Month: June 2021

In her latest article published in Canadian Dimension (https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/cancelling-canada-day-is-a-move-towards-truth-justice-and-reconciliation), Dr. Pam Palmater wrote something like: “so-called cancel culture is the dog whistle term used by angry white men who benefit from the status quo.…”.

However, many Canadians as well as Americans, British French, or Lebanese, being censored (or cancelled), are women as well as men “of colour” (in other terms not “white” to use her own language). Bambi will not name anyone, but two of the recent ones in our country are Dr. Faisal Bhabha and Bambi (https://bambisafkar.ca/index.php/2021/06/23/canadian-justice-the-news-forum-free-speech-challenged-on-university-campuses/).

Sometimes, cancel forces try to censor citizens or events across countries even (e.g., as observed once in Lebanon from out of Turkey:

Lebanese TV host to stand trial over remarks critical of Turkish President Erdoğan

and even with Lebanese citizens/unprofessional singers working in the UAE from out Lebanon):

Cancel culture–Lebanese style: Did you know that intimidation can spread from one country to the other?

This being said, you argued that “the calls to cancel Canada Day celebrations this year have nothing to do with so-called “cancel culture”… On the contrary, #CancelCanadaDay is what real reconciliation looks like”.

It is a point of view, but Bambi cannot help not to wonder how cancelling Canada Day would bring people together for reconciliation, love, and unity… to move forward together?

Plus, Bambi comes from a country (Lebanon) already destroyed… She does not want her country (Canada!) to self-destroy.

Is moving forward together in a constructive way your aspiration? If so, the cancellation will sadly only serve to bring people further apart. It is a logical consequence, if this trend will not stop one day.

This was wisely argued by the “Chief of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (TteS)” (https://cfjctoday.com/2021/06/17/tkemlups-chief-discourages-cancellation-of-canada-day-urges-canadians-to-use-it-as-a-learning-opportunity/), even if this was not cited in other media articles.

You ended your article with the following conclusion, “cancelling Canada Day has the potential to shine a much-needed spotlight on our collective truth and surround us all with the warmth that comes from community support, as we move towards justice and reparations for Indigenous peoples.”

With all due respect for your passionate advocacy, Bambi has trouble understanding how cancelling Canada Day will serve to “surround anyone in need” of human “support” (national and even international) “with the warmth that comes from community support”.

Usually in life, people and nations come together in times of grief. Why the call for further divisions then? And then what? What is next?

If this July 1st is a time of reflection, as our Prime Minister (Mr. Trudeau) said, why not reflect together? Why not pray together? Why not embrace one another’s grief… to truly “move towards justice and reparations for Indigenous peoples.”

Mind you, last year, the call to cancel Canada Day was in the context of the BLM demonstrations movement in the USA and around the world (https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/yes-canada-has-a-racism-crisis-and-its-killing-black-and-indigenous-peoples).  In 2017, it was about Indigenous issues (https://nowtoronto.com/news/canada-s-150th-a-celebration-of-indigenous-genocide). Today, it is about the tragic yet not surprising discoveries of the remains of hundreds of children in two residential schools (sadly, more will be discovered in the weeks/months to come with more searches ☹).

Next year, it will be about what?

Usually, when we discover remains, inasmuch as this is SAD, the journey of grief can finally start for survivors and families, thankfully. Of course, what makes these discoveries particularly devastating is the context of the horrible cultural genocide that still has long-term concrete consequences. Yes, many individuals, families, and communities will need extra love, support, and counselling. However, the discoveries of graves or remains are surely a step further in the healing process, despite the DEEP sorrow :(.

So, why not allow us all to come together to mourn and to envision a more beautiful and fairer Canada? Why are we allowing ourselves to be divided further?

To continue on the same topic Dear Dr. Palmater, when you tweeted the following by a historian in Manitoba, Bambi was very sad and disturbed. She will explain why further below.

She of course understands his sorrow for having witnessed massacres during civil war (i.e. friends seeing their parents and siblings shot in front of their eyes… and her volunteering in her teen years to support older survivors of a couple of massacres who became internal refugees in her Beirut neighborhood).

