Gravitas Plus: Even if Ms. Palki Sharma did not write the obituary of oil, as you may have wished, and she was not politically correct, using the term “Wuhan virus”, her documentary is informative
Month: February 2021
What a dignified lady: An interview with Mr. Lokman’s Slim’s mother after his assassination
Bambi would like to thank her friend Mary for sharing this inspiring short interview with Ms. Slim. She is the mother of the brutally assassinated Mr. Lokman Slim. What a dignified mother. They broke her heart yet not her soul. Like her son, she is a free thinker, a writer, and a researcher (the journalist referred to her as “an encyclopedia“). Bambi searched the net and found what she believes to be his article in An Anhar. He signed it as follows: “We are all your children, Ms. Slim“.
Bambi did not know this distinguished woman before. She salutes her sorrow as well as her wise yet sharp words. Below, she will allow herself a free translation into English (the interview was conducted in Arabic). Before doing so, Bambi would like to cite Mr. Gibran Khalil Gibran who wrote: “Your Lebanon is not my Lebanon“… his words about his birth country are sadly still very relevant, perhaps today more than ever. Indeed, the Lebanon of the Slims is clearly not the Lebanon of those who ordered his killing or those who executed it, to use his mother’s words.
This being said, here are the words of Ms. Slim verbatim:
“… I say that they slaughtered me because Lokman, in addition to being my son, was my friend and my partner in thinking, reading, and debating… and what did they gain? They lost an energy that existed for Lebanon. I am not just talking about a source of energy for me. I am talking about Lokman as a man of knowledge, a man who reads, who writes, and analyzes. I am selfish. I am his mother. I need him. He is my son, but if they think of their country, they do not get rid of such sources of energy [= human capital]. What did they gain? They spent on him 5 or 6 bullets? Many thanks. Many thanks for their generosity!“
The journalist then asks her if she has a message to share. She replied: “What shall I say? Here, we have been raised that education is the most important thing, same for the thoughts, and for the good manners. And then when the world may contradict us, we retire home, we read, write, and analyze. There is no need to expose ourselves. Life is tough, but people should not become criminals. I am not just talking about those who executed the crime. I blame more those who ordered/incited it. There is someone who incited and those who incite are to be blamed more than those who committed the crime. Those who execute crimes are usually like a machine. They just deliver. It is like a kitchen’s mixer. I may program it to make it work. It works, but who is the responsible? The cook making it work, the cook inciting it. I can only say that he is the responsible only. That’s all I can say.”
The journalist asked Ms. Slim if she is accusing anyone or leaving the matter to the justice system. She replied: Of course, I am leaving this to the justice system and this afternoon my son Hady is arriving [to Beirut] and he is a lawyer who teaches in France. He is the one to look at all the laws or the investigation, etc. However, what matters is to find a solution because, if I recall, when Mr. Kamel Mrouwa was assassinated, my husband was his lawyer and that story remained unaccountable. Me, I refuse that they do the same with the case of the murder of Lokman. This I refuse it!”
To conclude this post, bless your broken (“slaughtered“, to use your own term) heart, Ms. Slim. May your son rest in peace. Thank you for having raised your beautiful family with such wonderful values, with courage/dignity, and with the most precious gift in the world: Being/remaining free thinkers (despite the pressures, threats, and criminality). May your final words be heard: May impunity finally ends in Lebanon!
Conformity: Isn’t it easy to be a rebel/activist when we are on a governmental payroll?
We read the same pieces of so-called journalistic opinions almost recycled, word by word, from one mainstream media to the other.
We see and hear intellectuals and public figures of our country repeating the same mantras of trendy ideas. Some seem convinced. Some sound like machines.
We read and hear university professors, writing in their profiles that they are “white settler scholars” living and working “on the unceded and unconquered land of…” or “…”.
We hear sport associations and scholars in Montréal totally forgetting their own history and repeating clichés or mantras that are not even accurate, but who cares? Science and facts do not matter nowadays. Only ideologies and select lived experiences are important. It does not even matter if the “lived experience” truly took place sometimes. What matters is a whole mob using it to destroy and an artist’s reputation or cancel an author, etc.
And then ironically and hypocritically they tell us that conspiracy ideas are to be banned.
Jesus would have said:“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
In other terms, why the double-standards and why can’t we see our own contradictions? Why do we project on others our own faults or why we only focus on theirs?
