History repeat itself from year to year. Indeed, once again, several UN delegates representing different countries left the room before Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in the name of Israel (https://tinyurl.com/26ufapse). What did they achieve by doing so? Whether they like Mr. Netanyahu or not, and regardless of approval or condemnation of Israel’s war actions (and reactions), why can’t they know how to listen to an opponent?
If at the General Assembly meeting of the United Nations, we do not take the time to listen to each other, when and where will we do it? How can world leaders find ways to solve conflicts if they do not behave like skilled diplomats? And can we then blame lay people for treating each other with direct hostility or with indirect hostile ways, like ostracism and avoidance, because of different worldviews?
Thank Goodness, there is a real diplomatic leader, like Mr. Salam, who took the time to speak to the President of Iran on the sidelines of the UN meeting. Courageously, he expressed his country’s demand not to be “an arena for regional wars, after Tehran-backed Hezbollah drew it into the Middle East conflict” (https://tinyurl.com/3jc49z87).
Maybe those delegates who left the room without listening to Mr. Netanyahu could have learned from the Lebanese diplomat some wisdom. Even with their passionate support to the Palestinian cause, they could have stayed in the room to either take notes or to ask challenging questions. By doing so, they would offer more efficient support to the Palestinian delegation, as needed now or later post-war. They would also learn to put themselves in the shoes of another country’s leader (in this case, to see the world through Israel’s lens) to better defend, or update, their perspectives.
Bambi does not know about you, dear readers, but at her age and stage of life, she is sick and tired of immature ways of dealing with deep issues affecting the lives of millions of innocent people. In her mind, she clearly sees that, as humans, we have a joint social responsibility to find non-violent communication strategies, especially among leaders and nations. If a UN Assembly meeting does not know how to foster such diplomatic spirit anymore, we have all the reasons to question its utility, the selection of delegates, and the training in best practices or mentorship they may receive in their careers.
To conclude this post, after reading it, if you think that Bambi is defending the Israeli PM, you are clearly wrong. If you understand that she is questioning the treatment that Israel gets at the UN in comparison to other countries who resort to similar or even worse military or moral acts, you are right. On the latter, she agrees with Mr. Netanyahu. She knows this because she listened to his speech, contrary to the UN diplomats.
A sign of good fortune for some, the sight of a rainbow is magical for most of us. Indeed, there is a reason why we tend to make a wish when we see rainbows. Bambi does not know about you, but she usually makes three wishes, not just one, when she sees a rainbow. When she lacks imagination to come up with three wishes, she repeats the same wish three times :). Regardless of any imagination, today Bambi will make a single yet big wish of happiness for Joëlle and Dave, along with their adorable doggies 💚.
What about sunsets? They may not be a symbol of good luck because they are too common. However, sunsets are known to feel magical.
Many thanks to Joëlle for sending Bambi two beautiful pictures, taken in Florida, and for kindly accepting to publicly share them on this blog. It is Bambi’s wish that you will enjoy Joëlle’s pictures, dear readers.
Long live nature with its sunsets and sunrises. Long live all the colours of the rainbow. Long live Bambi and Joëlle’s 51 year-long friendship 💚 !
“A rural general surgeon should be willing to ‘move heaven and earth’ for the care of their patients. Nominees should embody this spirit to be considered for the award.” – Dr. G.W. Fitzgerald (Canadian Association of General Surgeons, https://tinyurl.com/5d477p4x). “Moving heaven and earth to care for his patients” with excellence, devotion, and compassion. This is what Dr. Nabil Nader naturally does on a daily basis.
Indeed, Dr. Nader is an outstanding surgeon, with exceptional technical skills, attention to details/precision, dedication, and deep compassion. He cares not just for his patients, but also for the well-being of his medical team and colleagues. He is scientifically rigorous while being filled with humanity. He is passionate about patient care and committed to the improvement of the practice of surgery for the rural population he serves. Despite his outstanding techniques, he keeps refining his surgical skills and sharing his learning with others. He is a source of both inspiration and of reassurance.
Given the above and more, a couple of days ago, Dr. Nader received a medical award called “The 2026 G. William N. Fitzgerlad Award for Excellence in Rural Surgery”. He drove from Amherst to Halifax, Nova Scotia to receive this prestigious award.
Dr. Nader and his family live in a small town. In more remote and smaller places of Canada, we lack specialists such as general surgeons and others. Having skilled surgeons, like Dr. Nader, is a true blessing for all the populations living in the southern parts of three neighbouring maritime provinces, namely Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI.
Related to the above, for the readers who may not know it, Bambi grew up in Beirut, Lebanon, until age 17. All her childhood and teenage years, on TV news channels, she used to hear Lebanese people living in regional parts of the country (north, south, high mountain villages) demanding, from their government, a less central healthcare system. This means less focused on Beirut and larger cities to allow more access to it. Of course, she used to feel for Lebanese people’s medical needs back then, especially in times of civil war, even if she may have have perhaps taken the nearby large hospital for granted. It is only after she has moved to New Brunswick in 2008, after several years spent in Montreal and Toronto, that she has concretely appreciated citizen demands for a more convenient access to medical services in local communities.