However, the danger of such a message, underlying this image, is to dichotomize society and to foster more guilt in people’s hearts. No, sorry Dr. Carleton, loving/celebrating Canada is NOT a choice of celebrating genocide. It is celebrating love and life rather. It is also simply celebrating a summer day off or maybe the start of vacation with family or friends.

So, what is the purpose of this guilt? Can we turn it into something more constructive? And what about people of Indigenous heritage who may perhaps wish to feel Canadian on Canada Day, today or in the future. Is this allowed in our increasingly authoritarian times?

As for Dr. Palmater, you do not know it, but Bambi is a listener! She listens to you online on a regular basis. She particularly enjoyed one of your shows in which you hosted our Chiefs from NB. She learned about their talents and sense of humour. You were also fun too and what an excellent host. Bambi has the highest respect for your advocacy for your fellow citizens.

This being said, she disagrees with your almost annual calls to cancel Canada Day. For her, and with all due respect, there seems to be a contradiction here between your calls and the source of funding of your research work (in addition to your distinguished affiliation at other institutions, which are funded by the Government of Canada). Indeed, one can argue that if Canada is pushed to the point of not being loved/celebrated anymore, eventually there would be no more Canada left to support your talent. Why deprive us/your trainees from the latter (https://www.ryerson.ca/politics/people/faculty/palmater-pamela/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massey_College,_Toronto; https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/results-resultats/recipients-recipiendaires/2020/partnership_grants_2020-subventions_partenerial_2020-eng.aspx)?

To conclude this post, have you ever considered resigning from positions/affiliations funded by Canada (i.e., its taxpayers), to score a strong political, and perhaps congruent, point? Alternatively, have you considered running in federal politics, a bit like the Bloc Québécois, to advance your views? Bambi is curious…

Thank you.

Grégoire is a famous French musician, song-writer, and singer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%A9goire_(musician).

Grégoire’s charming voice, incredible talent, and especially inspiring lyrics about one’s attitude in life are perhaps precisely what makes life beautiful, despite adversity. Many thanks to him for his new “beautiful” song!

If you do not understand French, you may wish to read the lyrics. Bambi will first share the French words, which will be followed by a quick translation into English.

“Bravo et merci”, Grégoire!

“La vie est belle” (by Grégoire)

“Non, surtout ne crois pas
Que pour certains tout est facile
C’est simplement qu’ils ne pensent pas
Que c’est trop dur, trop difficile
Bien sûr qu’il y a des matins

Où ils voudraient tout foutre en l’air
C’est justement dans ces matins
Qu’ils se répètent : je peux le faire

Non, surtout ne crois pas
Qu’il y a des gens qui ont de la chance
C’est simplement qu’ils ne veulent pas
Voir le mauvais ni la malchance
Bien sûr qu’ils traversent des orages
Et des moments durs à survivre
Mais ils préfèrent tourner la page
Et continuer d’écrire le livre
Et surtout de se dire
Malgré le pire et le cruel
Que le plus beau est à venir
Et que la vie est belle
Belle

Non, surtout ne crois pas
Que certains ont une bonne étoile
C’est simplement parce qu’ils y croient
Et n’se perdent pas dans des dédales
Ils ne se trouvent jamais d’excuses
Et n’ont pas de boucs émissaires
C’est simplement parce qu’ils refusent
De rester un genou à terre
Et qu’ils continuent de se dire
Malgré le pire et le cruel
Que le plus beau est à venir
Et que la vie est belle
Belle

Non, ne crois surtout pas
Que pour certains tout est facile
C’est simplement parce qu’ils ne pensent pas
Que c’est trop dur et trop difficile
Et qu’ils continuent de se dire
Malgré le pire et le cruel
Que le plus beau reste à venir
Et que la vie est belle
Oui la vie est belle
Oui la vie est belle”.

