In Canada, Western University had to pull a poster of two women dressed in hijabs kissing due to complaints.
In Lebanon, a world’s famous animation will not be screened because of a lesbian kiss. Thanks to journalist Roula Douglas for her thoughtful words that translate into English as follows: “They do not have any problem with scenes of rape, torture, mutilation, and of war… but a kiss between two consenting people of the same sex is a categorical NO“.
What is the message being given here? There is no same-sex love in the Muslim community? Only in other communities? Does that make any sense? Today, it is a poster, or an animation, pulled under pressure. Tomorrow, what? Pushed to the extreme of the extreme, it can be human beings that would be pushed or hanged, as it happens sadly in some Islamic countries of our world (do you research and read about it, if you do not believe Bambi).
To conclude this post on musical note, Mr. Enrico Macias’s wonderful song on tolerance naturally comes to Bambi’s mind. Below you can find an English translation of it by Bambi (from an older post) followed by the song interpreted by a certain talented Mr. Pascal Leyman.
First, here are the lyrics in English, followed by the original French:
“Tolerance is proof of love and intelligence
Tolerance is respect for life in all countries
Tolerance is to have a lot of indulgence for your neighbour
Open your heart instead of clenching your fists
For no reason for nothing
All forgiven for the tears
Of a child or of a woman
We are never loved
By fear or by severity
Understanding the ideas of others
Without wanting to impose our own
It is in this world a virtue
That we lost
Tolerance is reasoning about the passions of difference
Tolerance means recognizing to everyone their divine rights
Tolerance is the last chance for today’s humans
If they don’t want to no longer live in freedom
in a few years
Despite the many disagreements that still exist between us
Everything can be discussed if we know how to forgive first
Whatever the naysayers of all stripes can write
Mourning the future, I still refuse
Tolerance will eventually win out over backbiting
And on that day, on earth
There won’t be happier than me”
Original French lyrics of Mr. Macias’ song:
« La tolérance, c’est une preuve d’amour et d’intelligence
La tolérance, c’est le respect de la vie dans tous les pays
La tolérance, c’est d’avoir pour son prochain beaucoup d’indulgence
Ouvrir son cœur au lieu de fermer les poings
Sans raison pour rien
Tout excusé devant les larmes
D’un enfant ou bien d’une femme
On est jamais aimé
Par crainte ou par sévérité
Comprendre les idées des autres
Sans vouloir imposer les nôtres
C’est dans ce monde une vertu
Que nous avons perdue
La tolérance, c’est raisonner les passions de la différence
La tolérance, c’est reconnaitre à chacun tous ses droits divins
La tolérance, c’est pour les hommes d’aujourd’hui la dernière chance
S’ils ne veulent pas ne plus vivre en liberté
dans quelques années
Malgré les nombreux désaccords qui entre nous existent encore
Tout peut se discuter si l’on sait pardonner d’abord
Qu’importe ce que peuvent écrire les défaitistes de tous bords
Porter le deuil de l’avenir, je m’y refuse encore
La tolérance finira par l’emporter sur la médisance
Et ce jour là, sur terre
Il n’y aura pas plus heureux que moi»
