As the saying goes, “one man’s loss (of immunity over time) is another man’s gain (vaccine producer)”. Protection (of citizens, especially the most health-vulnerable ones) and profit (of big companies) can, and often do, go hand in hand in life.
However, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, and we can hear its Director (Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus) in the this Wion‘s report of Ms. Palki Sharma, the vaccine booster stage seems to be the reality only when customers are the wealthiest countries of the world.
Indeed, low-income countries (e.g., many in Africa) are lagging behind in terms of their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine (2% of the population). Yet other countries are in the middle, so to speak (Lebanon with 50% of the population registered to be vaccinated now: 32% having had their first dose and 26% their second one).
Bravo for being where we are now… surely in a better place than two years ago before having a vaccine developed (and even if the journey is far from being over). Plus, we are a more experienced world now when it comes to recent pandemics. Of course, we need to remain vigilant, like with anything else in life, in addition to learning to live with/despite this health risk. In the end, countries have no choice but to do so, as New Zealand recently concluded (https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/05/asia/new-zealand-ardern-covid-zero-intl-hnk/index.html).
To conclude this post, may the memory of all our/your loved ones lost to this tiny yet mean coronavirus be eternal… May the years ahead be the safest, healthiest, happiest, and more prosperous ones for the entire world.
Bambi would like to offer this cute (and clever) French song by Gavroche (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavroche_(musique)) to all the hypocrites of the world. OK she means the genuine people who fall for them rather, sometimes sadly repeatedly. These hypocrites may be anyone, including politicians, family members, so-called friends, mere strangers, etc.
Talking about politicians, Bambi has someone in mind to whom she dedicates this song now. A double hint: he can understand the language and no relation to Lebanon. Well, if you can guess whom, and you wish, you might win a personalized surprise-song in one of Bambi’s forthcoming posts :).
Yes, Bambi is capable of joking because in reality she is not surprised like perhaps other Canadians. In her mind, past behaviour is usually the best predictor of future one in life. However, the recent story/saga in the media is VERY far from being funny. Without getting into more details (no need to in this post), it is actually quite sad :(… May the memory of all those who have been honoured recently be eternal. May those who took time to rest be refreshed enough to focus on their work now. May they also learn a lesson of increased humility and sincerity.
Bambi just read the following article published in CTV news informing us that “Egypt’s national carrier Sunday made its first official direct flight to Israel since the two countries signed an historic 1979 peace treaty as an EgyptAir jet landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport” (https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/first-official-egyptair-flight-lands-at-israel-airport-1.5609179).
Always according to CTV news, “the national carrier will now run three weekly flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv with the EgyptAir markings“. This looks like a miracle for the Middle East that can open the door for increased economic relations and opportunities of collaborations (business, science, tourism, cultural exchange, etc). This is actually a historic event between an Arab country that was the first to sign a peace treaty with Israel and the latter. As a historic reminder, their peace deal was signed in 1979 and witnessed by Mr. Jimmy Carter, one of the former Presidents of the USA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt%E2%80%93Israel_peace_treaty)
Imagine, despite this treaty, it took 42 years to AirSinai to dare to officially fly with the logo of Egypt Air between Cairo and Tel Aviv out of fear of public blacklash, as per the CTV News article! Not surprising given that Egyptian Islamists assassinated President Anwar el Sadat precisely 40 years ago like today, that is on October 6, 1981.
Yes, it takes courage to envision peace between former/recent enemies and try to make it happen. Bambi was just 9 years old when this murder happened, but she recalls it very well (she was still living in Beirut back then in the middle of the Lebanese civil war). This political assassination took place almost a year before the invasion of Beirut by the Israeli forces. Bambi also surely recalls a moving French song written by Mr. Enrico Macias following Sadat’s assassination. It is entitled “un berger vient de tomber” (which means “a shepherd has fallen“). If you wish, you can listen to this song further below. You may also read a quick translation of its beautiful lyrics into English.
Mind you, the song in question also applies to any statesman who knows how to assemble its people (for the sake of unity) and how to make history by rising above conflicts (for the sake of peace). Sadly, such inspiring political leaders are rare to encounter in a lifetime, especially when it comes to the bloody Middle East filled with inter-generational (reciprocal) visceral hatred. When we lose one of them to death, the hope for peace (and prosperity) dies with him/her… sometimes for decades, if not forever.
