Month: May 2021

The above MP3 link was taken from ABC Net, thanks to RN Drive with Ms. Patricia Karvelas who interviewed Isaac’s mom, Ms. Sarah Copeland.

Bambi has several posts on Ms Sarah Copeland’s unimaginable life ordeal since the surrealistic Beirut explosion when she tragically lost her adorable son Isaac (as you can see at the end of this post):

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/justice-for-isaac-in-wake-of-beirut-blast/13352848

For those who do not know Ms. Sarah Copeland, as a UN staff member, she came all the way from her native Australia to be posted in Beirut and devoted her time/energy to the Centre for Women at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, known as ESCWA. Thanks Ms. Copeland for your service… and sorry for your loss :(!

Imagine that when the surrealistic Beirut port blast took her son (Isaac)’s young life, she was pregnant (she got injured herself too…). Moreover, she was only three weeks away from leaving Beirut to return back home in order to give birth to her second child!

Bambi can only imagine one little drop of the ocean of the sorrow of Isaac’s parents, Mr. Craig Oehlers and Ms. Sarah Copeland. Once again, she salutes the courage of Isaac’s mom (now 9 months after the blast) in going public to seek justice for her son AND for all the victims of the Beirut explosion, including other children. Thank you Ms. Copeland!

As you can hear her own words, no Lebanese politician contacted her (and the other families of the victims) to offer their condolences or words of comfort following the surrealistic tragedy that destroyed half of Beirut! They all knew about the ammonium nitrate at the port, up to the top of the pyramid of governance…

Will an “independent” international investigation, as discussed in the segment above, help shed light on what truly happened on August 4, 2020 in order to bring a form of justice to the grieving families? And to the Beirutis as well as the whole people of Lebanon… and indirectly with them, the whole generous world (people and governments), including Canadians, who supported Beirut in one way or another. Don’t we all deserve the truth?

Even if these international investigations are truly independent (from politics) and efficient (despite the usual cumbersome bureaucracy), will their conclusion end up being as disappointing as the shy conclusion of the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon about the assassination of former PM, Mr. Rafic Hariri?

In the meantime, the Lebanese local investigation (that was promised to take 5 days only, as Ms. Copeland reminded us), has seen several episodes of interference. Right now, this investigation is in the hands of Judge Bitar, described by many (including Senior Law Professors) as being both competent and decent. Good… but will he be able to “lead a truly independent, thorough investigation”? Bambi has raised this question in an earlier recent post in which she concluded with the following words: “… and may he be safe!”

To conclude this post, even if Bambi is lacking words now, she would like to send her love (and continuous solidarity) to Isaac’s family!

——

Eight months since the Beirut surrealistic explosion: Where is justice for the families of the victims?

Ms. Sarah Copeland: “My life is on hold, frozen at the moment my son died in the Beirut blast”

United Nations’ “Awake at Night”: Ms Sarah Copland, interviewed by Melissa Fleming

Two-year-old Isaac Oehler lost his life in the Beirut blast. Thanks to his parents for courageously sharing his story

With all the crazy, violent, or sad news in the world here and there.

With all the fast-moving marathons of justice in our world or… lives.

With all our concerns about our loved ones in our birth countries that are doomed with multiple crises and endless historic regional conflicts.

With updates from Bambi’ s dad who visited up to five pharmacies whilst one of his daughters consulted a sixth one in order to secure insulin and other critical medication for Bambi’s mom.

When Bambi called her parents in Beirut, it was refreshingly reassuring to learn that her mom was enjoying watching on TV a basketball game (between two national teams).  

For one second, Bambi felt that times, especially in the Middle East, were still stable and society healthy. No financial crisis. No pandemic. No threats of war. No concerns.

Yes, for a moment, she could imagine (and even “see” through the call) her cute mom in a state of flow, enjoying the present moment. She even happily shared with Bambi the basketball scores as they were unfolding.

For some of us, fun daily moments may be practising a sport, singing, spending time with loved ones, gardening, meditating/praying, watching a movie, writing, reading, doing a puzzle, cooking (this is not for Bambi!), or even perhaps cleaning one’s place (yes, it can be fun!), etc.

Bambi’s phone call to her parents made her day whilst filling her heart with reassurance.

To conclude this post on a cheerful note, “vive le basketball! Long live basketball” ?!

Lebanon is facing multiple crises, perhaps the worst of all (thus far) is its economic tragedy after the financial collapse on October 16, 2019.

For Bambi, almost all the Lebanese crises (minus perhaps the Covid-19 pandemic) seem to have one common denominator: “Those responsible have proven themselves to be irresponsible“. These words come from Nurse Hassan in describing to the BBC reporter the devastating impact of hyperinflation on people’s lives, including himself.

