How refreshing to see reason, critical thinking, acceptance, and respect in action.
Bravo for courageously, and just simply saying no, to the violence stemming from (any) dogmatic thinking and its resulting bullying behaviour.
Bambi feels proud of this student (bravo to Audrey or Ms. Unverferth).
Bambi is happy for Dr. Dorian Abbot! As a reminder, she has supported him last week on her blog when she heard of his absurd story (see further below).
Finally, thank you Fox News for reporting this positive piece of news online.
To conclude this post, a big thanks to our courageous neighbouring country, for giving Bambi hope that brighter days can be ahead in not just the United States but also in our entire world.
With simple yet powerful ingredients like critical thinking (along with courage), people can come together to stand up against injustice and violence in life.
Whether you endorse wokeism or not yourself, whether you like to listen to Fox News only or CNN only (or both/any channel like Bambi), just remember that no one deserves to be silenced in life. Everyone has something valuable to express that we can all learn something from (including a smart professor like Dr. Dorian Abbot). Bambi is saying this regardless of the target, perpetrator, story, historic time, ideology (secular or religious), workplace, institution of higher education, country, continent, etc.
To conclude this post, when will Canada also start seeing some light of hope in the darkness of our collectively insane times?
Once again, if you are a regular reader of her blog, you probably know that one of Bambi’s little pleasures in life is to have fun replying to Mr. Nasrallah’ speeches following the surrealistic Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020.
Well, Bambi could not help the urge to reply to Mr. Nasrallah before going to sleep. If this topic is of any interest to you, you may wish to read the brief timeline of Mr. Nasrallah’s speech. FYI, the bold characters indicate Bambi’s reply, point by point.
“Nasrallah: The port blast judge is acting like an ultimate ruler in this file. “
Bambi: Bravo to Judge Bitar for his competence, impartiality, and courage.
“Nasrallah: The responsibility of judges is bigger than that of presidents, ministers and MPs, because they’re the ones who gave approvals for the nitrates ship.“
Bambi: ? or ☹. Do you believe your own lies, Mr. Nasrallah? Can you please tell us how come you are not blaming Israel for the first time of your life? ODD.
“Nasrallah: What’s happening in the Beirut port probe is a very big mistake and we won’t accept for the issue to continue in this manner in the coming days.“
“Nasrallah: We are not calling for ending the probe and we want a transparent and honest judge.”
Bambi: Sure, if you say so…
“Nasrallah to Bitar: Why haven’t you heard the testimonies of President Aoun [and] ex-president Suleiman? “
Bambi: No comment. No clue why you are saying this. Surely to deviate the attention or to manipulate for other reasons. Mind you, maybe you have a point that Bambi does not understand (benefit of the doubt?).
Bambi’s understanding, if accurate, is that President Aoun (the Hezbollah’s ally) and many of his peers knew about the 2500 tons of ammonium nitrate that detonated on that sad August 4, 2020 :(. Despite this, they did not inform the Beirut firefighters about the burning product they rushed to extinguish at the port. Had they known, perhaps they could have had enough time to evacuate the city. Furthermore, rescuers (many of them rushed from France and other European countries to help) were prevented from entering the site for many critical hours. This is what was reported in the media as well as in interviews with the families of the victims and on social media.
Anyhow, as far as Bambi is concerned, she trusts Judge Bitar’s judgment. Since you are working hard to prevent him from doing his job, this tells us he is most likely on the right track…
“Nasrallah: Judge Bitar’s work is selective and politicized.”
Bambi: No comment.
“Nasrallah: The investigative judge should identify those who brought the nitrates ship to Beirut port.”
Bambi: Words are cheap in life… especially when stating
the obvious.
“Nasrallah to families of victims: You will not reach the truth with this judge.“
Bambi: Please stop your campaign against Judge Tarek Bitar… as has been done with his predecessor, namely Judge Fadi Sawan.
“Nasrallah: We are keen on investigations into the port blast and we will insist on accountability even if the families of the victims abandon the case.”
Bambi: What a joke… and how insulting to the grieving families ☹ (+ Beirutis, your own country, and the entire world).
“Nasrallah on port case: The current judge is continuing with the mistakes of the former judge.”
Bambi: May God protect Judge Tarek Bitar… from you.
“Nasrallah: I reiterate my call for the government to seek a waiver of sanctions in order to import fuel from Iran.”
