Author: Bambi

Bambi thanks the dear friend/reader who informed her about the tragedy in Jordan. About 150-200 mourners gathering in and outside of a Greek Orthodox church, called Saint George, went through minutes of hell that left seven of them dead and 40 wounded. About 3-4 gunmen opened fire at them and at their church in a rare terrorist attack against this Christian minority in Jordan (https://tinyurl.com/2js4rf79).

Can you imagine, dear readers, the state of vulnerability that these mourners were in at the start of the funeral service of their loved one? A few minutes later, the senseless attack took place. What a trauma.

Regardless of the country, location, and the innocent targets, it is both heartbreaking and unacceptable to become victims of hatred and of extremism, anywhere and especially in a place of worship and at a funeral.

For Bambi, a Jordanian “Saint George” Greek Orthodox church makes her think of the church of her late parents in Beirut, which happens to also be called Saint George. Of note, when she re-visited it with her family, after years in Canada, she was surprised to see a few Lebanese soldiers on guard near its entrance. The current Jordan-based horror story is precisely what was being prevented in Beirut during Sunday services and on bigger feasts.

May the memory of all those who died in Jordan today be eternal. May God know how to comfort the wounded mourners while healing the hearts and souls of those who hopelessly faced this traumatic event. Same for all Jordanians who are loving people and who reject violence and value their unity.

As for the criminals who committed this absurdity, there is nothing that could be said beyond the following: may justice be served for the sake of accountability and to protect people. May God forgive the terrorists for the blindness of their hearts and the darkness of their souls.

Dear readers, did you know that today is the National Colour Day (https://tinyurl.com/24cv3t7j)?

Bambi has no clue who came up with this idea. Regardless, it is beautiful coincidence because she spent part of the afternoon reading about colour perception.

This brief post comes with a question for you: do you have a preferred colour? If you wish, please feel free to share either on this blog or more privately.

If you need a reminder about some of the available options, you may wish to listen to a cute YouTube song, which teaches us the names of colours in both Arabic and English :).

Long live all the colours of our beautiful world!

Bambi is working late now while listening to several radio stations from La Belle Province. This is how she learned about what happened in Québec city yesterday: a politician of Palestinian-Lebanese origins, called Ms. Ruba Ghazal, waved the Palestinian kefieh during her swearing-in ceremony at the National Assembly in Québec city. This moment happened during a so-called spontaneous gesture of affection toward a peer.

How odd it is, for Bambi, to hear about this story from out of her beloved Québec. The online pictures seem to show a moment of clear lack of judgment by a talented Québec Solidaire politician.

Of note, Ms. Ghazal was publicly criticized for her gesture by a large percentage of the internet readers and radio listeners (many Québeckers were shocked to the point of signing a petition asking her to resign over her gesture). To defend herself, Ms. Ghazal described her spontaneous action as being “intuitive”. For her, “intuition comes before politics” (https://tinyurl.com/mzb85yru). Bambi also read that this politician said that she is “100% Palestinian and 100% Québecker”.

Regarding the above maths, had Bambi still been a Québec resident, she would have personally preferred to vote for a politician who seems to put Québec’s and Québeckers’ interests first, that is before any international cause or any birth country. Bambi is saying this despite her compassion for all those suffering abroad, including the Palestinians or people of her own birth country. She is saying this also despite her appreciation of Ms. Ghazal’s hard work and successful/inspiring career of public service.

Stated differently, it is the least to expect Québec politicians to respect the National Assembly’s democratic traditions. Plus, Québec must come first, that is before BOTH Palestine and Israel. Before Lebanon and before any other foreign symbol or flag.

Clearly, Bambi is not an expert in politics. However, she agrees with a Québec-based radio commentator called Mr. Jerôme Laundry. He raised a clever question: How would we have reacted had one of the Québec politicians waved the Israeli flag at the National Assembly? would that be acceptable? For Bambi, the answer is clear: no to any foreign symbol, including the Cedars of Lebanon.

Of note, Québec Solidaire has chosen to endorse the Palestinian cause in a very activist way. It is its right, as a political party. If this endorsement is sincere, bravo for the political convictions and platform. Why not? However, at the National Asssembly and especially during a swearing-in ceremony, there is no place for neither a Palestinian kefieh nor an Israeli flag. Québec’s interests, along with its pressing problems, should be the focus of attention. Period.

To conclude this post, congratulations and best wishes to the new government of Québec. Good luck also to the opposition. Most importantly, long live Québec’s institutions and democracy!

Diplomatic and political solutions to problems require continued efforts, especially when matters are complex on the ground.

Bambi does not know about you, dear readers, but she clearly prefers political agreements, with a longer vision of peace and prosperity, to endless wars and armed conflicts.

One might wonder about the promise of the talks between Lebanon and Israel with all the challenges on the ground (https://tinyurl.com/35hm2fz4).

