal of Québec ? about our Prime Minister. You can notice the short and clear answer in English to the right (meant for the rest of Canada). A contrast to the long, vague, and senseless answer in French to the right (as an answer to journalists from Québec). Indeed, Bambi is sensitive to congruence in politicians in both languages (especially when they speak both English and French well enough). It may tell us something about not only a hot topic (and courage) but also, and more importantly to her, about authenticity.

Well, regardless of Bill 21 (it is just an example), Bambi has always been for the respect of Québec (+ the other provinces/territories; e.g., Alberta) in an optimally functional federalism. In her mind or heart, she has always been for “a strong Québec in a united Canada”, to use a cliché. However, things seemed too “disunited” in our beautiful Canada lately, along with an extreme campaign of our mainstream media against Québec (with a total misunderstanding of Bill 21) that Bambi felt somehow pushed into finding sympathy for the Québec sovereignty movement. Can you imagine the danger of pushing things too far?

This being said, enough of Bambi’s blahblahblah now. Here is the translated article in question. Thank you Mr. Bock-Côté. It is food for thought, whether we agree or not.

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/02/08/le-canada-un-pays-hostile-au-quebec

“Canada: a country hostile to Québec”

By Mathieu Bock-Côté

“Much has been said in recent days about the challenge of Bill 21 by the English-Montreal School Board and its illegal funding by the federal government, through the court challenges program – funding that the controversy has driven the EMSB to refuse.

Several, including François Legault, have accused Justin Trudeau of insulting Québeckers. Others have argued that Justin Trudeau had little to do with this decision because the program would be “independent” – such an assertion, however, deserves many nuances, including that it is ideologically very oriented.

Trudeau

It doesn’t matter whether Justin Trudeau would be personally responsible for this challenge. The main thing is elsewhere. Rather, what we need to recognize is that the federal system itself, with or without Justin Trudeau, is fundamentally hostile to Québec’s assertion. He submits it to a constitution it did not sign, to a Charter of Rights which engenders an undemocratic and multiculturalist government of judges, which demonizes and reduces us to the status of an ethnic minority in plural Canada.

Canada is a country fundamentally hostile to the people of Québec. It pushes for its political dissolution and its demographic marginalization.

Nothing that is happening right now is surprising. The great virtue of Bill 21, in some respects, is to remind Québeckers of a truth that they wanted to forget: Québec may well be made to believe that it is free to decide for itself in the federal framework. It is wrong.

Federalism

Québec must be deployed in the space that is granted for it. Let us be clear: It is politically submissive to Ottawa.

And if, sooner or later, the Supreme Court decides to suspend Bill 21, there won’t be many cards left in its game. There is a price to pay for not being independent.

What will François Legault do then?”

Thank you for your time if you are still reading this post, whether you agree with Bill 21 or not, Bambi hopes you will at least see that it is is a bill made by Québec for Québec.

To conclude this post, here are Bambi’s earlier posts on the topic:

What about “collective” rights of the Québec nation, Mr. Pallister?

“Naziland, QC?!”: Facal’s article is food for thought, whether you agree or not

Test yourself with Bill 21: Multiple Choice Questions

Mr. Richard Martineau is right: The Globe & Mail editorial on Québec’s Bill 21 sucks

A French debate more professional and enjoyable than its English fiasco version

Bambi would like to share this thoughtful English documentary signed by Ms. Aya Ibrahim from the Deutsche Welle News. It is about 13-minute long.

“Vielen Dank”. Thank you Ms. Ibrahim and bravo to all those Lebanese citizens in the video for their courage and determination!

Bambi does not know the politician being interviewed at the end of the documentary. It is interesting to hear how he tries to make sense of what is happening in his country.

Anyhow, for fun, she googled him after watching the video. This is how she remembered his link to the President of Lebanon (one of his sons-in-law). Of course, this does not automatically make him incompetent. Plus, he is an engineer initially. Who knows, maybe politicians who are engineers by training/career can be more reasonable (or less corrupt?) than lawyers?

To conclude on a funny note, this kinship (between Mr. Alain Aoun and Mr. Michel Aoun, the President of Lebanon) made Bambi think of Mr. Donald Trump and his own son-in-law, Mr. Jared Kushner ?. Of course, this being said, Lebanon and his neighbourhood are far from being the United States and North America.

Bambi just discovered this talent whilst searching the net looking for a Lebanese song she has been singing to warm herself in her today’s outdoor activity ?.