Life is beautiful (by Grégoire)

“No, above all, don’t think

That for some everything is easy

It’s just that they don’t think

That it’s too tough, too difficult

Of course there are mornings

Where they want to screw it all up

It is precisely in these mornings

They re-tell themselves: I can do it

No, above all don’t think

That there are people who are lucky

It’s just that they don’t want to

See the bad or bad luck

Of course they go through thunderstorms

And hard times to survive

But they’d rather turn the page

And prefer keep writing the book [of their life]

And, above all, to tell themselves

Despite the worst and the cruel

That the most beautiful is yet to come

And that life is beautiful

Beautiful

No, above all don’t think

That some have a lucky star

It’s just because they believe it

And don’t get lost in the maze

They never find excuses

And have no scapegoats

It’s just because they refuse

To keep putting one knee on the ground

And they keep telling themselves

Despite the worst and the cruel

That the most beautiful is yet to come

And that life is beautiful

Beautiful

No, don’t think

That for some everything is easy

It’s just because they don’t think

That it’s too tough and too difficult

And they re-tell themselves

Despite the worst and the cruel

That the most beautiful is yet to come

And that life is beautiful

Yes life is beautiful

Yes life is beautiful“.

If Bambi may, here are some possible lessons, from out of Beirut, to our world leaders:

Do not let corruption AND incompetence rule your country… for too long.

Do not pit people against each other.

Remain united… in loving/serving your country.

Put your country before any ideology, regardless of the latter.

Put your country before your personal and/or tribal interests.

Put your country before other countries’ interests.

Learn to forgive (others… and yourself. Yes, it is possible even after a bloody civil war with over 18 massacres; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Lebanon).

Learn to live and LET your citizens live… in dignity and freedom.

Have a clear vision of the future.

To conclude, perhaps most importantly, always love, and… re-love your country (as much as needed throughout history!).

Lebanon is in a VERY BAD shape ☹.

 All its citizens are now poorer, from the wealthiest to the poorest.

To give you an idea, over 60% of this tiny country’s 6 million citizens live under the poverty line.  

Lebanon hosts Palestinians, the poorest of them live in camps (180,000-470,000; https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/lebanon) and Syrian refugees (1.5 million, 9 out of 10 of them living in extreme poverty; https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201218-nine-in-10-syrian-refugee-families-in-lebanon-in-extreme-poverty-un)

Hyperinflation is making the country look worse than Venezuela. No, not a glorious comparison.

The Lebanese pound lost over 90% of its value over the past year or 1.5 years.

Prices are increasing daily.

There is a shortage of medical supplies, medication (even those produced locally), gas, electricity, etc.

Related to the above, today Bambi read this tweet by her own sister, journalist Roula Douglas:

Here is an English translation: “Seeing members of the state’s security supervising citizens in gas stations, under cover but holding their M16 (yes, assault rifles!) has revived, in my mind, images from civil war”.

After reading this tweet, Bambi called her parents to check on everyone.  

Her mom described the same situation in more details. There is an increase in power outages, a very long wait time in endless line-ups of cars in front of gas stations. Citizens are starting to wait from as early as 5 AM. Gas price is expected to rise between Monday and Wednesday. The idea is to standardize the price across the country to try to stabilize it. A measure that the country’s officials are trying to take.

One must recall that Lebanon remains without a government since the Beirut explosion of August 4, 2020. 

No government, no reforms.

No reforms, no bailout by foreign countries.

No bailout and much impunity, a risk of seeing more guests like Mr. Hanieh, perhaps mainly hosted by Lebanon’s most powerful group (https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1266481/hamas-leader-ismail-haniyeh-has-arrived-in-beirut-lorient-le-jour-reports-haniyeh-is-expected-to-meet-palestinian-factions-representatives-of-hezbolla.html).

Bambi will comment on this further below. However, before doing so, you may wish to check this 2121- Mercer Cost of living ranking. See where Beirut stands: # 3 from the top ☹ (https://www.consultancy-me.com/news/3894/crisis-stricken-beirut-becomes-worlds-third-most-expensive-city).

Below, you can see Beirut on the right side (among the highest cost of living AND lowest quality of life).

You may wish to compare it Vancouver. Even if inflation is likely coming to Canada (it is a matter of time…), check where the expensive Vancouver is ranked, still in a better position than many other cities/capitals of the world, including the more expensive New York, Tel Aviv (Israel), and European or other cities.

