Bambi's Thoughts
Bambi has been silent lately. On one hand, she was busy. On the other hand, she is about to hit her blog’s “Publish” button to share a post on artwork. Stay tuned please, dear readers. Until then, she will leave you with the beautiful song of the late and great, Mr. Zaki Nassif. It tells the story of a woman who is passionate about flowers. The highly talented singer is Ms. Carla Chamoun. May you enjoy this beautiful singing moment!
One thing is sure, Montreal-based Nicola Ciccone is talented in song writing.
One of his latest songs is on the talent for happiness.
Bambi did not find neither the original French lyrics nor its English translation online.
Thus, she took the time to translate those beautiful lyrics before going to sleep late last night. She is eager to share them with you, along with the song, dear readers.
By doing so, she felt instant increased happiness because she recalled her youth when she used to listen to French songs on the radio and rush to transcribe their lyrics for fun.
The original French transcript is preceded by the result of a quick collaboration with her faithful friend, Mr. Google Translate. Bravo for his great job :). Of course, she took the time to revise, editing words here and there.
Mr. Ciccone’s wise insights, along with his personal relationship with happiness, are inspiring. The conclusion of his song, where he decides to work on his happiness, is uplifting. His smile when he sings the chorus ,”you need to be talented at being happy, you need talent for happiness“, reflects the sweetness of his authenticity. Needless to say that this artist spread instant moments of well-being to Bambi’s ears, heart, and sleepy mind after working late.
Thank you, Mr. Nicola Ciccone.
—
“It takes correctness to sing
It takes courage to write
It takes flexibility to dance
Then wisdom to age gracefully
Happiness is more complicated
It’s a more ambitious topic
You need to be talented at being happy
You need talent for happiness
We do everything to fill the void
There are those who live for power
Others who seek to make a fortune
Or, worse, even to touch fame
We all lose ourselves in the end
Happiness is not expensive
You need to be talented at being happy
You need talent for happiness
I never had that talent
Yet you know I looked for it
Although we all have it at our fingertips
Too few manage to touch it
I have so much melancholy inside me
It always comes back to catch me
True happiness cannot be guessed
You have to work for it
All it takes is a kiss to love
All it takes is a silence to say everything
All it takes is a dream to exist
And a thrill to feel
Happiness must be practiced
It’s not for the envious
You need to be talented at being happy
You need talent for happiness
I never had that talent
I never had that talent
Yet you know I looked for it
Although we all have it at our fingertips
Too few manage to touch it
I have so much melancholy inside me
It always comes back to catch me
True happiness cannot be guessed
I’ve traveled the world several times
I’ve made so many dreams come true
I’ve known everything about true love
To the point of accepting its loss
My friends sometimes ask me
You who have seen it all
What are you going to do?
I will work on my happiness (2)”
—
« Ça prend de la justesse pour chanter
Ça prend du courage pour écrire
Ça prend de la souplesse pour danser
Puis de la sagesse pour bien vieillir
Le bonheur c’est plus compliqué
C’est un sujet plus ambitieux
Faut le talent pour être heureux
Faut du talent pour être heureux
On fait tout pour combler le vide
Il y en a qui vivent pour le pouvoir
D’autres qui cherchent à faire fortune
Ou, pire, même à toucher la gloire
On se perd tous au bout du compte
Le bonheur n’a rien d’onéreux
Faut le talent pour être heureux
Faut du talent pour être heureux
Je ne l’ai jamais eu ce talent-là
Pourtant tu sais que je l’ai cherché
Bien qu’on l’ait tous au bout des doigts
Trop peu arrivent à y toucher
J’ai tant de mélancolie en moi
Ça vient toujours me rattraper
Le vrai bonheur (ne) se devine pas
Faut y travailler
Il suffit d’un baiser pour aimer
Il suffit d’un silence pour tout dire
Il suffit d’un rêve pour exister
Et d’un frisson pour ressentir
Le bonheur faut s’y entrainer
Ce n’est pas fait pour les envieux
Faut le talent pour être heureux
Faut du talent pour être heureux
Je ne l’ai jamais eu ce talent-là
Je ne l’ai jamais eu ce talent-là
Pourtant tu sais que je l’ai cherché
Bien qu’on l’ait tous au bout des doigts
Trop peu arrivent à y toucher
J’ai tant de mélancolie en moi
Ça vient toujours me rattraper
Le vrai bonheur (ne) se devine pas
J’ai fait le tour du monde plusieurs fois
J’ai réalisé tant de rêves
J’ai connu tout du grand amour
Jusqu’à accepter de le perdre
Mes amis me demandent parfois
Toi qui a tout vu
Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire?