A short documentary worth watching… until the end.

Is there anything more noble, not just in the USA but in the entire world, than the first amendment of the American constitution?

Here is its text that is almost sacred to our neighbours, the Americans:

“The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-constitution/).

Well, while touring the international news about the Middle East, Bambi came across this article in the “Ouest France” (Google English translation follows):

https://www.ouest-france.fr/europe/royaume-uni/prince-harry/le-prince-harry-critique-le-premier-amendement-de-la-constitution-americaine-et-cree-la-polemique-7264571

A quick English translation… Thanks to Google translate:

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.ouest-france.fr/europe/royaume-uni/prince-harry/le-prince-harry-critique-le-premier-amendement-de-la-constitution-americaine-et-cree-la-polemique-7264571

Bambi did not believe her eyes at first. She read more about it from different sources. Here is a video of it, if you do not believe her:

To conclude this post, with all due respect to Prince Harry, Bambi cannot help not to be sarcastic today: She wonders if he is getting paid for such public statements and, if so, by whom? Alternatively, he may be perhaps living in a different era in his mind… Unless, deep inside, he would like to move to another country where citizens suffer from the absence of the First Amendment?

Bambi would like to thank Dr. Jordan Peterson for his invitation! She is honoured and humbled…Thanks also to his kind and talented staff. Stay tuned everyone…

Bambi also thanks Dr. Mathieu Bock-Côté for having tweeted her story last week! Thanks to him, she now discovered this fantastic performance by Mr. Damien Robitaille :). Bravo Mr. Robitaille for your incredible talent, now serving to supporting Africa!

Bambi and her father-in-law sarcastically joked once whilst debating international politics, saying that the endless Israel-Palestine conflict will perhaps end when the children of her grand-children will grow up.

This would have been a piece of good news for the entire Middle East, and the world, even if it seems far in time. However, sadly, the meaning of their sarcasm is that this conflict may be endless given that Bambi and her spouse do not have kids.

Yet, even if the news from the Middle East are too sad, Bambi insists on remaining hopeful, as she has always been in life. Yes, she still has faith in humanity, despite the unfolding tragedy.

To conclude this post, it is Bambi’s hope that Ms. Céline Dion’ dove would fly as high and fast as possible to reach the Middle East, sharing her “message of peace, love, and friendship”. She also prays that wisdom and restraint will prevail in Lebanon, as this country does not need another war in relation to this historic conflict.

First, here is Ms. Roula Douglas’ beautiful picture and thanks to her for publicly sharing it (Bambi stole it :))!

This being said, Bambi is quite busy now yet she remains connected in her heart to loved ones wherever they are!

Talking about loved ones, well a dear cousin of Bambi is celebrating her birthday today in Montreal. Happy Birthday to her :)!

To conclude this post on a musical note, here is a song for you. Bambi has fond memories of us dancing together to it at that beautiful family wedding, which joined the fun of both Italian- and Lebanese-style celebrations of love. Well, if she may, your cousin will dedicate this joyful song called “Mabrouk” (= Congrats!) to you. As you know, it applies to all happy events/outcomes, whether in the short- or long-term. These include, but are not limited to: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, artistic or other performances, positive health outcomes, successful business outcomes, purchased products (e.g. house, car…), etc, :). May the year ahead of you be simply merry!

One of Bambi’s Dutch family members kindly accepted to share some pictures with you. “Dank u well” to her :)!

Talking about her, and with her agreement, Bambi plans to share a post featuring her artistic talent one of these days. She is eager to introduce you to her angelic voice, music, and texts full of humanity. Stay tuned everyone!

Without further ado, here are four pictures of the Netherlands’ famous tulips. May the beautiful colours of these flowers inspire each one of us to become better human beings.

To conclude this post on a musical note related to the Netherlands, following the pictures, you can hear Michel Fugain’s famous French song entitled “C’est une belle histoire” in both Dutch and French. This song is meant to be a friendly wink to someone very dear to Bambi and her spouse (she knows why :)!). She is being greatly missed, along with her/our family there, perhaps today more than ever…

Enjoy everyone!

When Bambi immigrated to Montreal, Québec, Canada in 1990 (at age 17), it took her two years to adjust completely to her new Canadian life and feel she is a Montrealer and a Québecker. This became her new home. Thanks to her dad who loved to explore places with his family, she had the chance to visit almost all of Québec’s beautiful regions. She fell even more in love with her Québec. It was natural for her to partly dedicate her PhD dissertation to her adoptive country and her country of birth.

