Hope in Lebanon did not last long since its last May 15 Parliamentary elections.
Hope of change with some new faces of independent, and highly skilled, elected politicians.
Hope of economic reforms and accountability to end corruption and bring justice.
Hope of the end of sectarianism and ghosts of strife or wars.
Why is Bambi saying all the above? Well, she just learned from journalist Roula Douglas’ re-tweets that the new Lebanese Parliament elected the same (highly corrupt) “dinosaur” for the seventh times in a row as President of Parliament. What a joke. Should we sarcastically laugh or cry “dam albna” (cry the blood of our heart, as they say in Lebanese Arabic)?
How sad for Lebanon. There too, like in Canada, politicians like to use beautiful words. Bambi read that someone said: It is a big day for democracy in Lebanon. He is right: it is a BIG day. Mabrouk! Not for democracy… but rather for STUPIDITY :(.
In the meantime, look at where Lebanon is now in terms of economic distress: Yes # 1 on the list before (in order) Belarus, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine.
To conclude this post on a musical note (even if the heart does not feel like singing), one melody comes to Bambi’s mind while thinking of the people of her birth country. It is Mawtini [My Homeland] interpreted by the moving Ms. Talia Lahoud and sub-titled in English.
Is Bambi’s mom who, 49-50 years ago intuitively knew she was carrying a girl in her womb and even chose her name, simply “one of the people welove“? How is that possible? Yes, are our mothers “people we love” and are we to our children “people they love“? Why can’t we still call the most meaningful spade of our life a spade? Don’t mothers of the world deserve it?
“The media informed us this week that, in a growing number of French schools, Mother’s Day is replaced by a strange name, namely “Day of the People We Love”. The stated reason is often the same: Mother’s Day would discriminate against children from single-parent or homoparental families, or, even more, against those who are victims of parental abuse. Why then confine love to an exclusive figure to which not everyone would have access?
Behind this claimed sentimental pragmatism, a completely different movement is revealed, which we have become accustomed to associate with deconstruction. In the name of diversity, It is a question of erasing all clearly marked cultural or anthropological symbols, to replace them with more general terms, often floating, and even elusive, deemed more “inclusive” and less restrictive…”.
The rest of the article appears in the link above in a free-of-charge-format, as explained by Dr. Bock-Côté below:
To conclude this post, which seems to indicate collectively insane times have also reached France, Bambi would like to end with a kids’ song she loves so much. She would like to end with a song written for French mothers. A couple of years ago, she offered it to her own mom in Beirut on her Mother’s Day, which falls on March 21st. It is entitled “Maman, les petits bateaux ont-ils des jambes” [“Mom, do small boats have legs“?]?
Mr. Jean Charest is hoping to win the leadership of his Conservative Party of Canada. Today he tweeted the following in Canada’s official languages:
He is telling us that, in Canada, we live in one of the freest countries in the world :). Should we smile, laugh, or cry? At the moment Bambi posted the above, 788 readers liked his comment. What does this tell us, Bambi wonders?
Doesn’t he read the news about increased surreal censorship sagas in our country, including but sadly FAR from being limited to Bambi?
Is Mr. Charest running for the largest opposition party or for the party in power? And would there be any difference?
To conclude this post, and if she may, Bambi would like to offer Mr. Charest, Dalida’s song. Yes, it is the exact same melody she offers to Mr. Trudeau on this blog from time to time :). You have probably guessed that it is Dalida and Mr. Alain Delon’s eternal song “Paroles, Paroles” about the “blahblahblah” of beautiful yet empty words in (some) romantic relationships :). Sometimes people like to hear nice words so badly. They seem to be in denial or deceive themselves, especially when they are in love. They do not seem to care about reality checks or walks. In other terms, talks seem to be enough to act as a pleasant music to their ears, at least until their next disappointment or major couple crisis. Will potential voters of the Conservative Party of Canada be like the latter when they will chose their next leader? Time will tell…
“Mabrouk” mom/dad :)! Bambi will start by thanking you for having offered your children life, love, roots, wings, and a living example of a beautiful 56-year-long union (63 if we count all your years of love since youth) ❤️.
This being said, it is now time for music! Yes, with MUCH love, your fawn would like to offer you mom and dad four songs, which are interpreted by different artists.
The first melody is Fairouz’ love song, entitled “Ana la habibi wa habibi ily” [“I belong to my lover and my lover belongs to me”], and in three versions: the original, subtitled in English, followed by two other versions by two talented artists, namely Ms. Talia Lahoud and Mr. Eido el Fakir. Bambi just discovered Mr. el Fakir whose voice and sensitivity moved her heart.
