Bambi's Thoughts
Today, more than ever, Bambi’s heart is filled with love for her family and friends.
Below is Ms. Ginette Reno’s song on love subtitled in English and Spanish. Further below is a kids’ song on friendship.
Thank you Roula et al. Thank you everyone ❤️!
New Brunswick (NB), which is one of Atlantic Canada provinces, is notoriously known for its maritime charm and serenity.
This brief post is meant to share with you a beautiful sunset, which was recently photographed by Brittany, Bambi’s dear friend, on the Aboiteau wharf in the South-East part of NB.
To conclude, Bambi will end with Mr. Yves Duteil’s sunset French song that she would like to offer to all of you who love sunsets, including you Brittany as well as her sister Roula (as per the older post re-shown below). Bravo and thank you, Brittany!
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The average Lebanese citizen does not earn enough money and/or have access to his/her savings in banks (since October 17, 2019) to go to the movies to watch the latest Minions movie playing right now around the world, including NB (https://www.imdb.com/showtimes/cinema/CA/ci49442774/CA/E4P) and Amherst, NS (https://www.tribute.ca/showtimes/movie/sackville/minions-the-rise-of-gru/148580/).
Despite this, and instead of putting their energy to reform or form a new government post-elections, Lebanese authorities are once again busy taking decisions to censor movies, as reported by the 961.
Indeed, and always according to 961, ” aside from China, Lebanon will be the only other country that has decided to ban the Minions“. What is the reason behind this decision and does it really matter? Today, as some have speculated, this ban may be due either to a kiss between two minions or to an armed nun-looking creature. The latter remain non-confirmed hypotheses as no official reason has been stated (https://www.beirut.com/l/63833). Tomorrow, the ban would be due to what? Indeed, a few weeks ago, another ban was because of a kiss between two women, as shown in an earlier post at the end of this post.
Regardless of the “reason”, and with all due respect to everyone in life, Bambi does not endorse censorship by any entity (e.g., governments, religions, pressure groups, etc.), especially when it comes to arts. How can creativity thrive when artists start walking on eggshells, or literally self-censor the expression of their creativity or thoughts?
How can we still call a society an aspiring democracy when it resorts to authoritarian bans like that? Who has not been offended by anything in life? Who has not offended anyone by expressing one’s creativity or opinion at a particular point in time? So why this urge of overcontrol without any respect for the consumers’ intelligence or critical sense? Plus, why can’t owners of movie theatres in Lebanon, China, or anywhere else, benefit from the success of this or that production like their peers around the world?
To conclude this post, perhaps you do not care at all about the Minions or feel indifferent to censorship. Maybe you even endorse it or perhaps benefit from it? Regardless, please just remember that today it is about those yellow creatures with eyeglasses. Tomorrow the target or the decision-makers in power would be different. Yet the principle of suppression of freedom of expression would operate in the same manner. Slowly but surely, from ban to ban, the right to freedom of expression will be increasingly eroded… for all. Is this the country you want for yourself or you want your children to grow up in?
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Bambi is fond of Mr. Mike Massy, as shown in the older posts further below.
Today, Bambi would like to share with you a superb song interpreted by Mr. Massy, along with English sub-titles. This great Arabic poem was composed by the late and great Mr. Zaki Naseef (may his memory be eternal).
To conclude this brief musical post, and if she may, Bambi would like to offer Mr. Massy’s song(s) to all her loved ones celebrating “Eid el Adha” :)!
This post is about Lebanon’s economic crisis.
First, here is the L’Orient Le Jour’s article (French content):
https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1304651/le-chiffre-de-la-semaine-1-489-.html
Second, here is a quick translation into English, thanks to Google Translate:
As a reminder, Lebanon is facing a historically tragic economic crisis triggered by decades of systemic corruption and likely mismanagement of public funds. Indeed, there is hyperinflation in the Land of Cedars following a HUGE depreciation of its currency, the Lira. The latter has been in free fall since October 17, 2019. Although, for decades, the Lira was pegged to the US dollar at 1500, it recently hit a new low against the dollar on the black market, namely below 30,000.
Stated differently, the Lira has lost almost 95 percent of its value in 24 months. Can you imagine the daily life of Lebanese people struggling to cope with the economic crisis? How do they afford to survive, from day to day, both financially and psychologically speaking?
Yes, how do the people of Lebanon keep hope alive when their basic needs, namely a continuous access to electricity or water, are NOT met. Add to this the the more limited access to medical care or the lacking medication?! To illustrate the latter, just check this cry for help (in Arabic) by Ms. Jessy Habchy who needs financial support for her cancer treatment!