Some scholars go out of their way to tell us how bad “whiteness” is. A weird term, isn’t it? We should ban whole fields, such as Classics because of it. Thankfully, there are voices of reason who still dare to question and write before being perhaps cancelled one day (https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-unbearable-whiteness-of-the-classics-d60). If Bambi may, she would like to thank her good friend/relative who shared the above. Some people do not see the absurdity. Some people already have a justification handy for each absurdity.
We are sadly becoming a society too dependent on our government. Is this ideal in life for creativity or entrepreneurship? All what we do is conform and repeat. Re-repeat and conform… whilst calling ourselves activists or rebels?
Does anyone still recall the wise words of Mr. John F. Kennedy’s: “Conformity is the jailor of freedom and the enemy of growth”. What would he have thought about all this had he still been alive, Bambi wonders?
And what about Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? Chances are he would be turning in his grave now after seeing what is happening to his dream? Yes, his beautiful dream that his “four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”.
Now character and merit are being presented as being the product of privilege (some parents on some American school boards call the standards of merit and excellence racist. Does that make any sense to you, if you happen to be a parent killing yourself to provide an education to your children?).
Sadly, in Mr. King’s country and in Bambi’s, society and political elites want us to only focus on our skin colour/hue and interpret everything through the lens of race, racism, anti-racism, and “racialization”. But isn’t it ironically racist when we are too obsessed with race to begin with? Plus, do you really believe that this will bring more justice to the daily life of ordinary Americans and Canadians?
To conclude this post, with an example that may seem too exaggerated to you. To describe the irony of the conformity of our society’s elite on the government’s payroll and the hypocrisy/uselessness of this phenomenon (despite any individual good intentions), imagine the following: Canada is Lebanon and the governmental elite there is like our activists here: From the morning to the evening and in each meeting, they denounce the state’s corruption and the Hezbollah’s hegemony on the Lebanese institutions.
Had you been a Lebanese citizen not connected to neither the government nor to powerful militias (the majority), do you take them seriously? Perhaps you would do, if you prefer to live in denial (comas may be more reassuring). If you don’t, you may perhaps be living in a parallel world to survive (disconnected from politics and the news). Who knows? If you can afford it, you may be spending your time in the lineups in front of embassies, dreaming of immigrating. If Canada is one of your dream destinations, to make an informed decision, you may wish to educate yourself about what Bambi is describing in this post. It may not match the romanticized idea you may have about our luckily still beautiful yet deteriorating country.
You know that Iran is pleased with the USA when Ms. Kamala Harris’ book is published in Tehran in Farsi
Well, Bambi was curious to see what the Iranian media is saying about the US administration, namely Biden/Harris, etc.
Whilst searching the net, she came across an article in the Tehran Times (January 6, 2021) about Ms. Kamala Harris’ book. Yes, it is now available in Farsi. It the “first Persian translation of “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey”.
Well, when her autobiography arrives to Iran in Farsi, you can guess that Iran is pleased with the USA’s foreign policy (https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/456674/The-Truths-We-Hold-by-Kamala-Harris-comes-into-Iranian-bookstores)!
Now the Iranian people can read in Farsi what Ms. Harris wrote about her journey in Montreal during her teenage years :). Remember, it was rather an insignificant part of her book (a couple of short paragraphs only and she did not like winter, in addition to struggling with the French language).
Note that the official statement of Mr. Justin Trudeau, following their conversation, notes that “she recalled fondly her years spent in Montréal” (https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/readouts/2021/02/01/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-speaks-united-states-vice-president-kamala). Perhaps she did say so during their phone conversation (verbatim), but does this sound authentic? Perhaps in Farsi it does :).
Note also that Mr. Biden and her both phoned Mr. Trudeau, but neither of them called Mr. Netanyahu, as per both l’Orient Le Jour of Lebanon and the Israeli media (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1251064/au-moyen-orient-biden-prend-ses-distances-avec-les-plus-proches-allies-de-trump.html).
The Middle East is indeed changing…
Obsession with “systemic racism”: Why can’t Ms. Anamie Paul and the mainstream media leave Québec alone?
When will the rest of Canada leave Québec alone?
All what Mr. Trudeau wants is to “kill” Bill 21. For him, only one way of approaching secularism is valid, and it is his dad’s concept of multiculturalism. He forgets that Québec is a distinct society that has chosen its own approach to secularism, based on its own history, culture, and a 10-year-long public debate.
Ms. Anamie Paul, what is her problem? Is she virtue signalling? Or trying to increase her vote base in la Belle Province? Her Green party of Canada wants to recruit “young “progressives“, based on her own tweets. Mmm, is this is a winning strategy?