The second melody is by our own Mr. Daniel Lavoie. Mom, guess what this great Canadian artist will sing for you today? Yes, you likely got it right: “Ils s’aiment comme des enfants” [“They love each other like children do”] in a duo with the fabulous Ms. Luce Dufault.
Now, perhaps you are wondering if Bambi is too romantic today. Maybe. This is why your third song is just meant to encourage you to dance. Yes, it is Mr. Ramy Ayash’s “Mabrouk” [“Congrats”] Lebanese song. A melody to move? Sure. Just make no mistake. This song has a touch of oriental sentimentalism. You cannot escape it :).
As for your fourth and last song, it is an invitation not only to dance, but also to joyfully socialize with your loved ones. Yes, it is Mr. Hicham El Hajj’s “Yalla Nifrah” [“Let’s Rejoice“]’s melody, hoping you will enjoy listening to it.
To conclude this post, once again, “Alef Mabrouk” mom and dad ❤️. Have fun!
This post is BOTH about Québec’s proposed bill 96 on the French language and Canada’s virtuous words about its Indigenous people. As a reminder, these words are repeated over and over without political concrete actions to improve people’s quality of life (e.g., basics needs like clean water, etc.) or to change laws, namely the “Indian Act”.
To begin with, Bambi is with respect and love for all in Canada, in her birth country, and anywhere else in our world. Specifically, although she loves all languages, she is and will always remain in love with the langue de Molière, as many of the readers of this blog know, and she loves her Québec (and Canada) dearly.
In her mind, one thing is clear, Québec’s official language is French (while New Brunswick is the only province of our country that is officially bilingual). The earlier posts, shown further below, reveal some of Bambi’s thoughts regarding the French language and the need to protect, and even cherish, it.
Now what about Bill 96? Bambi started her thought process about such a bill from the following perspective: (1) It is up to Québec to decide what is best for Québec and (2) Yes, there is a need to keep protecting, and ideally loving, the French language in our country (and in the world, including Lebanon). She still thinks the same, of course.
However, after taking the time tonight to read more about Bill 96 following a discussion with a couple of friends, she is VERY worried about Bill 96, namely on its negative impact on both English-speaking Québeckers (minority) and the French-speaking Québeckers (majority) (https://rb.gy/xfbfwu).
Indeed, Bambi sees the potential excesses of this bill. In her dictionary, this is called potential governmental overcontrol. The application of this bill risks becoming unfair and even ugly to businesses established in Québec. It risks becoming discriminatory to English-speaking Québeckers whomever they are. Mind you, if one of the faithful readers of this blog (Bambi will name you Fred) is reading now, he will be surprised to see Bambi likely agreeing with him for the first time of their lives…
If she understands Bill 96 well, L’Office de la langue française (OLF) can walk into a company and confiscate its computers to find evidence that work emails have been sent in French. Can you imagine? An English-speaking friend of Bambi even argued, and Bambi agrees, that this bill is unfair to French-speaking elementary and high-school kids as it prevents them from pursuing college in English.
Usually In life, learning another language (especially the international English) opens new horizons and helps build careers as well as bridges among people and nations. So, where do we draw the line between the need to protect the French language and protecting the rights of Québec residents whomever they are (ie., speakers of the language of Molière or Shakespeare or allophones)? Is the Government of Québec truly protecting the French language or trying to please this or that group? Does is really care for the language enough to remind Mr. Trudeau of the need to keep managing its immigration (both in terms of selection and numbers)? Why don’t we hear about the latter more and less so about new legal frameworks to interfere in businesses or with young people’s educational aspirations? Why is Québec going down this road of potentially intrusive governance, forgetting about cherishing its most precious value: the respect of individual freedom/choices! Why does it seem to be behaving like the rest of Canada, but for different reasons?
Talking about the rest of Canada, Bambi will make two comments. One about Bill 96 and the other about the latest example of excesses of our virtuous words.
First, Bill 96 ensures the role of Québec in the development of Francophone and Acadian communities in Canada, in the promotion and enhancement of the French language in the actions of Administration in Canada and abroad (https://rb.gy/xfbfw). Isn’t this latter odd when Québec does not want the rest of Canada to interfere in its affairs? Why is it interfering now in Canada’s affairs, domestically and abroad? What does all this mean?