Je vais travailler à être heureux (2) »
We do not have to be of Christian faith, or specifically Catholic, to sense the odd yet unkind, and even disgusting, disrespect to Humankind in Mr. Trump’s online AI-generated picture of himself dressed as a Pope (https://shorturl.at/byYqO). May Pope Francis’ memory be eternal (his dead body was still hot only 2 weeks ago).
Now, Mr. Trump, or his colleagues who have defended him, might say that he was “just joking” or that he has been in political disagreement with the Vatican. Regardless of the excuse to justify the online behaviour, it is senseless. Period. There is no point in trying to understand an abusive behaviour. Just like with Canada to whom he keeps repeating “51st State“, either to play games or to truly de-stabilize our country by installing fear (and thus control). Anyhow, this so-called “joke” will likely be followed by an attempt to push the buttons of another target group, or to the Vatican again until a new Pope is elected, maybe to feel (politically or personally) superior. If that is the case, only deeply wounded leaders, or anyone of us, repeatedly resort to such behaviours to elevate themselves.
Please make no mistake dear readers, we do not have to agree with someone to respect him, before his death or postmortem, or to respect what he represents to a large proportion of the population Perhaps the latter includes Mr. Trump’s Vice President or his wife. Who knows?
Indeed, Ms. Melania Trump’s picture at the Pope’s funeral projected respect for the deceased (https://shorturl.at/sLiWn), more cleverly than her spouse right now. Indeed, she attended the service FULLY dressed in black. She even had a veil on her head (which she did not wear when she visited Saudi Arabia during his first presidency). In addition, we could see a cross around her neck. All the details of the image are signs of respect and even compassion, even if it was calculated and not spontaneous.
Of note, even wild deer, and not just human beings, did not agree with all the ideas or, perhaps approaches of late Pope Francis, or his entourage at least, to solve some of the world’s problems. Although her blog posted a couple of older posts where she expressed specific disagreement, Bambi has the utmost respect for Pope Francis and even more so for his institution, despite any historical or potential mistakes, excesses, or fanaticism (like for all religions and all other ideologies, including secular ones).
As for Mr. Trump, without being fatally allergic to him to the same extent as she is to aspirin, she tells herself that he will finish his presidency sooner or later. Until then, despite his personality style, she could even agree with him on some issues yet disagree on others or on the methods (i.e., the ends do not justify the means). At the end of the day, she does not have to endure him, or someone with his personality style, under her own roof (thank God). Thus, she has enough intellectual and emotional distance to be lucid. She can even recognize (when/if she sees it) any good legacy of his second presidency for his country or for the world. Yet, in her mind, she knows when an online behaviour is unacceptable, especially when its author is the US President.
This being said, she feels sad for the United States of America to be where it is right now. Mind you, when Mr. Biden was the US President, she also felt sad, but for different reasons: whenever she sensed what looked like senior abuse, especially in those moments where he showed signs of mental unwellness, her heart went to him.
For her, perhaps unlike for Mr. Trump (at least apparently because she is not a mind reader), what matters the most is the following: she was on the same page as the late Pope Francis when it came to the essence, the values of humanity. To her, this matters more than shared faith/spirituality with him. She is thinking of the values of dignity, along with compassion, for all. Upon learning about the death of this senior man of faith, love, empathy, and humility, she felt a sense of deep loss. She first offered her condolences to a couple of friends who had the honour to have met him in person. With a brief post, she then paid a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis. May his soul rest in peace again.
Good luck to the papal conclave in electing a new Pope. Regardless of his ethnolinguistic background or vision, may the latter be wise. Yes, our deeply troubled world needs wisdom more than ever.
Bambi is grateful for Brittany’s talent and generosity. Thanks to her beloved friend, you can now appreciate the beauty of the fauna in one of Canada’s Maritime provinces. If you are curious about this bird, and if Bambi is not mistaken (she is not a bird expert), it might be the official bird of our beautiful province. It is called black-capped chickadee. Regardless of its real name, isn’t it cute?
Bravo to Ms. Felicia Hershenhorn for her elegantly and sharply written open letter to Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mr. Mark Carney.
First, “Mabrouk” to Mr. Carney.
Second, will he listen to this clever Toronto-based entrepreneur (and former lawyer)?
Third, and if he will genuinely take her letter seriously, what concrete actions will he and his cabinet take to make our fellow Canadians of Jewish ancestry finally safe again?
It is about time.
Of note, Ms. Hershenhorn’s open letter appears on her own Instagram platform and one of Bambi’s dear friends kindly emailed it to her. In turn, she is both happy and honoured to share with you, dear readers.
May calm, reason, kindness, gratitude, open-mindedness, shared humanity, and love find their ways again in our hearts. Our beautiful Canada deserves and can do better.
“Dear Prime Minister Carney,
Congratulations on your election victory. You assume office at a moment when Canada’s foundational promises of fairness, dignity and belonging are openly challenged.