Sadly, many years later, precisely on November 4, 1995, 23-year-old Bambi (living in Montreal at the time) was saddened once again to hear of the assassination of another courageous politician who dared to imagine peace in the Middle East. Bambi is talking about Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin who was shot dead by an Israeli young citizen, radically opposed to the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Yitzhak_Rabin and https://arab.news/6szv8).
Anyhow, Mr. Anwar Sadat, as imperfect as he must have surely been, was “luminous”, like the meaning of his first name in Arabic, when it came to peace. Indeed, he ended up embracing peace/life, instead of hate/death. Because of that, he even lost his life. If only for his courage, he earned Bambi’s respect. Same for the late Mr. Rabin.
As Bambi has written in several posts on this blog, anger or even hatred (after the loss of loved ones through massacres or heavy shellings or occupations, etc.) is much easier and perhaps more convenient than forgiveness, peace, and love. In contrast, peace is a journey, just like grief. It is also made of choices and re-choices, as much as needed. Same for love in life, Bambi will add. May all the nations of the world live in dignity, security, peace, prosperity, and… LOVE.
To conclude this post on a musical note, and as promised, here is the beautiful song of Mr. Enrico Macias preceded by the translation of its lyrics. Enjoy!
“A shepherd has fallen, he has been shot Humanity’s heart is in tears And the upset world realizes all at once That the earth sometimes gives birth to madmen
All those who celebrate in front of his dead body Are forgetting that death is not a defeat That he fought with courage To defend liberty That we still have the legacy He bequeathed to us
For this reason I have hope He didn’t come by chance The way he showed us We all keep in our memories Martyrs are those who force open the doors of hope
A shepherd has fallen Humanity’s heart is in tears Violence again Has put blood on its flag Has unleashed the wolves among the lambs And as the prophets taught us When one sows the wind he reaps the storm
Thus today I declare To those who sacrifice him That God already has judged them He used to say, “Since one must die Give me the right to choose” And from Washington to Rome Where they also were afraid They know very well that he gave his life.A shepherd has fallen, he has been shot Humanity’s heart is in tears The ideas he used to fight for And that hand he used to hold out to us One day or another they will help to make peace”
Dr. Dorian Abbot is a productive Associate Professor in the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago. He is surely also one of the most compassionate North American scientists. Indeed, he always supports others when they are being censored, including Bambi. The latter will forever be grateful to him and to ALL those who have supported her cause in so many ways. One must keep in mind that her saga, his story, and anyone’s censorship ordeal, are jointly OUR collective cause (yes, to all of us) in the continuous fight for the right to academic freedom/freedom of expression and, thus, in the defence of democracy.
To come back to Dr. Abbot, here is his shocking, yet once again not surprising, recent story in his own clever words (entitled “MIT abandons its mission. And me“) and as reported in the American media. As you can see, it is the same pattern, the same reactions by all the usual players (activists, administrators, parents, colleagues, and… of course the context of today’s collectively insane times).
It seems that Dr. Abbot simply expressed his reservations about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), suggesting that “academic evaluations should be based on merit, not equity” (Newsweek shown below). He did not insult anyone. He did not attack anyone.
Like him, and as expressed in earlier posts, Bambi also believes that “we should keep science free of politics and ideology“. However, even and ESPECIALLY if she did not share Abbot’s opinion, she would have defended his right to academic freedom/freedom of expression. It is called democracy in life.
Sadly, instead of considering Dr. Abbot’s lecture as a learning opportunity, you can see how fanaticism of thought of some and the lack of courage of others resulted in MIT’s decision to cancel the lecture in question.
Just to illustrate the humanity of Dr. Abbot again, just read his own words of compassion on his own Twitter account and in the media article below (in addition to earlier writings Bambi had the honour to read and learn from): “I forgive the activists who led the campaign against me. Please do not attack them personally. They are fish swimming in a sea of moral confusion. Some of the responsibility for their behavior rests on their elders, who have not helped them form properly.”
This being said, Bambi will share that she immediately searched for, found, and signed the Change petition circulating, started by the Free Speech Union, to support Dr. Abbot’s right to academic freedom:
Many thanks to the Free Speech Union and to any individual or organization working to protect the right to academic freedom of university professors and librarians, including Dr. Abbot now.
When someone (anyone!) is targeted to limit his/her right to academic freedom, it is academic freedom itself that is under attack (and we will eventually all be affected). It is our duty to denounce it, every time we see, regardless of the source of the abuses (i.e., the political or ideological side initiating it).