Regardless, we cannot solve problems without naming them and without talking with each other to try to fix them.

Open channels of communication are necessary to build both trust and hope, one baby step at a time.

The innocent populations of both Lebanon and Israel deserve safety, peace of mind, and hopefully peace one day.

May wars stop. May beloved Lebanon be safe and sovereign. May peace prevail in all the hearts and on the ground. May only love have the final word in the entire Middle East.

Bambi loves France. All day long this beautiful country was on her mind. How sad it is to read about and watch all the images of fire and destruction.

Thankfully, in the middle of the current chaos, there is musical talent and it is from Québec, Canada. Wow.

Bravo to Mr. Morin and thanks for the magical moments, playing the guitar and singing one of the most beautiful French love songs!

Thanks to Naharnet, Bambi learned the following about Mr. Saeed Khatibzadeh: “the Iranian official called on the Lebanese government to “arm everyone” instead of “removing weapons in the face of the aggressors” (https://tinyurl.com/2zs44kbs).

Let’s just stop for a second and imagine that Ms. Giorgia Meloni, Mr. Trump, Mr. Kim Jong Un, Mr. Netanyahu, or any other foreign politician is using such language in Canada about our peaceful country. Do we accept it?

Why should Lebanon, which is sick and tired of wars, accept it then? Repeatedly, time and again, the Land of the Cedars finds itself at the mercy of ALL the powerful players of the Middle East’s regional war, including Iran, in addition to its own domestic problems.

Yes, Lebanon’s domestic problems include the pro-Iranian Hezbollah’s weapons, which have brought much troubles to this country. Yet, does Lebanon tell the Iranian people how to live? Does it encourage them to arm themselves to free their beautiful country from the grip of its criminal regime, which massacred them to silence them?

In return, and to be fair, the Iranian regime should have the decency to learn to leave Lebanon alone, especially after having dragged it into two recent wars via the Hezbollah. Indeed, enough of interference in other countries of the Middle East, including but not limited to Yemen, Irak, Syria, and especially tiny yet resilient Lebanon.

Lebanese people cannot take violence anymore. They want to live, not die. They want to work for peace and prosperity. They refuse endless and absurd wars. They want to spread healing, peace, love, talent, and beauty worldwide. Not violence, doom, despair, and waves of migration. Is this too much to ask for, Mr. Saeed Khatibzadeh?

Despite all the military and political challenges, Lebanon and Israel are still engaged in security negotiations, which hopefully will eventually lead to a lasting peace between these two Mediterranean countries (https://tinyurl.com/mrnybssu).

Enough of wars, air raids, tunnels, drones, and re-occupations. Let’s replace the military drama, and its resulting grief, with enriching collaborations at all levels (e.g., economic, intellectual, scientific, cultural, touristic, culinary, environmental crisis management, etc.). May people on both sides of the border get to know each other, if they wish, and may they learn to love each other one day.

May the same wishes of peace and prosperity be also celebrated in Lebanon’s diplomatic relationships not just with Israel, but also with Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, the Arab world, the USA, China, all Europe, and every country in the world. Why not?

Bearing the above wishes for her birth county in mind, it is with sadness that Bambi read about the likely pro-Hezbollah Lebanese lawyer, Mr. Hassan Bazzi, who filed a complaint against Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Luckily, this was dismissed by the State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem.

The complaint was related to a so-called gesture of humanity in which Ms. Hamadeh Moawad would have inquired about the health of the son of the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Mr. Yechiel Leiter. The Lebanese President denied this kind gesture of emotional support, it seems (https://tinyurl.com/mrnybssu).

For those who do not know it, Mr. Leiter’s son was injured during a terrorist attack in his birth country. The justification of Mr. Bazzi’s complaint seems to be as follows: “Lebanon’s boycott law, adopted in 1955, prohibits direct and indirect dealings with Israeli individuals or entities, including commercial, financial, and cultural institutions. It carries prison sentences ranging from several years to harsher penalties under the broader criminal code” (https://tinyurl.com/mrnybssu).

How can peace ever prevail one day between Lebanon and Israel, if the officials who are leading these negotiations cannot allow themselves to be compassionate with each other? Does this make any sense to you, dear readers? Maybe it does, who knows? As far as Bambi is concerned, since her childhood and adolescence spent in civil war, she refuses to dehumanize people and be indifferent to their suffering, whoever they are, Israeli or not.

Indeed, it is Bambi’s hope that the son of the Israeli Ambassador has survived his ordeal. She prays for his healing and rehabilitation, regardless of any absurd violence or bloody war.

Beyond this specific story from the Middle East, may ALL the children of all the parents be safe and sound, including Mr. Leiter Junior. May peace and love prevail in people’s hearts.

Bambi has been too busy lately to follow all the international news, namely the sad news from the Middle East and from Ukraine (among other information).