You can imagine that the people of Lebanon are fed up. However, is road blocking a constructive or healthy method, especially with burning tires?

 Instead of showing roads blocked by snow or by traffic jams due to rush hours like in our big cities, the Lebanese MTV channel is reporting on blocked key roads due to demonstrations: (https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/local/1191989/list-of-blocked-roads-in-beirut-and-the-north).

On a smaller scale in Atlantic Canada, we can imagine that what is happening in Lebanon, may be comparable to what we saw on the Trans-Canada highway the other day between the “borders” of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Lockdowns are tough. People need to earn their living.

Imagine this same situation, but across an entire bankrupt country… of course, with tires that are burning (in the Middle East, it is not hard to imagine!).

Imagine also stories of people storming banks out of frustration for what the population has been enduring since October 17, 2019. The latter date is when the financial crash occurred, after the fraud of the Ponzi scheme fell apart, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic): https://apnews.com/article/beirut-middle-east-lebanon-riots-business-6bd60c77f9b04c17cb8d51073d7a55b6 .

As Bambi’s mom puts it: “People feel humiliated”.

As Bambi’s dad replied when Bambi asked about any solution, “Lebanon is a farm right now; it is not a country. It still does not have a government. No financial reforms yet”.

Their elections are supposed to take place in a year.

A year is a long-time when we are desperate.

Indeed, when people are starving and they need to feed their families, they can do anything in life.

They can steal or lose their tamper on gas pumps.

It is in this economically tough context that Mr. Hannieh visited Beirut for a second time.

Bambi is not overjoyed by this visit because her birth country is so fragile. It cannot afford shenanigans or political deals that could, at best, block peace in the region and, at worst, drag Lebanon (once again!) into an another war… of course in the noble name of resistance (to Israel).

The sadly endless Israeli-Palestinian conflict lasted for over 70 years now. It has dragged Lebanon into a very long civil war in 1975 that ended in 1990.

There has been a short yet intense war with Israel in July 2006 (it was a conflict between Iran and the United States, by proxy, that is between Hezbollah and Israel).

Of course, there is also the Syrian civil war nearby (in which Hezbollah remains active, after having gone to war behind the back of the government).

Does the country of the Cedars need another armed conflict?

So, hands off Lebanon, please.

Bambi is sick and tired of violence.

Bambi is not into ideologies (i.e. Islamism, Zionism, wokeism, or or anything else ending with “ism”…).

Often in life, ideologies go hand in hand with “corruption”, even when they start as “noble” ideas.

Clearly, a religious ideology, like Islamism (political Islam) or like Zionism, does not seem to be into compromise, needed to one day reach a peace deal.

In order to engage in peace, one needs genuine leaders with a will/vision for it, in addition to courage… on both sides.

Peace seems impossible today, sadly.

To conclude this post, PLEASE leave Lebanon out of this historic conflict.

Do not let history repeat itself, even if some of the same ingredients of the past may sadly still be present today.

This is a message from Bambi to Mr. Hannieh, to all his foreign allies (mainly Iran), to his Lebanese allies (mainly the most powerful internal group mentioned above), and… to the military powerful Israel.

Thank you everyone for behaving with maturity and empathy for your own people, if at all realistically possible! Bambi is convinced that the majority of all the innocent people on all sides aspire for safety, peace, prosperity, and… love.

Recently, Dr. Lametti introduced Bill 36. He tried to convince us in the media that this is meant to “tackle hate speech” (https://globalnews.ca/video/7976115/canada-announces-multi-faceted-approach-to-combat-online-hate-speech-crime-with-bill-c-36).

What is “hate” to begin with, Dr. Lametti?

Who will define or identify it?

And why do you think we need such a bill?

Thank you for your hard work… but, NO, to your Bill 36.

This bill is not just a slippery slope toward a government-sanctioned form of censorship.

This bill is the evidence of it.

Sadly, Bill 36 was introduced by a party called “Liberal” for which Bambi has voted most of her Canadian voting life.

With all due respect, Bambi finds this bill to be illiberal.  

She strongly opposes it.