When the right to academic freedom is violated for one individual, it is the freedom of all of us that is threatened. By extension, it is freedom of expression in the society at large that is under blatant attack.
Last but not least, when the seeds of obscurantism succeed in growing into a new implicit mission at a prestigious university, it is time to say (again and again and once for all): ENOUGH. Yes, it is time for administrators to have the courage to re-envision their institutions to revive their historic (explicit) beautiful missions (not the ideology that is inhabiting and sadly blinding it). If nothing is done NOW, higher education institutions, and by extension entire societies, will keep diving into mediocrity at a scary speed. The end result will likely be ugly… for all.
Happy World Teacher’s Day to all the current, former (“Bonne fête, Monsieur Trudeau aussi”), future, retired… and suspended teachers of Canada and the world.
Thank you Mr. Trudeau for your best wishes/thanks. They are surely also meant for those university teachers suspended, from their tenured positions, without pay and banned from campuses for seven months because of a personal (or “extra-mural”) blog. Yes, a blog that could have been (still can) be used as an educational platform for open discussion/learning and maybe also entertainment (for all, including the associate professor herself). Well, since CAUT has publicly supported her lately, it is not a secret to say that the latter is Dr. Rima Azar from Mount Allison University (Sackville, NB). Through her, Bambi will also have a thought here for the many other colleagues (perhaps some still anonymous?) who have been… or will sadly risk finding themselves in the future in a similar boat called intolerance of intellectual diversity.
Bambi is allowing herself to appeal to you, Mr. Trudeau, simply because you allowed yourself to appeal to her/her colleagues, whether they teach young children, adolescents, young adults, or seniors across our country.
Indeed, Mr. Trudeau wrote a whole statement regarding the World Teacher’s Day in an official statement (https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2021/10/05/statement-prime-minister-world-teachers-day). In it, he used the following words: “Every day, they step into many other roles as well, including as coaches, mentors, and advocates. They inspire our students to think outside the box, dream big, and persevere.”
Although education is a provincial jurisdiction, perhaps as a former (drama) teacher and likely also as one of the most intrusive PMs of Canada in provincial jurisdictions, Mr. Trudeau also tweeted this message:
To conclude this post on a musical note, here is a song for all the teachers of the world, especially the former ones (including Mr. Trudeau) and those who are currently unfairly treated (including Bambi). Happy World Teacher’s Day to all!
First, “Lebanon-born“, Dr. Ardem Patapoutian won the Nobel prize of Medicine!!
Yes, he won this medicine Nobel, along with another American researcher, Dr. David Julius (congrats to him too!).
Both scientists separately identified skin receptors that respond to heat and pressure. They are currently working on drugs to target these receptors, as per articles by the Associated Press and Naharnet!
From Dr. Patapoutian’s bio (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardem_Patapoutian), we learn that he “attended the American University of Beirut before emigrating to the United States in 1986. He received a bachelor’s degree in cell and developmental biology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1990 and a Ph.D. in biology from the California Institute of Technology in 1996. As a postdoctoral fellow, Patapoutian worked with Louis F. Reichardt at the University of California, San Francisco. In 2000, he became an assistant professor at the Scripps Research Institute. Between 2000 and 2014 he had an additional research position for the Novartis Research Foundation. Since 2014 Patapoutian has been an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).”
Here is his picture, along with his son, taken from his own Twitter account. As you can see he is grateful for his country for the great education, opportunities, and collaborations. Bravo! Mabrouk! Shat Congrats :)!
Well, just for fun, if she may, here is the “Mabrouk” (or congratulations) song; Bambi cannot help it. She loves the song… plus, she hasn’t attended a Lebanese wedding, to hear it live, for such a long time now :):
Now, the second happy news came from Lebanon and it is about Judge Tarek Bitar who investigates the Beirut blast. As a reminder, he was temporarily suspended from his position. Luckily, there has been sit-ins, from families of the victims and citizens, that took place last week to support him. It seems to have worked. Anyhow, this promising news is one of the VERY rare good news coming from Lebanon nowadays. May Judge Bitar resume his work ASAP. Most importantly… may he be safe!
To conclude this post on a personal-friendly note related to October 4. Well, today happens to be Joëlle’s birthday! Bambi loves her childhood friend “Jojo” (also from the USA like Dr. Patapoutian). She is grateful for their beautiful relationship since the VERY first day of school in Beirut (“au petit jardin”). That was 46 years ago, precisely like today [the first day of school used to coincide with her birthday :)]. With music again, Happy Birthday, best wishes, and much love!