Bambi: Why are you putting Lebanon in danger of sanctions from the USA? Why not let the new government take the time to decide what is in the best interests of its country from out of all the ideas/options?
“Nasrallah: I call on the government to accept the Iranian proposal for the construction of two power plants and to obtain a U.S. waiver of sanctions.”
Bambi: No comment about the first part (perhaps helpful? No clue). As for the second part of your comment: Well, same as the above.
“Nasrallah: The issue of electricity should be the government’s priority in the coming session and the country must be put on the track of solution, seeing as the issue needs a drastic solution.”
Bambi: True, electricity is a top priorityfor a country!
“Nasrallah: We call for lowering the voting age to 18.”
Bambi: No clue what the voting age in Lebanon is. Of course, as a smart man, you will ask to lower it if it is to your advantage.
“Nasrallah: We will not oppose expat voting although it is not fair for us in Hizbullah, seeing as we cannot campaign or vote freely in some countries. “
Bambi: No comment… Maybe you are right on this one.
“Nasrallah: We call for holding the parliamentary elections on time and within the constitutional time frame.”
Bambi: Good idea indeed.
A screenshot taken from the Naharnet article cited above (October 11, 2021)
On this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, Bambi would like to warmly thank you for your incredible support, whether in the form of a word or a gesture of kindness, courage, fairness, openness, generosity, and… especially humanity. This is called love in Bambi’s dictionary. For her, love is simply the essence of life. THANK YOU from the bottom of her heart!
Dans la langue de Molière
En ce congé de l’Action de Grâce au Canada, Bambi aimerait vous remercier chaleureusement pour votre incroyable soutien que ce soit en forme d’un mot ou d’un geste de gentillesse, courage, justice, ouverture d’esprit, generosité et… surtout d’humanité. Ceci s’appelle de l’amour dans le dictionnaire de Bambi. Pour elle, l’amour est tout simplement l’essence de la vie. MERCIdu fond du coeur!
To continue on a musical note, first Bambi will offer you a fun kids’ song to highlight the season in French. This will be followed by another kids’ song in English. Finally, Bambi will share a more serious and surely beautiful song in Arabic by Lebanon’s unifying pride, Fairouz. This song is taken from one of the musicals of the Rahbani Brothers (1973), entitled “Al Mahata” [“The Station”/”La gare“]. Bambi was surprised to hear herself singing it while cleaning the house, even if she hasn’t heard it for ages :). Seriously, Fairouz’ song, Imani Satwe, is meaningful because it talks about someone’s faith in life. “Faith in whatever life will bring… faith in the spring that will come after the storms“, perhaps also faith, if you wish, in the whatever you strongly believe in or not (atheism, your own spirituality, God, Allah, G-d, Goddesses, love, respect for all, science, politics, ideologies, nothing or all/some of the latter).
To conclude this post, and as far as she is concerned, Bambi’s faith in life has always been in humanity. For the latter, she will keep singing (despite her ugly voice!). In other terms, until her last breath in life… even when too frail to clean the house :).
Lebanon has been experiencing multiple crises, all at once, including in its energy sector. As a consequence, the misery of the people of this tiny Mediterranean county just reached new, yet sadly expected, dark levels. Related to this, Bambi would like to start this short post by thanking her friends in Ontario and Québec for reaching out concerned about her family in Lebanon. Thank you/Merci!
First, you can watch if you wish, a France24 news documentary on the blackout.
Below this video, you can see (and it is heart-breaking for Bambi) another Wion short news documentary on the financial crisis related to the crash of the banking sector.
Hyperinflation in Lebanon has reached exponential levels. Just to give you a concrete example, in Beirut today, a whole chicken (of a rather small-to-medium size) now costs the equivalent of Canadian $125. Can you imagine?! As the currency lost over 90% of its value, MOST of the population cannot afford neither meat nor chicken for a long time now… including the country’s own army!
As the journalist explained, no electricity means no water or access to water… and likely no internet/access to the internet as well.
The blackout is expected to last for a few days (2-3, they seem to say, if the fuel from Iraq arrives on time and its inspection shows its good quality , etc). Bambi’s heart is with Lebanon and its people whomever they are, wherever they are… of course, starting with her own family and her loved ones (relatives and childhood friends). Bon courage! Be SAFE!