Thanks to journalist Zeina Antonios from L’Orient Le Jour for the following update about the Hezbollah’s awful actions in Lebanon, regardless of their purpose:

“Several hundred kilograms of explosives destined for Hezbollah were discovered last week in a car at a checkpoint in Dahr el-Baïdar, not far from the Syrian border.

What lies behind this incident that has become a talking point in Lebanon?
According to information obtained by *L’Orient-Le Jour*, the two occupants of the seized vehicle have been arrested. They repeatedly told investigators that they are affiliated with Hezbollah.

One of the suspects stated that a member of the Shiite party known as “Hajj Sajed” had tasked him with picking up the explosives on a road in Baalbek and then delivering them to a certain “Hajj Zoulfikar” on a street in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

These two mysterious figures reportedly used mobile phones with two- or four-digit codes, making it difficult to trace their communications.

The explosives’ final destination remains unknown, but many fear a resurgence of bombings and assassinations in Lebanon—especially following Monday’s seizure of 200 kg of explosives in the Hermel region, which were being transported by donkey”.

Of course, it is the least that the two people involved are in custody now. And what happened to the poor donkey, Bambi wonders.

Seriously, decisions taken by the Lebanese government need to be implemented ASAP to ensure the safety of the innocent populations in the Lebanese capital and across this tiny country, occupied or not. Indeed, a few months ago, the government talked about considering legal actions against the head of the Hezbollah. Where is this overdue action? At another time, lawmakers talked about “Beirut without weapons”. What happened to this beautiful slogan? And since we are into questions without answers: when will the indictment of the Beirut port explosion take place?

Enough of violence in the Land of the Cedars and across the Middle East. Enough of wars. Enough of occupations. Enough of so-called resistance that re-brings occupation and uses the latter to justify the unjustifiable… Just enough, please.

Life is fascinating, even when it gets darker or seems confusing. Perhaps then, more than ever, one must learn to listen to life because it can teach us valuable lessons. With its simplicity despite its mystery, life can seem to be moving forward smoothly. A times, it may become heavy, or even absurd, when we lose track of its meaning. However, time and again, life becomes fulfilling when we re-connect with the lost parts of ourselves.

With this in mind, to what extent do you appreciate your own life, namely where you are at right now, dear readers? How do you accept and even embrace this life and make the best out of it in your self-development? And what are you grateful for today? You are welcome to share your insights on this blog, if you wish. Alternatively, you may prefer to share your thoughts more privately, if you feel like it.

As far as Bambi is concerned, she is grateful to have her family, friends, readers of her blog, and each meaningful person in her life. At a more personal level, she thanks her parents for having taught her, and her siblings, how to be emotionally safe, how to love, and how to be loved, in consistent ways.

Additionally, this Thanksgiving season is making Bambi think of her late dad (+ mom who died two years before him). Indeed, last year at the same time of the year, she travelled to Beirut to see her dad in rehabilitation after his discharge from the hospital. This trip was the last time she saw him alive. What a privilege and honour. She remains grateful for this opportunity and for the precious moments spent with him… and with her beloved family members (needless to say that this includes Nurses Khoder and Samer). She misses everyone a lot, including the family connections in her childhood neighbourhood. She wishes everyone the best in their own life journeys. Until she sees her loved ones again, she keeps praying that God will watch over each one of them.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, dear readers, especially those of you residing in Canada. If you do not celebrate Thanksgiving on Monday October 12, may you know how to practice being thankful in your own way and may you enjoy living.

Why is the US administration getting that low, on the scales of both humanity and ethics? Why does it want to livestream the execution of a man (https://tinyurl.com/u7b4xmd6)?

Why the death penalty in the first place? Ironically, as per an older post shared below, Lebanon recently abolished death penalty while the United States of America is re-making it public for the case of Dr./Former Dr. Nidal Hasan (who killed 13 soldiers in 2009)? Is the world upside down?

And how is this forthcoming public execution different from the barbaric practices in countries like Iran as well as others? A couple of days ago, one of this blog’s readers wrote a comment that moved Bambi’s heart to the core: “young people in Iran are executed every morning to the sound of the Azan“. For those who do no know it, Azan is the Islamic call to prayer. Is this the model that the Trump administration is inspired by? Thanks to the Economic Times for its article on this topic, which highlights one of Mr. Trump’s contradictions (https://tinyurl.com/u7b4xmd6).

Please make no mistake, dear readers, Bambi is sad for the soldiers who lost their lives. She is against violence toward anyone, including these victims. Clearly, the psychiatrist who committed the crime, or terrorist attack, did an evil act for sure. Despite this, she is against both death penalty and barbaric/medieval public executions.

May God forgive criminals, like Dr./Former Dr. Hasan, and decision-makers who seem to have lost their moral compass and sense of humanity.

May the souls of the 13 victims keep resting in peace… May their memory be eternal.

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Lebanon: Bravo for abolishing death penalty “in first for region”, as per Reuters!