To begin with, simply put and according to experts like Dr. Mathieu Bock-Côté, “wokeism is the fanaticization of political correctness“.
To use his own translated words, “we could also speak of a new American religious left (or, at least, of American origins): there is a discourse of awakening (e.g., public figures who declare to have taken awareness of their privileges“; they tell us that “they want to free themselves from it“. It is “an expression of their desire for purification (like a re-birth), what looks like a state of being enlightened by the diverse revelation, freed from prejudices, and ready to move forward in the new world” (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/07/24/reflexions-sur-le-wokisme).
Some thinkers (yes, they still exist despite the scarcity) go a step further by considering that in reality this ideology is not about racism as it pretends. It is most likely a form of tribalism or sectarianism meant to provoke strifes that can divide societies (sadly like what we usually see in the Middle East). It is also thought to be about the re-distribution of social or socio-political powers or structures. Who knows? Perhaps there is also an encouragement by foreign forces motivated in dividing the United States or USA, Canada as well, and perhaps, by extension, Western countries?
The above being said, whatever wokeism is or is not, Bambi thinks that people are free to be woke or highly religious within this movement, if they wish. The problem begins when they impose their vision of the world on others. Here we can make an analogy with Islamism or with any other extreme levels of religiosity, which ultimately jumps from the individual (or even group) level to the political/public arena. When the latter occurs and spreads, wokeism can/will be toxic.
One must add that this new form of secular, racialized religion is so organized and wealthy that it seems to be replacing the role of religions in higher education institutions and in political structures, so-called diversity training, in the social media/media, and in one’s personal beliefs.
As a result of all the above, this potentially toxic ideology (since in its name we can destroy people’s names and careers and we can hate others) benefits from much funding to the point of now having in each of the USA and Canada an entire bureaucracy (governments, universities, public institutions, etc.) and business models (centres, private organizations, etc.) that foster it. For instance, we see highly-paid positions, whole offices, or even prestigious research chairs in our country funded by the federal government (i.e., our own tax money or other unknown sources of funding?), all having the same name of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (how creative).
Bearing this in mind, we can see influences of this ideology across countries and across sectors. To come back to the question raised in the title of this post, why don’t you think about it and answer it to yourself (yes, just yourself, no need to share your answer… unless you feel the urge :)). So, here are the media articles in question related to wokeism. The stories are not similar, but they reflect a similar widespread mindset.
About the USA:
If you are interested, you may wish to read about the race-based segregation that is sadly back to American campuses and some consider this as a progress in life :(. The article below describes how groups of students have stopped engaging with each other. Some do not even share the same physical space. Other do not celebrate their graduation together. She does not know about you, but Bambi finds this to be so sad in addition to being a loss for all.
Well in Canada, we now have media campaigns and even political pressures by coroners [investigating a horrible case of racism/disrespect in the healthcare system… May Ms. Joyce Echaquan’s memory be eternal :(] against a province (i.e., Québec), represented by its Prime Minister, Mr. Legault, to force him to say: “yes, there is systemic racism” (as per an earlier post shown further below). Clearly in Bambi’s mind, this campaign seems like a political trap, whatever the motivation behind it and regardless of how clumsy he may have been lately (despite the good and genuine intentions).
Even organizations like Amnesty International, Canadian section, have gone fully woke in both languages… Will they go broke one day, as per the saying?
Of note, in Canada, we hear stories of scientists who, coincidentally, happen to be both Québec and Lebanese “expats” (so to speak) being suspended from their tenured academic positions without a pay for SEVEN months. This in addition to being denied access to their campuses (like criminals) SIMPLY because of their personal blogs. On the latter, they may have written about their love for Canada and about how they do not see their country or province as being systemically racist (i.e., in agreement with 80% of Canadians). Of course, the latter does not mean there is no racism in the society or no institutional injustice (particularly from the Canadian state towards Indigenous people in bills that need to be finally addressed). Since Bambi is not politically correct, she will also add to this that there could also be corruption within some Indigenous communities by some specific leaders; analogy with those political leaders in Lebanon who may have benefited from international donations themselves instead of ensuring their access to their (innocent) population.