She does not know about you, but Bambi is sick and tired of politicians using invisible and visible minorities to advance political agendas. Bambi is not talking about Ms. Anamie Paul in particular. She is talking about anyone across party lines and across borders. For her, this obsession with race, religion, gender, or whatever other part of identity politics is a turn off.
Mr. François Legault may not be perfect (no politician and no human being is). He probably already made or will make political mistakes, but on this one, Bambi will applaud his wisdom and consistency in pushing back against wokeism.
Ms. Monika Borgmann’s first tweet since her spouse’s murder consisted of two words (in Arabic): “Zero Fear”… echoed by the courage of Beirut citizens
Today, several Lebanese citizens gathered in downtown Beirut, braving the coronavirus (with all its strains, including the deadlier British one), the curfew, and… the Hezbollah.
They are all Mr. Lokman Slim and they denounce this coward yet barbaric assassination (please count Canada’s Bambi among you).
Look at the painting held by the lady at the centre of the picture. Look at her mask.
Is there any need for more words…?
The Houthis no longer on the US terrorist list: Did Mr. Biden lose his mind?
Bambi would like to thank her friend for sharing this shocking yet not surprising news. Yes, the new US administration revoked the Houthi terrorist designation. What is next Mr. Biden? Hezbollah will follow… ?!
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/05/blinken-yemen-houthis-466429
https://thewest.com.au/politics/biden-revokes-houthi-terrorist-designation-ng-s-2048403
For the record, here is the logo of the sweet Houthi organization:
For those who do not read Arabic, the above means: Allah (= God) is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory to Islam“!
Is this a joke Mr. Biden?
Or is this a “diplomatic effort”?
Or is your administration up to something we ignore yet?
Bambi had a little more hope in Mr. Blinken, but now she sadly lost it. Perhaps he has his wings clipped or you are all naive and/or corrupt.
For Bambi, all this sounds too stupid to the point of being ridiculous… she is saying this with all due to respect to you and to your position. She also knows that some of her friends will be disappointed by this post. However, they know that she candidly speaks her mind. So, they would likely forgive her honesty. If they can explain this move, she would appreciate a comment on this blog :).
Now she understands even more why most of the Americans of Lebanese ancestry voted for your opponent, despite their Democratic leaning. Their (and Bambi’s) nightmare is becoming a reality…
LeDrew Three Minute Interview: “Is the mainstream media a branch of the Justin Trudeau Liberal government?”
Bambi just came across this 3-minute video. Mr. Levant is right, the mainstream media is financially (and thus intellectually) too dependent on the government.
This phenomenon happens in some other countries that unfortunately are not the most inspiring models to follow.
Why does it feel that we are becoming more and more like the third world of the developed countries? For instance, think of the delayed vaccines, compared to smaller countries and to the United States; too much ideologies and less efficacy, the overspending and the decision to tap into vaccine fund that is meant for poorer countries, the saga with the Montreal-based pharmaceutical company, the loss of jobs related to the pipelines saga with Mr. Biden, etc.
Of course, it is not easy to govern at any time, especially in pandemic times.
Perhaps one of the lessons of this pandemic is that big and centralized governments, cumbersome, bureaucratic entities (overcentralized federations, the European Union, globalism, etc.) may actually have systemic barriers to vaccination and to common-sense practices related to economic recoveries.
Perhaps the more localized efforts would be the most efficient ones.
Bambi was a child and a teenager growing up in Beirut, but she very well recalls the public debates in the news about the benefits of decentralization (not everything centred in Beirut and more developments in the regions). Despite its wars and numerous challenges, Lebanon delivered on this. It has excellent teaching-hospitals or governmental hospitals as well as universities, not just in the Beirut area.
If the authorities will truly deliver on their vaccination strategy, they seem to have understood that they need to go where the people are (e.g, vaccination sites in 48 hospital-centres across the country, with back-up centres that would be functional if needed. They will also deliver the vaccines into people’s own homes when they cannot go out or are disabled, etc.).
All this to say that Brexit seems to have worked well for England. It is ahead of many European countries, including France. Look also at Israel (that knew how to invest in its medical commercialization for years; a small country ahead of Canada in this regard). Look at Bahrain, another smaller country (the last time Bambi checked, they seemed to be doing well).
To conclude this post, Bambi will stop her blahblahblah here. Here is the video in question. Thank you Mr. Levant for bringing us the other side of the story, to use your own words. It is Bambi’s hope that social media will not cancel your voice.
Who has memory issues? In 2009, Mr. Biden urged the Lebanese not to vote in parliamentary elections, in order not to bring the Hezbollah to power. In 2021, he appears to let them down
When he was the US VP in 2009, Mr. Biden visited Beirut more than once. At one point, he warned that the USA’s aid program in Lebanon would depend on the outcome of the parliamentary elections, which could be won by the Hezbollah.
French-Canadian article (Le Devoir):
https://www.ledevoir.com/monde/etats-unis/251800/biden-demande-aux-libanais-de-ne-pas-voter
Google translate (in English):
Today, as the US President, he seems to be in a rush to give Iran carte blanche to achieve its nuclear ambitions and missile arsenal.
So, isn’t he worried about Hezbollah’s and its allies’ role in “hindering peace efforts” anymore (Bambi is using his own words)?
Sorry Mr. Biden, you may be allergic to former US President Trump, but the truth must be told as it is sometimes: The latter was more consistent in his foreign policy in the Middle East, from his promises to his achievements (including its inherent failures, of course! For Bambi, the most disgusting failure of Mr. Trump is what looked to her like a”gift” of the Western Sahara to Morocco in exchange of peace with Israel… unless all parties agreed on the deal, but how is that possible?).
Even if the former US administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy (on Iran) did not last long enough or was not the ideal in life, it seems to have been more promising than your so-called diplomatic approach… at least for now and for Lebanon where increasing assassinations of opposition public figures are taking place (see Bambi’s last post further below).
You may have the best intentions of the world Mr. Biden (thank you for this)! However, sadly, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. As a senior politician, you surely know all this very well.
To conclude this post, with all due respect Mr. Biden et al., it is Bambi’s hope that hell will not be in the form of neither a new war in the Middle East… nor in Lebanon on a silver plate to Iran (via the Hezbollah).
Please Mr. Biden, do not let Lebanon down!
—
Mr. Lokman Slim, an anti-Hezbollah critic, was brutally murdered in Lebanon!
Bambi discovered this inspiring thinker, writer, and artist during one of her visits to Beirut a few years ago. She recalls having enjoyed listening to an interview with him on the MTV channel, namely in a daily political show entitled “Beirut El Yaoum” (Beirut Today).
He was cowardly assassinated (and perhaps even tortured?) today. It seems that he went missing for a few hours, as you can see in the English short news video below.
Can you imagine? He only had his ideas and words whilst his killers have their powerful criminality… whomever they are.
You can see him below in a video with his spouse, Ms. Monika Borgmann (of German origins) talking in French about one of their movies on Lebanese prisoners lost in Syrian jails. Mr. Slim often criticized Hezbollah’s (or maybe even Amal’s?) toxic ties with Iran and Syria. Like all his fellow citizens, he also was lucid about the endemic state of corruption in his beloved country. He studied philosophy in France. He spoke several languages, including Arabic. The latter is a tough language to master, especially written Arabic, but Mr. Slim had a linguistic talent.
He was a publisher, partnering with his sister, author Rasha al-Ameer (picture below). Along with his beloved spouse, he founded the Umam Documentation and Research and Hayya Bina (or Let’s Go) organizations.
Umam organized art exhibitions, film screenings, and round tables to discuss issues related to civil violence and civil war memory. Indeed, the ghost of war is still vivid in Lebanon and, if Bambi is not mistaken, schools are still reluctant to teach the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990). However, as we all know and according to Mr. George Santayana, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it“. Thanks to Mr. Slim and Ms. Borgmann for having worked to help Lebanon in creating an archive of war. Together, they produced movies (e.g., one on the massacre of Sabra and Shatila, on prisoners in Syria, and one in progress on Syria’s civil war thus far; 10 years already).
Bambi’ heart goes to both Frau Borgmann and Ms. al-Ameer as well all Mr. Slim’s friends, colleagues (national and international), and the shocked yet not surprised Lebanese population. We are all speechless… May you rest in peace Mr. Slim. Thank you for your courage and work. May your memory be eternal… and, for once, may justice prevail!!
To conclude this post, despite the best wishes for justice, the Lebanese authorities sadly cannot be trusted… even if the family members know the killers, as per l’Orient Le Jour (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1250805/-nous-savons-qui-sont-les-tueurs-affirme-la-soeur-de-lokman-slim.html). May God know how to comfort their hearts…