I write as a Jewish Canadian and as the granddaughter of a man who staked everything on those promises.
On December 22, 1935, my grandfather stepped onto Canadian soil at Pier 21 in Halifax, fleeing rising antisemitism in Poland aboard the Ausonia. He arrived penniless, without English or certainty, carrying only a belief that in this great country if you built something of worth you could claim your place.
He did. My father did too, founding a small business, employing Canadians and realising the dream his father had chased across an ocean. Because of them I walked through doors once locked to our family, graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School. Their courage became my inheritance.
Our family’s story mirrors the wider story of Jewish Canadians: a history not of complaint but of relentless contribution.
When legal barriers excluded Jews from full participation, Jewish Canadians didn’t merely break through; they transformed Canada’s legal landscape. Bora Laskin, initially denied an articling position due to his faith, rose to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and embedded individual rights into Canadian constitutional law, laying the crucial groundwork for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Justice Rosalie Abella, born to Holocaust survivors in a displaced persons camp, introduced employment equity, reshaping Canadian fairness for women, minorities and persons with disabilities.
When apartheid demanded moral clarity it was Irwin Cotler, a Jewish Canadian, who defended Nelson Mandela, challenged racial injustice internationally and placed human rights at the centre of Canada’s global identity.
When restrictive covenants barred Jews, Blacks and Asians from owning homes, Jewish Canadians confronted this legal segregation. In the landmark Supreme Court case Noble and Wolf v. Alley (1951), Jewish Canadians helped overturn these covenants, paving the way for modern anti-discrimination protections.
When Canada criminalised abortion, it was Dr Henry Morgentaler, a Holocaust survivor, who endured relentless prosecution until the Supreme Court, in R v. Morgentaler (1988), struck down Canada’s abortion laws, significantly expanding the Charter’s guarantee of security of the person for all Canadians.
Jewish Canadians have also profoundly shaped Canada’s economic strength and security. Barry Sherman, through Apotex, delivered affordable life-saving medications to millions globally. Sam Steinberg provided Canadian families reliable access to affordable food, while Murray Koffler transformed healthcare accessibility nationwide through Shoppers Drug Mart.
On Bay Street, Jewish Canadians fundamentally reshaped Canada’s financial landscape. Ned Goodman, founder of Dundee Corporation and DundeeWealth, transformed Canada’s investment and wealth management sectors. Gerry Schwartz, founder of Onex Corporation, secured financial growth and stability for countless Canadians through strategic partnerships with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, enhancing retirement security for millions.
Jewish Canadians have also defined Canada culturally, artistically and intellectually. Jack Rabinovitch founded the Giller Prize, Canada’s most prestigious literary award. Barbara Frum became one of Canada’s most trusted journalists, shaping how the nation understood itself. Leonard Cohen’s poetry and music spoke profoundly to the world. Mordecai Richler’s incisive novels captured Canadian wit and conscience, and Lorne Michaels elevated Canadian comedy globally through Saturday Night Live.
In science and medicine, Jewish Canadians changed global health. Dr Mark Wainberg advanced HIV/AIDS research, dramatically improving treatments and transforming millions of lives.
In contemporary popular culture, Drake, a proud Jewish Canadian artist, has placed Canada at the heart of global music, reshaping cultural conversations worldwide.
These achievements are not isolated; they form a unified narrative. Jewish Canadians did not merely integrate into Canada, we actively shaped it, elevating its ideals and extending its opportunities to everyone.
Yet today our community feels increasingly vulnerable. Although Jews represent just over one percent of Canada’s population, we are targets of more than 75% of all religiously motivated hate crimes. Our synagogues require armed guards. Our schools hide their entrances. Our children are told to conceal their Jewish stars for their own safety.
You have spoken about enhancing protections for places of worship. But vandalism, harassment and hatred are already crimes under Canadian law. What is lacking is not new legislation but political resolve and moral clarity.
Jewish Canadians are not asking for charity. We ask whether the country we helped build with our labour, courage, ingenuity and commitment still fully includes us in its promises? We fought for rights we ourselves lacked and secured them not just for our community but for every Canadian.
We did not come to Canada simply to be tolerated. We came to help build the true north strong and free. And we succeeded.
But those who built Canada’s firehouses should never be left to burn inside them. We do not seek condolences after tragedy strikes but genuine leadership and courage. Right now, before it is too late, we ask your government for a clear commitment and concrete plan to combat antisemitism.
Respectfully,
Felicia Hershenhorn“
Bambi just took a little break from her work task and Mr. Rudy Ayoub made her laugh a lot. She hopes you will smile to this humour. Rudy, his dad, and the “local” French Parisian (all characters played by the same talented Rudy) are so lucky to be in the beautiful Paris!