About Germany:
We learned from a Wion article shown below the following… it is all in the title: “‘Diversity spaces’: Germany reserves parking spots for LGBT community and migrants”. Well, why would with whom someone sleeps matter in finding a parking space? And, for God’s sake, what is too special about migrants to have a parking spot also reserved to them? Don’t these German drivers have legs to walk if they park further away? Did they ask to be have this treatment of virtue signalling or are we, once again, doing/saying things in their name without consulting them (like we do in Canada with recent immigrants or with Indigenous people that we call BIPOCs (as a reminder, Bambi is supposed to fit this rather funny acronym as “a deer of colour“).
So, according to you, from these media articles or from true stores, which country’s current situation is the most “woke” , the USA, Canada, or Germany? And which country will be the first to start saying enough to this non-sense that has been sadly leading to absurd excesses. If pushed to more extreme levels, it could (may God forbid!) lead to strife. There is a huge price to this modern form of identity-based sectarianism.
To conclude this post, Bambi does not know about you, but right now she so much dreams of having her Canada (of just 30… and even 20 years ago back). The Canada she immigrated to, or thought she did so, over 31 years ago! Is there still hope in the short term? Or should she patiently wait to see the pendulum starting to swing back?
Mr. Bruce Wark and the Farahs. Pictures taken from the New Wark Times
Bambi has always spoken very highly of Mr. Wark on this blog as well as in real life.
Indeed, we are so lucky to have the talented Mr. Wark (i.e., New Wark Times https://warktimes.com/about/) in our community. His existence and talent are highly appreciated, especially with the lack of local media in our region (South Eastern part of New Brunswick and in the nearby Nova Scotia).
Well, today, Mr. Wark’s article is about Ms. Rachelle Farah, a resident of our town (Sackville, NB) who is “questioning the long delay in getting her Lebanese husband into Canada”.
Although Bambi knows and loves Rachelle Farah, she is able to take an emotional distance to say the following about Mr. Wark’s latest article shown above.
It is a timely, informative, thoughtful, and as usual, very well written article. Yes, it is filled with journalistic talent and humanity. Indeed, Mr. Wark has skillfully amplified Rachel’s voice while also giving a voice to her voiceless young boys, Elias (3-year-old) & Moussa Jr. (7-month-old). The latter are growing up SO far away, geographically speaking, from her their dad, Johny.
Just think that, as a father and spouse, Johny has gone through not just a revolution, but a pandemic, and a huge surrealistic blast in addition to a harsh economic crisis in his broke birth country. All this without the presence and warmth of his beloved spouse and adorable boys.
As described in this media article, Ms. Rachelle Farah is also going through personal (health-related) stressful times. Despite this, she is filled with pride and entrepreneurship skills (like her own dad!). She and her spouse want to work and be productive in our country and beautiful town. They want to simply live their married life under the same roof, raise their kids, and sleep next to each other.
Many thanks to Mr. Wark’s journalism that supports not just Ms. Rachelle Farah’ family, but also through her others who could perhaps be in the same difficult boat. Thank you for the appeal to our politicians. Best wishes!
Canada wants to bring more and more immigrants and refugees… and here we have a man whose family is already anchored and well integrated in our community. A family that has contributed to society by being successful entrepreneurs. For those who do not know the Farahs personally, this family is a decent, hard-working, and a generous one. Rachelle’s parents cared for and brought people together not just across Sackville, Moncton, Amherst, but also from Lebanon and abroad. Johny would surely fit in well among his loved ones… and among us all.
Bambi wishes the Farahs all the best! Again, thank you Mr. Wark. PLEASE, keep up your great work!
And the list goes on and on… in both official languages.
Today, it is the concept of “systemic racism“.
Perhaps yesterday, it was another one.
Tomorrow or in the future, it will most likely be another concept.
The issue is not the concept of the day. The issue is that, sadly, the crying problems are not being addressed. Discrimination in all its forms, including racism, is among these problems that need to be solved.
What we are increasingly seeing in Canada is slogans. Sometimes empty ones.
Bravo to Lebanon for both the clarity and transparency of its Covid-19 data, which are broken down by age groups, vaccination status, symptom severity, and by regions (with the incidence and mortality rates as well as cumulative data, etc.).
Of note, this country has a vaccination rate of 31.4% (for the first dose) and 26% (for the second one) only, and with just 49.6% of the population registered to get a vaccine.
If you are interested, here are the epidemiological data and surveillance indicators of this country presented in English with some Arabic:
