Bambi has been silent lately. On the one hand, she has been too busy. On the other hand, she had nothing specific to write about and share with you. However, tonight, she does not want to go to sleep without spoiling her own ears, along with her soul, with the uniquely powerful voice of Ms. Ginette Reno. How could she not take a moment to share her treat with you then, along with her gratitude to the generosity of the YouTube user who made the video public?
Of course, the “Un peu plus haut” song is not new (it was posted on this blog in the past). Yet it moves Bambi’s heart each time she listens to it. Thanks to Mr. Jean-Pierre Ferland who wrote it in 1969. Of note, in 2003, this beautiful song became part of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (https://shorturl.at/uyBEJ). Bravo!
Born in Ontario, Mr. Demian Robitaille is a French-Canadian singer-songwriter who is full of talent. Bambi just discovered his apparently four-year-old Christmas song now. What a unique little musical treat. She hopes you will enjoy this melody as much as she did.
With its simple yet deep lyrics, Mr. Robitaille’s song referred to the magic of Christmas by describing the latter as “the dream of all children, aged 4 to 99 years old“. Yes, we all have an inner child, even when we are in our fifties or even nineties. It is perhaps in more emotionally challenging times that we need to remind ourselves to take good care of this child like tender parents would do.
Regardless of the seasons in our lives, and despite our responsibilities, may we all keep the spirit or lightness of this child within us alive at all times. This is necessary if we want to keep dreaming of or to allow ourselves to enjoy the little wonders of our world. For Bambi, the Christmas season is definitely one of the latter.
Like today, forty-three years ago, the world of music lost Mr. John Lennon. He was only 40 years old. Our troubled world needs a bit more of Mr. Lennon today (https://shorturl.at/fkxyA). Thankfully, his music outlived him so we can keep dreaming of a sweeter world and of more sweetness in each one of us.
At the end of a long day, Bambi will pause with a loving thought for a country she loves dearly. Yes, she means Armenia. Indeed, those who knew her as a child, or who regularly read this blog, may recall that her nickname is “Bambineh” :). It means “I am Bambi” in the beautiful Armenian language.
Bearing the above in mind, why is Bambi thinking of Armenia today? Well, thirty-five years ago (precisely on December 7, 1988), it was hit by a devastating earthquake, which killed between 25,000 and 50,000 people in addition to up to 130,000 who were injured (https://shorturl.at/hIMN5). Those of us old enough may recall the sad TV images about this natural tragedy. Thankfully, we can also remember Mr. Charles Aznavour’s fantastic French song, which helped raise much needed funds for the Armenian people.
To end this post in music, Bambi will start with Aznavour’s song. Selfishly, she will also spoil her own ears (and hopefully yours too :)) with an Armenian (+ French and English) love song, which she adores. May love and peace prevail in Armenia and everywhere.
Bambi is thinking of all her loved ones called Nicolas, Nkoula, Nicole, Sarah-Nicole, etc. Those on earth and those in heaven. She would like to offer them all a joyful kids’ song about the SWEET character of Saint Nicholas!
The above song is followed by another joyful kids’ song for Hannukah. May the beautiful lights of the menorah bring healing, along with love, to our deeply troubled world. Happy Hannukah to this blog’s readers who will soon celebrate this Jewish festival!
Both Mr. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Mr. Johnny Holiday died on December 5. The former in 1791 (at age 35; https://shorturl.at/qAMT8). The latter in 2017 (at age 74; https://shorturl.at/djt36). Thank goodness, they existed. long live their eternal talent.
Bambi will begin by thanking one of her readers from Québec for attracting her attention about a freaky story, which recently occured in Moncton: the lovely Jewish menorah of Hannukah, which had been a 20-year tradition at city hall is now bothering some to the extent that the Mayor of this city decided to ban the outside decoration this year. Guess why? The stated, yet still unclear, reason is that it is related to the war in the the Middle East (https://shorturl.at/itDQ0). Nonsense. What does the peaceful New Brunswick, and its lovely Moncton, have to do with the bloody, and far away, Middle East?
Bambi, and MANY old immigrants like her, left the Middle East, precisely to appreciate Canada’s tolerant society. We are blessed to be able to co-exist, learn to know each other, enjoy friendships, and for some even find romantic love.
In other terms, Bambi and MANY old immigrants like her, do not want the Middle East’s conflicts to follow us to North America (and by extension to any other Western and tolerant country). Stated differently, we do not want any beautiful, spiritual or just cultural symbol removed to please any intolerant person or ideology, regardless of its source. Indeed, this is secondary. What matters the most is to preserve our tolerance and whom we are as Canadians.
Those who may be perhaps disturbed by the traditional menorah of Moncton city hall must perhaps consider either re-locating or closing their eyes while passing by it during the holiday season. However, for God’s sake, keep the magic on with the lovely decorations of the holiday season, that is those of Hannukah and Christmas.
May the light of the menorah open the minds of some intolerant people and keep building bridges among fellow Atlantic Canadians, whether they are Jewish or not. The latter is secondary too. What matters is our shared humanity.This being said, now is the time for an inspiring French song, which is entitled “La tolérance” [Tolerance]. It is by Mr. Enrico Macias and performed here by a certain talented Mr. Pascal Leyman. Following it, you can find an English translation by Bambi (taken from an older post).
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»
Many readers wrote to Bambi, either on this blog or more privately, to express how much they also appreciate Christmas carols, as per a recent post shown below. Thanks to each one of them. This brief musical post is in the the spirit of the season. Some of you may recall that Bambi was fascinated by the talent of singer Alexis Carlier from France. Thanks to her friend Aline for making her discover him. Since then, she has been a faithful fan :). In turn, she hopes you will enjoy Mr. Carlier’s unique way of singing the following songs.
A picture of a Christmas tree in Beirut. Taken from An Nahar Lebanese newspaper.
The last time Bambi passed by this place in Beirut was on August 30, 2023. Thanks to Abouna [or Father] Elias who kindly drove her in his car, which followed the funeral hearse taking her mom in a coffin to her resting place. It was like a last tour of final good-bye for her in the familiar streets of her beloved city before reaching her final destination.
Today, Bambi saw the picture shown above in a Lebanese newspaper. The same place now has a beautiful Christmas tree. A few people gathered to see it light up (https://shorturl.at/aKLU4). Bambi was touched to read the word “HOPE” on the tree in a country where the latter is much needed. May hope for better days at all levels (economy, security, tolerance, peace, health, etc.) shine on Lebanon, its neighbourhood, and on all our beautiful planet. May love, and hope of more love, along with healing and peace, enlighten people’s hearts while opening their minds.