Mind you, she would have opposed it, regardless of the political party introducing it.

Yes, sorry Dr. Lametti/Mr Trudeau, but Mr. Levant seems to be right about it and how we went from Bill 10 to Bill 36:  https://www.rebelnews.com/justin_trudeau_introduces_worst_censorship_law_of_any_western_democracy  .

According to Global News (https://globalnews.ca/news/7976076/bill-c-36-online-hate-canada/), “the bill would amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to make it a “discriminatory practice” to communicate hate speech through the internet where it is “likely to foment detestation or vilification of an individual or group of individuals on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.”

Clearly, this bill can target citizens like Bambi who express their opinions about this or that topic.

In the case of Bambi’s blog, a person or a group may claim they felt offended, emotionally triggered, or specifically “hated” while reading this or that post.

Some of us may have a thin skin… others bad faith. Yet others may truly feel like they are being hated.

According to Bill 36, her blog would communicate so-called “hate speech” that can in the future be considered as “a discriminatory practice” (https://globalnews.ca/news/7976076/bill-c-36-online-hate-canada/). Since when do we discriminate against anyone by sharing our thoughts?

Similarly, Bill 36 can/will sadly be used against Bambi’s fellow citizens.

This makes Bambi think of “You are next”, to borrow the brilliant title of Dr. Jordan Person’s interview.

The next person may be you… or Mr. Levant or his guest, called Mr. Spencer Fernando (in the link above), whether you agree with their opinions or not, whether you like OR “hate” them, online or in real life.

Instead of leaving alone citizens who think differently on this or that issue, we are proposing a bill that can fine them… and silence them.

Is this fair?

With such bill, will Canada remain democratic in the very long-term?

Plus, we are no longer talking here about our own beautiful criminal laws or violations of our Charter.

We are not just condemning violence or defamation, as per our laws… We are rather promoting censorship.

We are doing it by using (or claiming to use) feelings. As Mr. Levant explained it well, who has not loved or hated someone or something in his life at one point or at another?

Stated differently, this bill has the potential of being highly arbitrary and has the power to censor Canadians.

Bambi does not support it, even if it is presented to her as an appealing candy called “anti-hate”.

Is this the kind of Canada you want to live in in 2, 5, 10, or 25 years if this bill or similar ones become laws?

This is surely not where Bambi would like to see Canada in 5, 10, and 25 years from now.

With all due respect to these beautiful places, Bambi does not want Canada to resemble Qatar, Dubai, Singapore… or China.

Yes, the above are all authoritarian places. So why are we modelling them?

To conclude this post, Bambi urges you to re-consider Bill 36, Dr. Lametti/Mr. Trudeau.

It is also her hope that our lawmakers, from the other parties and the independent voices (i.e. Ms. Jody Wilson-Raybould) will have enough lucidity and courage to say no to this bill, if they also see what Bambi is seeing.

Thank you.

Before beginning this post, tragically and once again, Canadians heard devastating yet not surprising news today. Nothing could be said or added to what we are reading in both national and international media about the discovery of more (751 :(!) graves near a former residential school, this time in Saskatchewan.

If she may, Bambi would like to start this post by pausing to take the time to say a little prayer in her heart: May the memory of all these children be eternal… and more healing to the hearts of their family members, friends, communities, and to all of us.

Now, this being said, Bambi will put aside sadness, to end this Saint-Jean-Baptiste day on a French musical note… from Lebanon.

Well, she just heard the song below on her favourite American internet radio while working. Each day starts and ends, late in the evening, with the same full hour of French music. Cool!

Bambi hopes this cute song from her childhood (that she knows in Arabic) will bring a smile to your face, especially if you can understand its French lyrics. Mind you, the video clip is fun to watch.

The song is about Jeannot (= Jean, Johnny, or Hanna in Arabic) who is madly in love with a beautiful woman from his village. Yes, passion made Jeannot lose his mind. Hence the name of the song “Jeannot, le fou“!

In the original Arabic version, sub-titled in English (that you may have heard on this blog in the past), “Hanna” develops an addiction to alcohol as a result of his impossible love.

