Month: March 2021

In this post, Bambi will share a quick translation of an article by Mr. Mario Dumont published yesterday in the Journal of Montreal:

https://www.journaldequebec.com/2021/03/20/chacun-son-enclos-la-triste-division-identitaire

Food for thought, thank you Mr. Dumont.

—

“For years, the fight against racism was about breaking down barriers. There was a time in the United States when black people were excluded from certain schools, restaurants, golf clubs, and a host of other establishments. Without having reached destination, we can say today that several partitions have fallen.

This is the conception that I have personally cultivated in the fight against racism: to break down walls. Give everyone their chance in a world that opens doors. Let me recall one of Martin Luther King’s famous quotes: “Let’s build bridges, not walls”.

This week we learned that Columbia University, one of the most prestigious in the United States, will be holding several convocation ceremonies. One for Blacks, one for Asians, one for Indigenous people, one for the LGBT community and so on. Silent ceremonies, divided by ethnic or sexual orientation criteria.

Each his own enclosure

The university has dismissed the charges of segregation, saying these events are additions and a grand ceremony open to all will take place as usual. This in no way erases this new tendency to divide the celebrations.

A division that forces everyone to stand in their identity enclosure. Asians have no place at the Indigenous celebration, Indigenous people are not welcome at the Black event, etc. Don’t we force everyone to a little bit of racism to deal with all these distinctions?

Then what do we do with this youth whose father is black and mother is Asian? Is he/she invited to both snacks? Or excluded from both? Unless it all depends on the colour of his/her skin and hair, which are the result of genetic hazards for mixed-race children.

No more sharing

Speaking of the new walls being erected, the translation of Amanda Gorman’s poems also made me feel very uneasy. After her Super Bowl performances and Joe Biden’s swearing-in, the young black prodigy’s work is in demand around the world.

A young Dutch woman and another Catalan were not allowed to translate her poems into their respective languages ​​… because they are white. So sad. Poetry is a work of sharing, a universal work. Anyone who respects the work and its author should be able to do the translation regardless of their skin colour.

The tendency to create new partitions is global. Canada is no exception to this fashion. Need I recall this amazing program created by the Canadian government to help black entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurs of all origins should have the right to support from all available programs, without any discrimination. But the creation of economic programs on ethnic grounds is another example of the enclosures that are recreated, of the walls that are installed [Bambi agrees, as per the older post shown below].

I don’t see how these new silos are approaching us to a more just society” [She does not know about you, but Bambi can only agree…].

—

Had you been a “black” entrepreneur, wouldn’t you be insulted by the creation of a new race-based government program, like Bambi?

Last year, Bambi offered her mom a song to amuse her (a kids’ lullaby called “Maman, les petits bateaux“) ?, as per the older post at the very end of this one.

This year, Bambi will be more serious… she is more than grateful because her mom (and dad) survived their surrealistic Beirut port explosion, despite their heavily damaged place. She is also relieved that they got their two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

There are no words, in any language, that can express how much Bambi loves you “mama”. This being said, she would like to offer you a song, by Mr. Ragheb Alama, that moves her heart every time it plays on her internet radio. It is called “Betzakkar Ya Emmi”. This means: “Mom, I remember”. The singer remembers his mom’s eyes… and how can Bambi forget your beautiful eyes, almost of the same coulour as the flowers’ stalks above… See, Bambi still remembers. Joke to make you smile ?. Mr. Alama also remembers how he used to find comfort and security next to his mom, as a little boy. Same here. Bambi’s sisters and herself used to feel SO secure despite the heavy and noisy shelling, just by hiding behind your back in the middle of the night.

So, without much philosophy, thanks to you and dad for the roots and the wings…

Happy Mothers’ Day to everyone at your end and abroad (starting with Bambi’s sisters!).

May those who lost their mothers in explosions or pandemics (or in whatever other way) also find comfort in their beautiful memories.

May all those grieving mothers find comfort in one way or another.

To conclude this post on a lighter note, Bambi’s spouse sends you his love and thanks you for your recipe of lentil soup. Well, poor him, he almost had a heart attack when Bambi told him it’s Mothers’ day today! He thought we were already in May… Well, no not yet. Anyhow, he also still remembers his Dearest mom… and her blue eyes (she will likely smile too when she will read this ?).

From Bambi to her “dear” mom: Happy Mother’s Day!

In this post, Bambi feels like paying tribute to Lebanon, which is going through rough times due to hyperinflation and political deadlock.

Thus, she will go back in time, just twelve years ago, to share with you two songs with which Lebanon (the host of these prestigious games) celebrated “la francophonie” in 2009.

First, please find the lyrics of song # 1, followed by the actual performance (thanks to Mr. George Breidy for publicly sharing this video with a beautiful montage featuring his country).

The picture above shows the two great singers: Ms. Majida El Roumy (Lebanon) & Mr. Youssou Ndour (Senegal).

The lyrics are by Mr. Saeed Aql; adapted from Arabic by Mr. Alexandre Najjar “Cadmus”. The music is by Mr. Joseph Khalifa/Mr. Jean-Marie Riachi. The distribution is by Mr. Jean-Marie Riachi.

As mentioned above, the video shows Lebanon’s beautiful landscape. We keep hearing sad/bad news from tiny bankrupt Lebanon that Bambi almost forgot about its eternal charm!

Verse 1 in Arabic

My country…

My country is Lebanon and it is a covenant that is neither rice, nor mountains, nor water

My home is love. There is no hatred in love. It is a light, which will never be lost or go astray…

A hand created a masterpiece of beauty… and a mind

Please do not say “my nation” and sweep my world … We are the neighbour of the world and its family

Verse 2 in French

We are the friends of the world

We are its family

And in the deep night

A shining torch

Where our ships anchor

The desert becomes beautiful

Culture is our empire

Freedom our flag

Message of unity, eternal Lebanon

Calls on the planet to ban wars

If all religions forgot their quarrels

It would be so good to live on this old Earth!

Verse 3 in Arabic

My country…

My country is Lebanon and it is a covenant that is neither rice, nor mountains, nor water

My home is love. There is no hatred in love. It is a light, which will never be lost or go astray…

A hand created a masterpiece of beauty… and a mind

Please do not say “my nation” and sweep my world … We are the neighbour of the world and is family

Second, please find song # 2. First, you can read a quick translation of its French lyrics. It is called “hymn of Lebanon for the francophonie”. This will then be followed by this song/hymn, celebrating “la francophonie” in the world.

Bravo to the Notre Dame University Choir for this performance.

The song writer is Mr. Jean-Claude Boulos. The musician is Mr. Elias Rahbani. May he rest in peace (and shame on you, coronavirus, for having recently taken him…).

Bambi hopes you will enjoy this song, especially if you happen to understand the language of Molière, if you are attached to the francophonie, and/or simply if you respect the universal values shared by many different French-speaking countries of our world, including Canada!

Verse 1

We come from all over the world

Driven by deep faith,

Francophonie

You reunite

All races

All classes

Verse 2

In the dialogue of cultures,

We speak the purest language,

Language of history

Full of hope

Eternal language

Universal

(Chorus)

Francophonie, your golden language

Language of Molière, language of Senghor

Francophonie of a hundred cultures

Our dialogue for the future

Verse 3

Let’s live our differences together

Francophones of all tendencies

All in solidarity

Of a new era

In the harmony

That unites us

Verse 4

We come from all over the world

Driven by deep faith,

All in solidarity

Of a new era

In the harmony

that unites us

(Chorus)

Francophonie, your golden language

Language of Molière, language of Senghor

Francophonie of a hundred cultures

Our dialogue for the future

OK, let Bambi be clear: There is nothing funny about seeing one of the most welcoming and truly progressive places in the entire world being constantly misunderstood, mischaracterized, linguistically and culturally attacked!

Second, let Bambi be also clear: we have all the rights to not like a place, a culture, a group, a person. Perhaps this is what Dr. Amir Attaran (from the University of Ottawa) suffers from in addition to an absence of nuances despite his HIGH intelligence! Despite his good intentions, he may be blinded by his wokeism. Anyhow, Dr. Amir Attaran is a Professor of Law and Medicine. Bambi regularly reads and enjoys reading his tweets, even those that disturb her as they insult her Québec.

One of his best tweets ever is pinned by him and every time Bambi reads his response to a critic by someone, she laughs and finds him funny.

Bambi also likes all his relevant comments about pandemics, vaccines, constructive criticism, etc.

Of course, he has strong opinions about the USA, about Canada, about Québec, etc. Bambi does not share many, if not most, of them… but Bambi thinks he is free!

So is Professor Verushka Lieutenant-Duval, mind you! She committed the error of apologizing for having used the so-called N-word in an educational setting. She also did not benefit from the support of neither her high administration, nor of some of her colleagues.

Academic freedom and freedom of expression must apply to all. No double standards.

Same for anti-racism. It must apply to all. No double or even triple-standards.

Lately, Dr. Attaran called Québec the “Alabama of the North” and accused a respectable Opposition political party called Parti Québécois of celebrating the birthday of Hitler, of using anti-semite slurs, and N-words… just because its Leader, called Mr. Plamondon, publicly complained about his “Québec bashing” (and will write an official letter to the University of Ottawa’s President, Mr. Frémont). Sadly the other Opposition party called Québec Solidaire seems to have lost its beautiful left-leaning tendency about true social justice to replace it with wokeism (or so-called racial justice; in other terms divisive identity-politics).  

He is free… even if he is highly disrespectful for Québec. He calls the latter’s Prime Minister white-supremacist ? and he tells the world in his tweets that Québec resorts to medical lynching of “racialized” patients (BIPOCs, etc.). Maybe there has been one or two… or 10 or more cases of racism. Maybe the latest (sadly also tragic one) is still under investigation. Maybe some are more due to incompetence than racism?

Anyhow, in today’s world, words have been emptied of their meaning. Plus, who knows? You may not like Québec yourself. You may be into wokeism… or you may see a merit and a ridiculous aspect in all the above. Regardless, Bambi hopes you still have a sense of humour to appreciate the brilliant cartoon of Mr. Yannick Lemay from the Journal de Québec. It is about two University of Ottawa students discussing their new courses. One asks: “What course did you register in?” The other student answers: “Introduction to Québec bashing!” ?.

Can the world help those (Lebanese politicians) who do not want to help themselves or rather their citizens (democratic processes, reforms to address corruption)?

To what extent can the still more solid yet struggling countries of the world help other more vulnerable states? Should they keep doing it, especially without any anti-corruption reforms?

Until when will Paris, Washington, London, Ottawa, and all the countries and entities of the world (UN, Vatican, etc.) keep urgently calling for the Lebanese politicians to go into elections and to form a new government?

And what if Lebanon goes into elections? Will these elections be transparent and honest… or will history repeat itself, at least with some candidates?

And what if the elections are the most democratic in the world, will the Lebanese citizens choose to re-elect the same sectarian and/or corrupt politicians?

What about those honest politicians or aspiring politicians who truly want to be able to save their country? Will they be able to do so?

What about all these innocent people (not connected to any of the words starting with “M”, namely mafia and/or militia)? They are hopeless because their politicians collectively failed them.

Is it too much to ask for a basic quality of life in 2021?

It may seem odd, anti-environmental, and not very civilized to burn tyres in the middle of streets and to block highways and roads. True… but do these people have any choice?

It is surely sad to watch from far away and see a Red Cross ambulance carrying a Covid-19 patient stuck in the traffic. Bambi watched a Naharnet news video with citizens carrying one senior sick woman on their own backs between the cars.

Well, Bambi will stop here… as there is nothing much that could be said about the tiny, bankrupt yet dignified Lebanon… but until when?!

Why should history have to repeat itself? Why should the problems of countries of the Middle East and elsewhere become the reasons of massive immigration to other welcoming, beautiful countries (European mainly, but also here in North America, in Africa, South America, Australia/New Zealand, and elsewhere…)?

Shouldn’t we help countries save their own issues in their own places first?

If we do not do this, older, recent, and new immigrants will all keep singing songs like the following one… beautiful yet very moving words (French with English subtitles). It is entitled “Adieu mon pays“. Thank you Mr. Enrico Macias for your immortal talent!

Is there a life conspiracy against French literature teachers?

Yesterday, our world lost Professor Nadia Jammal (she died in Beirut).

Today, we lost you Professor Khalil Smeira (you died in Montreal).

Of course, that was meant to make you both smile from heaven… The SAD reality is we are in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic. Bambi is still speechless as this tiny yet mean coronavirus took your life too early :(. We are ALL mourning your loss DEAREST Khalil (Mr. Smeira)… from as far as Beirut, Lebanon and all the way to Montreal, Québec and Sackville, New Brunswick.

It is unbelievable how your survived wars, Montreal winters, surrealistic port explosions, pandemics in broken countries…. and recently managed to make it safely back to your beloved Canada to be with and take care of the rest of your family. You literally gave your last breath caring for your beloved spouse (and indirectly/directly for your children and grand-children…).

You recently became a grand-father to your/our cutest Baby Lucas. Welcome to him and good-bye to you… you are now his angel, watching over him and all your loved ones!

Bambi’s heart is heavy with sadness yet light with gratitude and love toward you and your family. This love that transcends incredible war-memories together. This love that transcends geographic distance… and even death!

Bambi’s dad and mom are deeply sad today. Yet grateful to life for decades of friendship. Same for Bambi’s sisters. Same for Bambi’s spouse who had the chance to meet you/your family. We celebrated weddings, summers, and beautiful memories.

Dearest Mona, Chady, Ralda, Rayan, and Rawad (+ families) as well as your uncles, cousins, aunts, those still with us, those who left us too early too…. To your friends, colleagues, students, and former trainees, living in Lebanon or in Canada. All of us in Québec and in Atlantic Canada, we are one heart, one tear, one prayer with you…

May you rest in peace Khalil. May this pandemic know how to end. May we all collectively contribute and keep contributing to making it end.

For those who do not read Arabic, Bambi will translate this beautiful sentence at the very start under the cross sign. It reads: “Those who believe in me, even if/when they die, they will live“. It may not mean much to those who do not believe or share this faith…. but for Bambi this piece of wisdom actually transcends humanity as it is simply about hope… Hope of something larger than our own little egos. This thing (or this so-called God, G-d, Gods, Creator, or whatever you wish to call it) is all about love that has the potential to overwhelm our hearts and we simply melt in it, if only we want to be open to it or welcoming. Love is selfless. Love is all about forgiveness. Love is kind. If we believe in love, we will be eternally remembered… and thus, we will live even when it is the time to die.

Bambi loves you Khalil and Mona et al. She was blessed to have the chance to tell you so to both of you a few weeks/months ago. She is grateful to life and also proud of herself to have taken time to jump to see you whilst on a 2-day trip. We laughed. We took pictures. She even had the chance to meet your adorable grand-daughter :).

To conclude this post meant to pay tribute to Mr. Khalil Smeira, Bambi will end with two stories. One dramatic and one too funny :).

First the dramatic memory: Bambi and one of her sisters got stuck in your elevator in the darkness under the sudden and heavy shelling. The incident was scary, especially for two young girls. It is your voice Khalil and your tenderness that kept us hanging on. Thank you!

And now the funny moment is related to the French language. Professor Smeira asked one student who was being disturbing in the classroom to leave to go see the school Director. He ordered him the following: “Assez maintenant. Prenez la porte SVP“. This means: Enough is enough. Get out and see the school director, please. However, “prendre la porte” literally means “take the door” 🙂 (although the true meaning is: “Get out of the classroom”). Well, it was a historic school with those old doors that could be removed easily (especially after shelling and sadly casualties…). The student was a large guy with a big sense of humour. He stood up, managed to remove the door, and carry it on his shoulders whilst walking in the hall to go see the director. Everyone laughed… including Mr. Smeira (who had an elegant sense of humour in life) and Bambi’s brother-in-law who was his student. Bambi sends her condolences to him, hoping this funny memory will comfort him too.

Rest in peace our Dear Khalil Smeira. Your memory will surely be eternal!

Yesterday evening, one of Bambi’s dear friends from Ontario shared a moving news video with her. In it, we see a senior citizen with his eyes full of tears, looking at his bank branch, whilst explaining to a journalist that he made plans to leave his Lebanon. He reported that a bank employee told him that the capital control is not the bank’s fault, but rather the government’s problem. Regardless of his confiscated money, can you imagine yourself having to emigrate in order to start your life all over again, not at age 27… BUT at 72 years old? And we are in a pandemic, by the way!

This senior Lebanese resident, in as much as he made Bambi have tears in her eyes, is perhaps “lucky” in his misery: He has the papers that allow him to dream to leave/leave the chaos, contrary to many of his fellow citizens or residents who are literally “stuck” in a country with an economy in a free, harsh fall.

Usually in life, the economy and national security of a country go hand in hand. When you have faith in a secure place, you invest in it. When you have an economically stable (enough) country, there is an increased social security. In turn, social security contributes to stabilizing the economy, etc.

You can imagine the risks that Lebanon is facing now, whether from external or internal forces, pushing it here and there, and/or perhaps even from an expected and understandably increased crime rate, simply meant to eat. Yes, to eat to survive or to feed one’s family.

Indeed, many months ago, Bambi posted a story about people breaking into a house to… just steal food from the fridge. No, not even the iPads, phone, or laptop on the table… just FOOD!

Another older story was about a man who stole a supermarket shopping cart from a woman about to put her grocery bags in her car. The story is accurate. It happened in the neighbourhood of Bambi’s parents. Had this man not been desperate to feed his family, he would have not resorted to deceiving this woman by telling her that they are calling her in the store. He took advantage of this moment to steal her paid food.

Well, these real stories may be older. However, this morning, Bambi learned from a loved one and from L’Orient Le Jour that the Lebanese pound (or Lira) passed the LL15,000 to the US dollar mark. Remember, a couple or a few days ago: It was LL10,000:

French (followed by the Google translate English version):

https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1255490/la-livre-passe-la-barre-symbolique-des-15-000-ll-pour-un-dollar-la-rue-se-mobilise.html

English (thank you Google translate!):

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1255490/la-livre-passe-la-barre-symbolique-des-15-000-ll-pour-un-dollar-la-rue-se-mobilise.html

And this is from yesterday’s edition of L’Orient Today (the English version of L’Orient Le Jour):

https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1255379/protesters-block-roads-across-lebanon-as-the-lira-drops-to-another-all-time-low.html

If Bambi understood well (Financial Times and chat with her loved one, etc.), it seems that the minimum monthly salary is worth US$42 now and the salary of the Prime Minister and/or President of this country is worth less than US$1000.

What’s next for tiny, bankrupt yet lucid and usually eternally resilient Lebanon?

Will the Phoenix bird (legend of Beirut, Lebanon…) still have the energy AND means to rise again from its ashes?

In its oddly named section called “Being black in Canada” (of course without an open readers’ comment section) we learn from the CBC the following about the province of New Brunswick:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/black-racism-new-brunswick-1.5948603

“The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour says it will spend about $85,000 to create a team of researchers, including members of the New Brunswick Community College, the president of Black Lives Matter New Brunswick and two professionals.”

Furthermore, our Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister, Mr. Trevor Holder informs us of the following: “We know that systemic racism in New Brunswick is a significant issue and our government is committed to addressing it”.

So, here are some burning questions that Bambi can spontaneously think of now:

1. Why are we conducting a research study if we already know its conclusion?

2. It costs $85K just to create a team of “researchers? Isn’t this too expensive? Is it a good use of our public funds? Related to this, from where does this funding come from? As a non-expert citizen, Bambi is curious. Is she the only one?

3. Who is truly in charge of setting the research and societal agenda (report and recommendations, etc.) here: Mr. Martin (i.e. CEO of the BLM NB organization) or Mr. Holder (i.e. our majority government)?

According to Mr. Martin: “From every organization I’ve spoken with in regards to health and education, justice and social development, they are very [much] looking forward to these outcomes and being able to implement them and to begin dismantling systemic racism.”

4. One final question begs itself here and this brings Bambi back to her first question: What is “systemic racism”?

To conclude this post, a first logical step in a research process is to begin by defining a concept before looking at any metric related to it: What is? How do we measure it? What could be its so-called indicators, barriers, facilitators, etc. For instance, a cheaper alternative to this study could have been to have a scholar or teams of scholars conduct what we call a “concept analysis” on the meaning of this term to reach a clear or full consensus definition.

Another more constructive alternative approach (in the long-term at least…) could have been perhaps an approach similar to Québec…?

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1872926275564

Bambi listened to this most wonderful song in her playlist the other day. Today, she wants to dedicate it, first and foremost, to her loved ones across the ocean. Someone in particular will be likely smiling whilst reading this post… Well, this is to our beautiful singing memories in the car in Dutch, French, English, or whatever other language :).

Bambi would like to take this opportunity to also send this song to loved ones celebrating their birthdays today in Canada and Lebanon. Happy Birthday!

She will also send it to her own dad (he knows why)… and mom! To our beautiful family memories and also to those more dramatic memories related to war and to this beautiful city.

Of course, this song also goes to her Dear friend in Montreal… this is the place where our friendship and Canadian journey began together on a certain June 16/17, 1990….

Last but not least, Brel’s beautiful words are also and especially dedicated to friends/family who may be going through more rough times in our pandemic times.

May everyone be safe and sound… May music, health, healing, peace and love always prevail!

Bambi came across yet another thoughtful article by columnist, Dr. Joseph Facal, published today in the Journal de Montréal. Here is a quick translation:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/03/13/universites-chante-en-chur-ou-tais-toi-sinon

“People outside academia have a hard time understanding what is going on there.

First, because it’s hard to believe.

Then, because the first instinct of university leaders is to put the lid on the pot.

Alliance

The gospel of Wokeism sweeping our campuses has three points:

“I suffer, therefore I exist.”

“I have to be right since only I can understand how I feel.”

“The freedom of expression to express disagreement is a weapon of the dominant to perpetuate his domination.”

The mistake of outside observers is to believe that this is confined to a handful of enthusiastic students and teachers turned gurus.

They do not see the establishment of a bureaucracy charged with tracking down supposed sins against this religion and re-educating staff through compulsory sessions.

Concretely, this takes the form of so-called “EDI” policies, aimed at equity, diversity and inclusion.

Presented like this, hard to be against. But we know where the devil lives.

These bureaucrats often have student associations as allies.

This alliance takes advantage of the fear of teachers and students of ending up on a blacklist.

At Laval University, under the leadership of Rector Sophie d’Amours, management has taken a courageous stand against censorship.

It will be accompanied by an EDI policy.

Last month, the graduate student association hosted a discussion on Zoom.

A student says that trans women should not be opposed to non-trans women in sports, that we should be able to make fun of all religions, that we can use the word “negro” in certain circumstances, and that we should not ban the words “man” and “woman” just so as not to offend a non-binary.

Here are excerpts from the email sent to her by the student association:

“[…] you made comments that were deemed unacceptable to the participants and to our moderator. These comments were sometimes racist, sometimes sexist, or even transphobic. Several members present felt hurt by your words […], we hereby warn you that we will no longer tolerate interventions of this content in the future. “

The student wanted to know exactly the incriminating comments. Impossible, he was told, since the session had not been recorded.

Feelings

Also in Laval, the student association in international studies and modern languages ​​elects, during the General Assembly, a person named “the guardian of feelings”.

The statutes specify that this person “has the right to take a priority turn in order to address relations of domination or discomfort […] during the meeting”.

You can “go to the person at any time … to let them know about unease related to unpleasant attitudes on the part of a member or the terms used.”

“This post arose out of feminist demands aimed at deconstructing the relations of domination stemming from sexism, racism and homophobia. “

Right now, believe me, people who think otherwise are crawling close to the ground and whispering to each other.”