To come back to gasoline and to conclude this post, in addition to the unaffordable fuel critical to run hospitals, factories, and private generators, there is an absence of a reliable and safe public transportation. Thus, the gasoline problem of Lebanon is surely getting out of proportion. What is next for the Land of Cedars? Is there any envisioned solution and, if so, what is its timeline and possible outcome?
Bambi just discovered Mr. Nicola’s Ciconne’s superb song, filled with simplicity yet much depth, and cleverly entitled “La légèreté” [Lightness]. As always, bravo and thanks to this much talented Canadian singer from Québec!
If she may now, Bambi will take this opportunity to wish you lightness into your life, regardless of any hardship or bad day. Lightness even with your serious work, hopefully accomplished with love, care, and joy. Yes, the joy of a present pleasant moment or an attitude of childlike wonder.
Bambi will be too busy over the next couple of days. She does not want to miss the chance of wishing her American friends and neighbours (deer and humans) a Happy 4th of July!
May your long weekend be joyful… and may you always keep loving your country as you have always done. It is inspiring to Canadian deer like Bambi.
To celebrate this love, here are two songs to you. Of course, God bless America that Bambi loves as well as Mr. Joe Dassin’s L’Amérique (in French subtitled in English!).
Who are those freaks who call themselves “Soldiers of God“?
https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1304447/who-are-ashrafiehs-soldiers-of-god.html
Once again, like in an older post on the Hezbollah shown further below, Bambi will ask the same question as it applies to this extremist hate group pretending to be Christians: Since when God needs soldiers?
Another question that begs itself: Can our domestic activists do something to help the LGBTQ+ community in the Middle East?
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Bambi was recently VERY honoured and excited when Ms. Leila Milki posted a comment on her blog. For those who did not read it, it goes like this:
“Hiii! I’m just finding this – thank you so much for sharing my music and for your lovely words!! I’m very glad you’ve been enjoying these videos ? please stay in touch – would love to connect!
(socials: @leilamilkimusic)”.
Bambi replied as follows:
“Wow– Ms. Leila Milki herself writing on Bambi’s blog! Bambi is SO HONOURED!! Please keep up your incredible talent and impressive work! You cannot imagine how many people reached out to Bambi to thank her for this post, expressing their admiration for your talent (from Canada, the USA, Lebanon, and Europe too) ❤️. Thank you and Bambi will keep in touch (email noted), count on her!”
Before and after the exchange shown above, comments about Ms. Milki’s beautiful voice and talent kept being posted by the readers of Bambi’s blog, as you can see in the original post at the bottom of the current one.
Very generously and kindly, Ms. Milki emailed Bambi, asking her to be sure to thank her readers on her behalf!
Well, as a gift to those readers specifically and to all of you in general, here is the latest video of Ms. Leila Milki singing Dalida’s “Helwa Ya Baladi” [“My country is beautiful”] Acapella. What a pure and beautiful voice! Please Leila Milki keep singing for us. We all appreciate your talent. Yes, our hearts are filled with love for you ❤️ !
To continue with the spirit of love, since it is still July 1st for the next three hours (until midnight), Bambi will dedicate Ms. Leila Milki’s most recent song-video to you Canada ❤️. In three days, it will be the turn of your own country, Ms. Milki, to be celebrated… and of course this song is always appropriate for our beloved birth country, Lebanon!
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Bravo and thank you L’Orient Le Jour (OLJ), which is making us all proud!
If she may, Bambi would like to extend her heartfelt congratulations to all the OLJ team, including her own sister Roula :)!
Here is the wonderful information by:
TV5 Monde:
https://information.tv5monde.com/info/l-orient-le-jour-recompense-par-l-academie-francaise-462789
Courriel International:
Arab News (in French!):
https://www.arabnews.fr/node/260561/culture
And, of course, by L’Orient Le Jour itself, with a comment by the GREAT Mr. Amine Maalouf:
https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1304365/lacademie-francaise-honore-lorient-le-jour.html
Of note, the Académie Française unanimously honoured OLJ!
Furthermore, this is the first time in history that this most prestigious honour is awarded to an organization (i.e., media), not an individual. Not surprising given the standards of excellence of OLJ, which “defends, since its creation, the values of democracy, pluralism, openness toward others, and dialogues among cultures and religions” (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1304365/lacademie-francaise-honore-lorient-le-jour.html)!
“Mabrouk” and thank you L’Orient Le Jour (OLJ) for existing in Lebanon and for being a continuous beacon of light in the middle east and in our world!