Bambi likes the song in both languages. Indeed, the melody is joyful (even if Johnny is unhappy). Plus, it is a cute way to end the Saint-Jean-Baptiste :). Enjoy!

Bambi cannot go to sleep without saying “Bonne Saint-Jean” to the “Belle Province”!

Bonne Saint-Jean-Baptiste also to all the French-Canadians across Canada!

Of course, Happy name day too to Bambi’s second cousin in Beirut (Hello Jean… or Jeannotti :)!

All this being said, below you can find a song that Bambi would like to offer to Québec today. Of course, it is Mr. Gilles Vigneault’s eternal “Gens du pays“. This beautiful song celebrates love, as we do on our loved ones’ birthdays.

Related to the above, Bambi is thinking now of her friend Marie-Eve. Do you see the beautiful fleur-de-lys on the cheek of the little boy (in the YouTube link below)? Well, Marie-Eve drew a fleur-de-lys on Bambi’s face once 🙂 before they attended the celebrations of Saint-Jean-Baptiste on the streets of Montreal. Needless to say that if there is one day in the year that is meant to feel like an immigrant deer proudly in love/harmony with Québec, it is June 24 :).

To conclude this post, although Bambi left Québec over 17 years ago, la “Belle Province” remains in her (i.e., even Fred gave her the title of “Ambassador of Québec” on this blog :)). Indeed, Québec will forever remain in Bambi’s heart and… in her spouse’s (beautiful) French Canadian accent :). Bonne Saint-Jean to him and to all those of you who highlight this day!

Many thanks to Ms. Christine Van Geyn who interviewed Dr. Faisal Bhabha, Bambi/Rima, and Mr. Jonathan Kay.

Bambi was able to witness the talent of Ms. Van Geyn in action (thanks to her efficient team too)!

She was very touched by the sad/unfair story of Dr. Bhabha… She is eager to devote a post to Dr. Faisal Bhababa (talent, story, etc.).

As for Mr. Jonathan Kay, one words remains on her mind and in her heart: MERCI/THANK YOU.

“Christine welcomes Journalist Jon Kay to a discussion with University Professors Faisal Bhabha and Rima Azar who share what happened after their comments were deemed controversial for their respected Universities.“

https://www.newsforum.tv/videos/canadian-justice-free-speech-challenged-on-university-campuses

Yesterday, Bambi discovered the inspiring talent of host and clinical Psychologist Zac Rhodenizer, the Director of the Lethbridge Institute of Family Therapy and LifeSTAR Alberta!

Indeed, what an honour and pleasure to be interviewed by Zac (Rhodenizer). During this chat, Zac and Bambi/Rima tried to explore the psychology of what we call “cancel culture”.

Before sharing the link to their conversation, which was enriching for Bambi (and hopefully helpful to his audience), here is what the “Psychology of… Podcast” is all about: “Psychology is at play all around us. With your host and clinical Psychologist Zac Rhodenizer and his guests, we dive into fascinating topics where psychology plays a major role but is often overlooked, such as mountain climbing, pro wrestling, politics, eating, and much more!”

MANY thanks for this invitation and for your KIND support! Long life to the much needed “Psychology of… Podcast“. Please keep up your smart and compassionate work Zac Rhodenizer. Bambi is grateful… and Canada/the world need you!

Bambi would like to thank her friend for kindly sharing the published findings of the most recent Angus Reid Institute poll:

https://epaper.nationalpost.com/article/281505049181138

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/one-third-of-canadians-believe-they-live-in-a-racist-country-poll

As reported by the National Post, “two-thirds of Canadians say they do not live in a racist country“. Interesting finding, which indicates that Bambi and the majority of her fellow citizens share the same opinion about Canada :).

This being said, Bambi is curious to know why one out of three Canadians think otherwise. It would be perhaps informative to explore this result in further surveys. Anyhow, Bambi finds it sad to read that as many Canadians seem to believe that their country is racist.

For fun, to conclude this post, here is a song that Bambi would like to offer to Canada. It is by Lebanese diva Fairouz, singing for her “little house in Canada” (in Arabic)… from as far as Beirut, Lebanon.