Second, concerning Canada’s ideologies now, Bambi would like to thank Mr. Jonathan Kay for tweeting the following:
Bambi has criticized excesses of our ideologies in medical conferences in an earlier post (shown further below). Today, those excesses seem to have taken a new level of absurdity. After all, whether in Québec or the rest of Canada, we are all in the middle of our collectively insane times.
To conclude this post, Bambi will raise one question and sing one song: (1) Why can’t we be free to say no to excessive ideologies in our universities and excessive policies in our provinces? and (2) Ms. Nana Mouskouri’s song on liberty is what comes to her mind before sleep.
Bambi just discovered this lovely Lebanese patriotic song, thanks to one of her preferred internet radio stations. The singer-songwriter is called Mr. Michel El Khoury. She found his song on Youtube. The video shows very beautiful images of Beirut. The music incorporates parts of the Lebanese National anthem’s music. Clearly, this artist loves his country and has a beautiful voice. Bravo and thanks to him.
Thanks to journalist Roula Douglas for her re-tweet on inflation and tweet on the fees of one single mental health consultation in Lebanon:
The first re-tweet is about how much 100,000 Lebanese pounds (or “Lira“) are trading now against the US$ compared to 2 years ago. Indeed, the Lira plunged to “new all-time low against dollar“, according to L’Orient Today (https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1300576/lira-plunges-to-new-all-time-low-against-dollar.html) where we can read the following: “The Lebanese lira breached its all-time low of LL33,700 to the US dollar on Monday, trading above LL34,000 to the dollar on the parallel market… The lira’s losses have exceeded 20 percent since May 15, the day of the parliamentary elections.“
Ms. Azar-Douglas’ second tweet is in French and it literally means: “A visit to a health professional now costs 1,700,000 Lebanese pounds, more than twice the minimum wage.“
How sad for Lebanon and its citizens who have been going through an economic hell since October 17, 2019 (i.e., the banking sector crash). All this is a sad yet logical outcome of decades of systemic corruption and/or mismanagement of public funds.
Good luck to Lebanon, which is fighting to save itself from… itself. Even if a recovery plan is implemented today, the economic or healing journey will take many years. Why doesn’t the official Lebanon start the work NOW? What is it still waiting for?
To conclude this post on a musical note, one song comes to Bambi’s mind now. It is in French and it means the “Cedars of Lebanon”. Thanks to the talented Mr. Mario Pelchat (Québec, Canada) for his beautiful and meaningful song. It remains timely…
Bambi will stop any comment here as this post is strictly meant to honour the memory of Mr. George Haddad. May God know how to comfort his family and help his country. If she may, she would like to pay tribute to Mr. Haddad, and indirectly also to his country, with an Arabic prayer she loves dearly. It comes from the Maronite, or Catholic, Christian worship or liturgy…
If she may, Bambi would like to dedicate this Watari-produced masterpiece of a song to her friends in Canada and abroad. Some are now telling themselves “Hallelujah” because God protected their child today. With them in solidarity, Bambi and her spouse are also saying “Thank Goodness” ❤️. Other good friends are going through delicate times of sorrow or coping. Bambi’s heart goes to them too across the miles.
Along with the YouTube video above, we can read the following:
“Vocals MEA – Hallelujah [Acapella Version] (2020) / هللويا
Shawarrma: A picture taken from the internet and previously posted on this blog
Mr. Pierre Poilievre, one of Ottawa’s talented and perhaps promising federal politicians, recently made a point about the value of bitcoins by purchasing the most preciously delicious item in the world… Yes, a Lebanese shawarma made in Ottawa :).
Regardless of any economic point he wanted to score, being clever and having known how to encourage Mr. Justin Trudeau to answer “yes/no” questions in former ethics investigations, Mr. Poilievre seems to have a good culinary taste. If only for the latter, bravo to him.
If she may, and to thank him for honouring the shawarma, Bambi will offer him three videos. The first one is produced by the funny yet serious Mr. Marc Hachem from Montreal (Québec). In it, he argues for the need of cryptocurrency in his birth country, Lebanon. The second video shows us the “secrets” of shawarma-making (subtitled in English), from out of Lebanon, thanks to Mr. Anthony Rahayel. As for the last but not least video, it is a kids’ lunch song.
Bitcoins or not, beef or chicken shawarma, with or without garlic or maybe an alternative vegan sandwich, whether you are allergic to the Conservative Party of Canada, a fan, or like Bambi at an equal distance from all political parties, bon appétit or “Sahteen” to all of you, as they say in Lebanon. The latter literally means: “I wish you two health” (likely one of them for your belly and the other for your spirit)!