Fifteen years later, when she moved to Toronto, Ontario, it took her two weeks to feel Torontonian (thus Ontarian). She felt home. When she left this charming city, she took the time to say good-bye to all those familiar faces she used to see daily (i.e, in the subway stores, on her street, etc.). Among those kind faces, there was a man whom she had the chance to meet again when she returned to Toronto many years later. She dropped by his store in the subway, despite the huge number of people he sees daily, he recognized her, imagine. He even asked about her spouse and if he found a job in New Brunswick (NB).

Bambi spent four years in Toronto. When she left the latter to accept her now suspended position, it took her two days to feel Sackvillian. She easily became a proud New Brunswicker. Even the bad cook she is managed to cook a seafood chowder (when her spouse, the king of their kitchen, was away!). She was told by her friends that she was officially a Maritimer ?. Well, Canadians are notoriously known to be kind and good-hearted. Maritimers perhaps even the most! For instance, when Bambi walks in the street of her university town, she is moved to see/hear the town’s cab drivers honk their horns and wave hello ?. It always reminds her of her childhood neighbourhood in Beirut.

When she visits NB beautiful beaches, villages, and cities, she meets good-hearted people who talk to strangers and make them feel welcome. Local people in her town used to ask her spouse: “Are you from far away?” And when she opens her mouth, they ask her” “Are you from very far away”? Is there anything more cute and accurate than that? She is indeed originally from very far away… and yet she feels so rooted, connected, and welcomed.

Of course, there are funny stories like when she was working once until perhaps 1:00 AM in her office preparing the next lecture and writing a grant. She finished and decided to take a cab instead of walking. Her spouse and her did not have the time to chat as he was rushing to return home fast and she was swamped. She learned from the cab driver that he was on the airplane on his way home. In how many cities does this happen? Only in our cute Sackville… She thanked him for reassuring her ?.

Once, a senior man asked her in a Tim Horton’s in Moncton if he can touch her hair (it is curly and most people have straight hair around here). She said: “Of course, why not? Go ahead sir!”. Her spouse was amused by the scene. When Bambi was visiting the village of Bouctouche, once, she bumped into a group of men speaking Chiac (the latter language is based on Acadian French mixed with English… like Yiddish or Creole), she was fascinated! She asked them if she can tape them to share with her sister in Lebanon (a French writer and a journalist). They generously accepted. Her spouse and her sat with them and chatted comparing the French of Québec versus the one of Lebanon and the one of NB.

Year after year, she has sent a number of touristic videos to her loved ones in Lebanon and abroad to show them NB and the Maritimes. At one point, a cousin joked, asking whether she was being paid by her government to promote NB ?? She said: “no, I just love it“!

A clever description of NB came from her smart spouse when they initially moved here. He said NB is like a mini-Canada. You have First nations, English-speaking, and French-speaking groups. You also have immigrants as well semi-rural areas. NB is a mini-Canada indeed.

Canada has opened its arms to welcome Bambi and her family, offering them safety, dignity, and democracy… at least up until now. After two years in Canada, Bambi lucidly made the decision to stay and root herself in Canada. She kept her loyal love to her Lebanon whilst increasingly falling in love with her Canada.

To conclude this post on a philosophical note, when she moved to Sackville, Bambi was asked the classical question: You come from a bigger place, how would you adjust to the smaller? She replied: Although I lived in bigger places like Toronto, Montreal, or Beirut, I come from a tiny country originally… plus I am small myself ?.

Seriously now, when Bambi’ sister asked her if the smallness of her new town (5000 people when full) bothers her. Bambi replied that it is not the smallness of a place that would bother me, it is the small mindedness. She said it in French, mind you: «Ce n’est pas la petitesse d’un endroit qui me dérangerait, c’est plutôt la petitesse d’esprit».     

Intolerance of different opinions is not just a sign of small-mindedness. It is a cheeky attack to academic freedom/free expression. Bambi is the target today. Tomorrow whom, across our universities or country? The double educational and democratic tragedy is the same: Fear. Silencing someone scares others. When fear is reinforced, democracy is diminished. No one should be gagged in life, neither Bambi nor any other human being.

It is almost Thursday (midnight) in Sackville, NB. Yes, Eid is here :)!

Bambi would like to send her best wishes to all her fellow Canadian citizens celebrating the Eid (end of Ramadan fast during an entire month). She sends her best wishes to friends and some relatives too, here and abroad. May they all be safe and happy! Under normal circumstances, Bambi touches base with you, one by one. If you do not hear from her this year, it is because she is too busy.To ask for forgiveness, she sends you a picture of food (yes you can eat now :)!). Please imagine that we are together, eating and dancing!

Talking about dancing, here is a song for you! It is called “c’est la vie… on va s’aimer, on va danser” by Cheb Khaled. Every time Bambi hears it, she feels like dancing. She hopes you will enjoy it :)!