To conclude, also as the journalist explained, Lebanon is now in intense negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). BEST wishes!!
Is there any move that is, apparently at least, more useless and tyrannical at the same time as this one? Is it mere political virtual signalling while also trapping some Canadians in… and, as the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms wrote in its statement, also banning them from earning a living?
Many thanks the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms for speaking out against this measure. Same for Mr. Maxime Bernier in his a recent tweet. Sadly, our official opposition is still silent. Why?
When Bambi shared this decision by Canada with her mother on the phone, her smart 81-year-old mom immediately said: “But why since all the countries of the world already have restrictive rules to enter them” :)?
A list of
countries of departure has been drawn up on the basis of the health indicators.
The lists of countries can be altered based on changes in the epidemic
situation.
If you are not vaccinated and you arrive from a “green” country
Upon
boarding, each traveller aged 12 and over must present a negative PCR or
antigenic test taken less than 72 hours before the flight. If you are
travelling from Cyprus, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands or Portugal, your test
must be taken less than 24 hours before the flight.
If you
have previously contracted COVID-19, instead of a negative test result you may
present a certificate of recovery dated more than 11 days and less than
6 months prior to the date of arrival. A certificate of recovery is a document
issued to persons who have contracted COVID-19, upon presentation of a positive
RT-PCR or antigenic test.
This will
not apply to:
trips by residents of cross-border areas (border within a 30 km radius of your residence, and for a duration of less than 24 hours).
work-related trips, the urgent or frequent nature of which makes them incompatible with these tests;
trips by hauliers carrying out their work.
To avail
of the exemptions above, you must have a document proving the reasons for your
trip.
So, Mr. Trudeau et al., when you were supposed to close our borders at the start of the pandemic to protect us, you were TOO slow that the Governments of Nova Scotia (Liberals, at the time, like your own red colour) and Québec went into their airports to do the job that the federal did not do. In Montreal, even Mayor Valérie Plant and staff helped with this (Bambi has older posts on this topic).
Plus, Canadians have been accused, by you, to be discriminating against Asian-Canadians simply for asking to limit airplanes from China, as it was A HOT spot. As shown in older posts on this blog, the citizens of Lebanon also asked their (Iran-leaning) government to do something with airplanes from Iran as it was a coronavirus hot spot.
Was it the fault of the Iranian or Chinese population if that was the case? Of course, not! Mind you, you appeared more compassionate back then than what you seem to be now with some of your own people, the unvaccinated. Yes, we are in a much better place now than two years ago when we did not know much about this coronavirus/Covid-19 new illness) and we did not have vaccines.
The irony, back then, was that tiny Lebanon (which is like an Iranian colony, via the Hezbollah) ended up acting FASTER than Canada at the Beirut airport (Bambi has earlier posts on the topic). Bambi is saying so and she is surely not defending any corrupt Lebanese politician. At least, public-health wise, this country showed competence and transparency, as much as realistically possible (despite any error, inconsistency, despite the widespread corruption, and the multiple crises).
Anyhow, we now have vaccines, Mr Trudeau et al. (the “et al.” includes the whole team). Plus, despite outbreaks here and there, the pandemic is slowing down/stabilizing everywhere (right now at least), including Canada (even Dr. Tam, from our federal government, told us so lately. Plus Bambi has a post on the topic).
So why are our politicians behaving in such an authoritarian way? Is it because some people are too afraid and they are appealing to them? Or are they too sure of themselves when it comes to generating ideas? And/Or are they lacking an effective political opposition or at least questioning?
The questions above were more about our federal government, but look at another worrisome example. This time coming from the Government of Saskatchewan. Thanks to Journalist Ezra Levant for sharing the information… Bambi could not help not to think of what she learned just yesterday from one of the readers of this blog: “ The first province in Canada to legislate civil rights was Saskatchewan with its Bill of Rights passed in April 1947. It was Canada’s first general law prohibiting discrimination.” Does pandemic-related fear justify how this provincial government, among the world leaders in Charters protecting civil rights, is now encouraging its citizens to report each other, individuals and small businesses? Isn’t this too much?
Why is Canada turning into such an authoritarian country in front of our eyes? When will these excesses stop? Or how will we economically and psychologically recover from their impact?
Why don’t we focus on fixing or better funding the healthcare system instead (this question also applies to NB, Québec, and all provinces)? When will the federal government also transfer the needed funds to them (without conditions, etc.)? Last but not least, how about working more on educating citizens about the protective value of vaccines? About the differences between them, etc.? And about the need/value of massive vaccination?
To come back to Ottawa’s travel decision, a question that begs itself has been raised by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom: When will all this stop? Will our federal government add to this measure booster 3, 4, etc.? And then what? And again, what?
If the above point becomes a reality (yak), what if citizens who are fully vaccinated (like MOST of the population now) do not wish to have boosters in the future, even if they are illegible to get them? Will they be prevented from leaving Canada? Who knows? Mr. Trudeau himself may perhaps be one of them? Will he be stuck inside the country :)? Or the latter is not a good example since he is above rules and ethics (Bambi has older posts on the topic)?
Finally, to conclude this post, if we do not want to leave the country for whatever reason, should we now just refuse to be vaccinated :)? Bambi may seem to be joking. However, it is a serious question. As a reader, what are your thoughts… if we are still allowed to think, even in a pandemic?
According to MTV, Lebanese politicians are trying for a second time to dismiss Judge Tarek Bitar. Shame on them!
As a reminder, they did try to do so a few days ago. Judge Bitar was temporarily suspended from his position. Then, the judicial system resisted to the blatant political interference. Bambi was happy to hear the good news (expressed in a post).
For those who do not know it, this judge is leading the investigation about the surrealistic Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020. Actually, he took it over after a first Judge (called Fadi Sawan) was dismissed from his position. For the record, Judge Bitar also received death threat from the most powerful group in Lebanon. Bambi’s heart is with him because he seems to be in the crossfire between the milita and the mafia of his country.
Many thanks to Judge Bitar for his courage and willingness to uncover the truth in order to finally bring those responsible for this tragedy to justice. He is doing it in the name of the 215 families of the victims. Plus, one must bear in mind that there were 6000+ injured people, 300-400,000 homeless residents, and MASSIVE destruction (in almost half of the capital). Think also of ALL those who migrated because of the blast.
What will the Lebanese justice system do now? How to fight back? And what’s next? Bambi has been worried about Judge Bitar from the start, as expressed earlier. Perhaps now more than ever… May he remain safe (she is praying in her heart).
Below, if you wish, you can read the latest news from MTV. This will be followed by a famous song to Beirut interpreted by Mr. Amine Hachem, an American tenor of Lebanese background. The song is sub-titled in English and Bambi has an older post about Mr. Hachem singing it. Bambi will dedicate it to this judge, if she may, and though him to all the disappointed and upset people like her.
Related to this new development, Bambi wonders if there will be other sit-ins and if her sister will attend again like the last time. At the very end of this post , you can see an earlier post on the topic.
Well, how unfair all this! Without wanting to be cynical (Bambi is usually an optimistic deer in life), she has expressed doubts about justice regarding this blast in earlier posts, even if the investigation becomes international. Back then, she thought so because of the UN’s Special Tribunal for Lebanon on the assassination of Mr. Hariri in 2005 and its shy verdict. The later was indeed disappointing to the victims’ families (i.e., innocent citizens), to Beirutis, and to the entire Lebanon, which lost its Prime Minister. One must also recall all the funds later injected into the UN bureaucracy by Lebanese governments for several years (i.e., half of the costs, if Bambi is not mistaken).
To conclude this post, Bambi will repeat her best wishes to Judge Bitar and… good luck to Lebanon!
Second, Bambi will say “Mabrouk“. However, she will not offer you the happy Lebanese song of Congrats that she loves, called Mabrouk, for this annivesary… her heart is not into it, as you will see below (her replies to parts of your statement appear in bold letters).
You wrote in your statement the following:
“The diversity of Canadians is a fundamental characteristic of our heritage and identity. For generations, newcomers from all over the world, of all backgrounds, ethnicities, faiths, cultures, and languages, have been coming to Canada with the hopes of making it their home. Today, in addition to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, people from more than 250 ethnic groups call Canada home and celebrate their cultural heritage with pride – they are at the heart of our success as a vibrant, prosperous, and progressive country.“
What about our Canadian pluralistic, yet unique, identity/culture, Mr. Trudeau? Doesn’t it deserve to be celebrated too? Actually, newcomers, or older immigrants alike, want to celebrate Canada FIRST, before their so-called “cultural heritage”? They have precisely chosen to come to Canada because of its values, languages, laws, etc. They worked hard to fit in it and they are proud of their adjustment. Why not also celebrate what glues us together, as Canadians (within or despite multiculturalism)? Thank you.
“Canada’s multiculturalism policy was implemented based on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. These recommendations were made upon the urging of diverse ethnocultural groups throughout Canada, a reminder of the lengthy and ongoing struggle for equality in this country. The policy promotes respect for cultural diversity, acknowledges the freedom of all members of Canadian society to preserve, enhance, and share their own cultural heritage, and considers their cultural contributions throughout the country as essential to Canada.“
Does this also include the culture of Québec, as a nation, with its language and values (including secularism)?
“The policy received constitutional sanction in 1982, with an explicit recognition that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the multicultural heritage of Canadians.“
Very good. Bravo and thanks to your dad, and Canadians, for this heritage. By the way, and as you know (just in case you forgot it), Québec’s own charter is older, from 1975:
This year, several disturbing and divisive incidents motivated by hate have reminded us that prejudice, systemic racism, and discrimination continue to be a lived reality for many Indigenous and Black peoples, religious minorities, and racialized communities.
True, but this is called racism. If you insert the term “systemic”, as our Prime Minister, can you please help Bambi by pointing to those specific laws that discriminate or are systemically racist against her, as a “deer of colour”?
Note please that she did not say a “racialized deer”, like you. Her community of deer and many other communities, like them, do not like this term, Mr. Trudeau. It actually sounds condescending (even if you did not mean it, Bambi is sure). Her different communities are made up of different unique individuals. Some may have bought your term of systemic racism. Some haven’t. Many are fed up of hearing this term, especially without seeing concrete actions to fix the problems that need to fixed. In other terms, they are divided on this issue, just like the rest of the population of Canadians.
This being said, what about black people or religious minorities also? How are they discriminated at in Canada? By which laws specifically? She just knows about the “Indian Act” as the Canadian’s state’s form of injustice. Thank you.
“Today, Canada strives to be a respectful, prosperous, and compassionate country thanks to the tremendous contributions of people of all backgrounds who call it home”.
Beautiful and well said. Thank you, Mr. Trudeau.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I invite all Canadians to find out more about multiculturalism in Canada, celebrate the cultural diversity that makes us who we are, and continue to learn from one another. By appreciating our differences as the source of our strength and resilience, we can build a truly inclusive, vibrant, and multicultural society.“
Very good: What about our unity now?
Bambi listened to you, Mr. Trudeau and went to read about multiculturalism:
When she opened the link above, she came across the “Black History Month” supposedly beautiful initiative:
“Every February, people in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.
The 2021 theme for Black History Month is: “The Future is Now”.
How sad and ironic that perhaps likely in the name (or at least context) of this supposedly well-meaning initiative, a Canadian associate professor from N-B (OK, it is Bambi) became the target of an online and media censorship campaign, precisely on February, 22, 2021. Mind you, although Bambi does not have evidence (beyond what has circulated in media), she had the impression back then that she has been a sort of human sacrifice (or a scapegoat) for this “black history month“.
Anyhow, later in May, following an “independent” investigation, this professor was suspended from her tenured position without pay, for SEVEN long months, and without the right to go to campus, like a criminal. Yes, that was her “discipline” for having a personal blog on which she enjoys writing (“diverse” opinions on social topics). Is this fair according to you, especially that you say that you see the citizen she is as part of a “racialized” community?
As far she is concerned, Bambi is convinced that no one deserves such ordeal in life, whomever the person and regarding of any opinion(s) expressed. Indeed, just imagine a censorship (or cancelling) saga happening to you when you were a teacher. Imagine it happening, may God forbid, to your children in their careers in the very far future. Imagine the (psychological and financial) impact on your loved ones. How could this be fair?
Thus, given all the above, are we allowed to perhaps wonder if your father’s multicultural government policy has failed Bambi, ironically when it was supposed to be welcoming, protective, and inclusive to/of her, as a Canadian who happens to be a migrant established in our country for over 31 years?
To conclude, regardless and beyond Bambi’s saga, how can we prevent excesses in Canada ironically practised in the name of multicultural policies? Do you envision more identity-based policies in the name of multiculturalism? Or will you and your government finally see the need for a mindset shift in order to finally and truly bring us all together, in order to preserve the beautiful part (not the excesses) of the heritage of multiculturalism?
Thank you, Mr. Trudeau. Happy Thanksgiving to you/your family.
Quelle belle initiative, merci. Vive la belle langue de Molière parlée non seulement au Québec mais aussi dans neuf autres provinces du Canada, incluant notre Nouveau-Brunswick!
En passant, Le Liban pourrait bénéficier d’une telle initiative vu que cette belle langue prend aussi un recul alarmant là-bas.
—
IN ENGLISH…
What a great initiative, thank you. Long live the beautiful language of Molière spoken not only in Québec but also in nine other provinces of Canada, including our New Brunswick!
By the way, Lebanon could benefit from a similar initiative since this beautiful language is also taking an alarming step back there.
What a beautiful interpretation of Dalida’s “Helwa ya baladi” [which means my beautifulcountry] by Ms. Carla Chamoun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalida). Bravo! An English translation of the lyrics (found online from an anonymous source) appear following this LBCI, LB2, and LDC YouTube video.
If she may, Bambi would like to dedicate this beautiful song to her two life loves (OK three with her spouse :): First, to her Canada (wishing it to shine again!). Second, to her birth country. Tragically, Lebanon is struggling to (economically) survive. However, and of course, this old land will remain eternal. Yes, a brighter future is ahead of tiny bankrupt yet resilient Lebanon, even if this will take its time…
“A beautiful word and many more My country is beautiful A beautiful song and many more My country is beautiful My hope was always To come back to you, my country And stay with you forever
Memories from the past My country I remember My heart is full of stories
My country, I remember My first love was in my country It’s impossible for me to forget Where the old days Before leaving
We used to say that separation was impossible
And every tear on the cheeks used to drop Filled with lots of hope that we will stay In the sea of love
A beautiful word and many more My country is beautiful A beautiful song and many more My country is beautiful Where the love of my heart Was away from me And every time we sing I think of him
Tell me love, where are you going and leaving me It’s the most beautiful song we’re both going to sing My country is a beautiful word to be singing between the lines
A beautiful word and many more My country is beautiful A beautiful song and many more My country is beautiful My hope was always To come back to you, my country And stay with you forever”.
Like Bambi, Ahmed Samer was happy to read this article offering a wise piece of advice to Mr. François Legault, Prime Minister of the beautiful Québec. Mr Legault has been resisting, even if in a perhaps weak or clumsy way today, a large media campaign of wokeism. Indeed, this racialist theory or ideology insists on wanting everyone and every institution to see our civilization through the limited lens of race. How sad when social relationships are now only allowed to be seen through the limited lense of so-called race (i.e., defined by skin colour) and/or or any other sectarian characteristic (you name it). Of course, such an ideology or theory assumes (and wants to impose this vision on us all) that the so-called white folks are the “mean racist ones” and the minorities, or the so-called BIPOCS (e.g., supposedly deer of colour, like Bambi) are the “oppressed racialized victimes”.
If you do not agree with it or simply refuse it, even if you respect those who believe in it (like Bambi), they tell you it is the evidence of its existence :). You are even called a denier. Is there anything more potentially totalitarian than this sad vision of the world? This has become irrational to the point of sounding like a discourse of a religion, not like logic, science, or the richness of different opinions, anymore. Even religions are more nuanced than such a mindset behind this ideology.
Although Bambi may be wrong, she keeps asking herself: Is there anything more absurd, socially unhealthy, potentially toxic, and even self-destructive than the above vision of our societies/world? Anyhow, Bambi will continue to question this, even if Mr. Legault himself becomes “the king of wokeism”. Seriously, Bambi is saying so because she knows, just like her friend Ahmed Samer, what sectarianism OR tribalism can do to a country :(.
Indeed, these two are not the only ones. You should hear how many other Canadians of recent immigration/newcomers are thinking of leaving Canada because it is going in this insane and self-destructive direction. Just today actually, Bambi heard of one of them in Montreal! A few months ago, she heard at least 3-4 allophone, and even anglophone, friends from Québec expressing that they are too fed up that they are contemplating voting yes on any third referendum on the sovereignty of Québec. Can you imagine how strong and meaningful their statement is!? Some said it in English even. Do you see the irony? Do you see that Canadians, whether living in Québec or outside of it, are fed up of such divisive, regressive, ideologies. No, again, not just Bambi.
In addition to all the above, one must remember that Mr. Legault seems to benefit from a large support of Québeckers, as shown in recent surveys, a year ahead of the elections in this province. Despite his weaknesses or errors, this politician is pragmatic and reasonable. In addition, he seems to have met a large percentage of his electoral promises, despite the pandemic, as reported in Québec media. Perhaps this may explain why most Québeckers respect him, whether they will vote for him again or not. Who knows? Perhaps his politically satisfying performance may be a factor in the equation explaining the increasingly harsh media pressure on him, in both official languages, for a year now (and especially in the last few days).
Anyhow, below is a quick translation of Dr. Bock-Côté’s article. Once again, thanks to him for being articulate. Bambi allowed herself to insert some comments within the text (she could not help it).
“While he has stood up for more than a year against media harassers who want at all costs to subject Québec to the theory of systemic racism, François Legault began to sway when the coroner Géhane Kamel, without any ideological reservation, took up this accusation.
The Prime
Minister seems under siege, especially as we try to make him believe that Québecers
have for their part fallen on their knees in front of their ideological
aggressors.
By saying
that there used to be systemic racism, but there is no more, the Prime Minister
accredited this concept, unwittingly opening a door to its legitimization.
Kamel
Everyone
goes to bed, so do it! This is the slogan of the moment. Whoever
“recognizes” systemic racism has a good soul, who refuses to do so
with a vile soul. This concept is no longer used to describe reality or not,
but to sort between the pure and the unclean, the good and the bad. It is a
marker of public morality.
To defend
himself, François Legault released the Petit Robert. Let’s agree on one thing:
it’s a bit light.
The Prime
Minister understands why he opposes this toxic theory. He should know it too,
and explain it to Québecers clearly and calmly by finishing his little game of
semantic cha-cha-cha.
There is no
shortage of brilliant intellectuals to have analyzed this notion by showing how
it is sociologically unfounded. François Legault should sit down with them to
deepen his thinking [Bambi strongly suggests he
consults Dr. Bock-Côté himself!].
Because the
war of definitions is not a pure battle of words. In politics, whoever buys a
word buys a concept, and the concepts then have consequences in the definition
of public policies.
The
vocabulary battle has the function of building the mental universe in which
society operates. If you convince a society that it suffers from “systemic
racism”, or that it lacks “openness to the other”, or that it
would be complacent towards a “culture of rape”, it will eventually
act in that direction.
Counteroffensive
Anyone who buys the theory of systemic racism accepts the absurd idea that Québec is divided between a structurally advantaged white majority and “racialized minorities” [indeed how absurd!!]who are victims of visible and invisible discriminatory processes. He accepts the idea that whites are racist because they are whites [how absurd…], that minorities are victims because they are a minority [how absurd…]. He agrees to transform society into a gigantic rehabilitation workshop [BOTH sad and dangerous ☹].
Above all, he gives in to a vision of society which treats the slightest statistical disparity between groups as proof of racism in addition to pushing “minorities” to victimize them who come to see discrimination everywhere, without ever making the slightest self-criticism [related to this good point, Bambi finished reading an excellent book, entitled “An inconvenient minority” by Mr. Kenny Xu whom she was honoured to be one of his podcast’s guests this summer, as shown on her personal website and in an earlier post, see further below]: https://rimaazar.ca/. In his book, Mr. Xu provided evidence of how Asian Americans prove that such ideology simply does not work. Indeed, their own excellence/adjustment to the country, from one generation (ie., the migrant parents who do not even speak English) to the next one (i.e. their academically or socially successful children), speak volumes about it. Of note, and very sadly, the excesses of this theory/ideology in the form of the attack on excellence/meritocracy have literally discriminated against this very diverse yet talented (hard-working) group in prestigious American universities, like Harvard. So why are we increasingly pushing for more ideologically-based excesses in our societies if it does not work? And who benefits when an entire society becomes more divided and, overall, perhaps more mediocre? Clearly, everyone loses in the end].
We come back to it: François Legault has shown immense courage since the summer of 2020 by resisting media pressure. But the best defense is offense. Taking out the dictionary will not be enough” .