Accidentally, she came across the incredibly gifted, and beautiful, Mennel Ibtissem. The latter is a 22-year-old student from Besançon in France. You can see for yourself!

If you read Arabic, here are the lyrics she sings in the video above.

في ليلة من الليالي لست ادري ما إعتراني ظلمة تغمرني يا رب الارض ضاقت و السماء و قلبي ما عرف الضياء و الدمع بات يبكي يا إلهي

The full English lyrics are as follows:

“Now, I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah. Hallelujah
Hallelujah. Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah. Hallelujah
Hallelujah. Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don’t even know the name
But if I did, well really, what’s it to you?
There’s a blaze of light in every word
It doesn’t matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah…”

Well, thanks to our own Mr. Leonard Cohen (from Montreal :)!) for having existed (1934-2016). Thank you Mennel for your beautiful voice/talent…Please keep singing!

Ms.Thérèse Tanguay–Dion died on January 17, 2020. She was 92 years old.

Her funeral will take place in Montréal in a few days.

What a lady! Bambi admires her for two main reasons: (1). She is the mother of 14 adult kids (one passed away years ago). For that, she is Bambi’s hero (whose ambition at age six was to have “12 kids, 6 boys and 6 girls”, as she used to say. OK, only at that young age, she must add. Luckily as this is far from the reality!) and (2). Likely related to # 1, she is a great cook (again, very far from Bambi’s own reality ?). She published books and had a TV show.

Ms. Tanguay Dion has always known that she wanted to have children and raise a large family, it seems. She even succeeded in convincing her spouse who did not want to become a dad at first.

Together, they had beautiful talented kids, including our own Canadian pride, Céline. If only for that, thank you Ms. Tanguay-Dion.

Now, what is the link to the Magdalen Islands ( “Îles-de-la-Madeleine”), you may wonder? Well no apparent logical link whatsoever! Indeed, it is simply because, in her mind, Bambi associates this place with Mme Tanguay-Dion. Indeed, about 8-9 years ago, Bambi, her spouse, and her dear parents (visiting Sackville from Beirut) took a ferry from Souris, PEI (along with their car) to the Magdalen Islands, which are composed of 8 islands that are part of Québec.

This small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence is a piece of heaven, as you can see below:

https://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/en/

Anyhow, to come back to the story above, as soon they arrived at their hotel in the first island, Bambi bumped into Ms. Tanguay-Dion (also waiting to check in, along with other senior ladies).

Bambi got excited. Without wanting to be a pain to the lady who may have been perhaps tired of always being in the public eye, she greeted her politely yet quickly, just wishing her a happy journey on the islands. Ms. Tanguay-Dion thanked Bambi, giving her a nice smile, even nicer than all her TV smiles.

Funny enough, the next day, Bambi and her family bumped into another famous person from Québec. This time, it was a politician, perhaps not too famous in the end of her mandate, despite her admirable long career (plus a mother of four children)! Ms. Pauline Marois is a former PQ politician who was at the time campaigning on the Magdalen Islands.

Here is a picture of Ms. Marois. She is wearing pink and guess who is that beautiful lady next to her? Well, it is Bambi’s mom, “Robine Azar” ?!

Bambi cannot think of the Magdalen Islands now, without having a thought to yet another famous television and radio broadcaster as well as former politician with the Liberal Party of Canada (who was alive back then). Bambi will name Mr. Jean Lapierre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Lapierre). He was a sharp and friendly character to watch and listen to. Bambi used to think highly of him. She liked him too. He sadly died in 2016 “on a private plane that crashed on approach to Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport. Seven people died in the crash, including four of his family members; they were travelling to their father Raymond’s funeral. Both pilots died”.

All this being said, on a more personal level, that trip to the Magdelan Islands will forever be associated in Bambi’s heart with HAPPY family moments. Her parents and her spouse united. Plus… she was pregnant back then (her first time). She was SO happy beyond words. She also had a sort of a silly baby brain ?. If you do not believe it, ask her spouse! Ok, more seriously now, that happiness was short-lived. A few weeks later, they (= she) had a miscarriage (their first) :(.

To conclude this post, may Ms. Tanguay-Dion rest in peace.

As for the Magdelan Islands, they are highly recommended! In addition to the wonderful beaches, landscape, and people, the food is absolutely delicious!

Last but not least, here is a joyful song about those Islands by an Acadian singer, Mr. Pierre Robichaud. Bambi would like to dedicate this song to her family as well as to the memory of Ms. Tanguay-Dion, and Mr. La Pierre/his family. Bambi wonders sometimes what happened to his mom who lost all her children at once, at a life moment when she needed their love and support.

Anyhow, Bambi would like to also dedicate this song to that potential of life that she carried whilst touring the Magdalen Islands. VERY brief moments of her life in the grand scheme of things yet unforgettable… likely until her own death, at least in her heart.  

On a happier note, Bambi adores this song (below). She feels like dancing whilst listening to it. She hopes you will enjoy discovering or re-appreciating it ?!

Once again, censorship had its last word. This time, the story happened in Qatar, as described in the following article entitled “U.S. university in Qatar cancels Lebanese band talk after anti-gay backlash” (https://nationalpost.com/pmn/entertainment-pmn/u-s-university-in-qatar-cancels-lebanese-band-talk-after-anti-gay-backlash). Before that, the same saga happened sadly in Lebanon (which is perhaps one of the most open-minded countries in the region) and earlier in Egypt.

The target of this intolerance is a talented Lebanese rock band called “Mashrou’ Leila”. Why? Because one of its members is openly gay. Yes, we are in 2020 and this is the reason, imagine.

This band has earned international success and acclaim for its music and lyrics, that tackle sectarianism, gender equality, and homophobia, among other issues.

By the way, where are our own activists here to denounce such social injustice abroad?

Anyhow, this band was supposed to give a talk at the Qatar campus of Northwestern University on media revolution in the Middle East. The event was cancelled for security concerns.

Northwestern University and this band mutually agreed to move the event to its U.S. campus.

To conclude this post, here is a short video showing their music, sub-titled in English. Enjoy ?!

According to National Geographic, “orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world’s most powerful predators. They’re immediately recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white coloring. Smart and social, orcas make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each pod has distinctive noises that its members will recognize even at a distance” (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/o/orca/).

Below is a video posted by Lebanese fishermen; story from An Nahar and reported in the media from Cyprus in both Greek and English:

https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/orca-sighting-caught-on-video

https://www.sigmalive.com/news/local/609853/entopistike-falaina-orka-anoixta-tis-kyprou-entyposiako-vinteo

In the video, we can hear the voices of Lebanese guys, chatting at one point in Arabic, and saying “WOW” every time they are admiring the beauty of that orca, namely at 0:57-1:02, 1:35-1:45, and 1:57-2:04 minutes of the video.

According to Dr. Michel Bariche, Marine biology professor at the American University of Beirut (https://www.aub.edu.lb/pages/profile.aspx?MemberId=mb39), “orcas are absolutely harmless. They usually live in cold waters, namely oceans. It is unclear whether this particular orca is the same one seen in Cyprus or one of the same family. He may be lost, sick, or was deviated from his path because of the sound of boats or even submarines, etc. He hopes he will find his way to Gibraltar safely…” (https://www.annahar.com/article/1117399-).

This story made Bambi recall memories from her teen years when she was enjoying her time on a paddle board in the Mediterranean sea. She bumped into 5 giant turtles! She was so excited and also concerned as they looked like still. She paddled as fast as she could to the shores, asking for help. It turned out that the five of them were all dead :(, perhaps from the earlier shelling, she has been told.

To conclude this post, Bambi would like to join her voice to Dr. Bariche to wish this cute orca (and his family, if any?) safe travels back home! Thanks for visiting :).

A small analogy between Beirut, Lebanon and Sackville, NB, Canada:

In Beirut, behind this wall (“of shame”, as called by the citizens), politicians are “hiding” from the protestors in the Parliament of Lebanon.

In the town hall of Sackville (NB), the clerk working with our municipal politicians is hiding behind a “$7,800 glass partition” as the “the aluminum and tempered glass barrier is needed for greater security” (https://warktimes.com/2016/11/10/sackville-councillors-set-to-tighten-security-at-town-hall/).

Politicians may sometimes share similar characteristics across countries or jurisdictions. Populations may differ. For example, perhaps the people of Lebanon also began by being apathetic. However, the surrealistic level of corruption over the last decades provoked an unprecedented economic crisis. The people woke up from their “coma”, to use words they use themselves. They revolted in the streets.

Lebanese politicians may be afraid of them because they are like a mirror reflecting their own vices.

Instead of cement walls, they need “concrete” bridges of communication to truly reassure the population and find solutions to problems.

This being said, will the Lebanese financial rescue plan expected tomorrow from the new government succeed in reforming the country, as aspired by its population?