Additionally, like in larger centres, people living in rural communities talk (it is part of human nature). Dr. Nader’s reputation is remarkable: Bambi regularly and randomly meet people who have either been treated by him or who have heard about the excellence of his bedside manner (e.g., communication skills, care for patient’s pain and well-being—pre- and post-surgery—respect for dignity, honesty, and deep empathy, etc.).
Despite his senior expertise in surgery in several rural and urban areas alike, Dr. Nader remains humble. Indeed, he practised general surgery not in just in Nova Scotia, but also in Québec city where he received prestigious specialty and fellowship training awards. He also practised medicine abroad, namely in Lebanon during its darkest days of civil war… and beyond. You can only imagine the trauma expertise he refined there, in addition to his surgery expertise. What a meaningful and inspiring career/vocation and what a great man. Like the meaning of his name in Arabic, he is “noble”, “generous”, and “distinguished” (https://tinyurl.com/f6jz85er). As mentioned earlier, all these qualities while remaining grounded… We are lucky to have him in our rural communities.
In Dr. Nabil Nader’s post-award speech (video shared below), we can easily sense what Bambi tried to describe, in likely clumsy words, about his core values and collegiality. Interestingly, Dr. Nader appreciates team work and excels at it, despite his leadership skills. Most significantly, he knows how to build capacity in younger generations of surgeons. Indeed, he trains and fosters the talent of his junior colleagues. He also works calmly and in harmony with his peers, the general surgeons, as well as other specialists from other healthcare fields of medicine, nursing, etc.
Beyond medicine and the Cumberland Regional Healthcare Centre’s walls, Dr. Nader cares deeply for the well-being of his community members (neighbours, seniors, families, individuals, infants, etc). He is highly professional and yet approachable. His reputation as a general surgeon matches his personal values as a community member, father, spouse, and friend. Of course, to shine in a professional career as demanding as surgery, one needs the support of his or her loved ones. Dr. Nader is blessed to have Aline, his caring [and charming : )] spouse as well as his most amazing children. Indeed, he thanked them at the end of his speech. Aline and Dr. Nader’s children are blessed to have parents like them. Below, you can see how each one of them is proud of their spouse/dad (just like he is of their own talents). What a loving and gifted family.
As a fellow citizen, from a nearby rural community, and as a family friend, sharing a country of adoption as well as a country of birth, you can guess how much Bambi is proud of Dr. Nabil Nader. Congratulations/”Mabrouk” to him… and to his beautiful family!
Bravo Dr. Nabil Nader! A picture shared by Aline, thanks.
Dr. Nabil Nader and his beloved spouse Aline. What a beautiful family picture shared by Aline. Merci mon amie :).
Dr. Michel Nader (proud son!). Thanks Aline for sharing this beautiful picture!
Dr. Nabil Nader and Dr. Michel Nader. What a beautiful AND moving picture (dad-son) shared by Aline!
It is with great sadness, and shock, that Bambi learned about the 30+ shots fired near/at Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario (https://tinyurl.com/38zwr6u4).
What kind of Canada are we living in when our fellow Jewish citizens cannot pray in safety on Yom Kippur, which is the most spiritual day in Judaism? Indeed, Bambi has regularly denounced the multiple acts of vandalism and violence against Jews on this blog.
Enough of unacceptable criminal acts of vandalism, intimidation, and terror against Jewish people, schools, synagogues, and other assets. Today more than ever, she writes to say: NO to criminality…. and YES to love, along with “tikkun” (repair, healing) wishes to all those impacted by this attack.
To conclude this brief post, many thanks to this story’s hero who most likely saved many innocent lives. May this seriously injured police member survive. Bambi sends her heart to him and to his family, along with her prayers. As for the (injured?) shooter, may God/G-d forgive him for his senseless, and evil, act of hate.
This is the first time that Bambi has heard of and listened to Mr. Rodolphe Saadé. Of course, she continuously reads or hears about hisimpressive family company CMA CGM, the third-largest container shipping company in the world (https://tinyurl.com/3eapf237).
Of note, CMA CGM started by Mr. Saadé’s dad with 4 ships only. Today, it is a worldwide, and apparently environmentally friendly, maritime empire with talented teams in different countries. If Bambi recalls well from the interview, CMA CGM currently owns 700+ ships, terminals, and other assets in the world’s ports. Clearly, it is being lead with both intelligence and devotion. One must also keep in mind that this company operates in highly challenging current maritime conditions, including the dangerous middle east. May its staff be all safe and sound. Same for the staff working for its competitors.
The French interview, shared below, is sub-titled in English, thanks to L’Orient Le Jour. What an inspiring, and uplifting, conversation between the most talented Mr. Anthony Samrani and this highly skilled Franco-Lebanese (+ international) entrepreneur.
Indeed, as an international leader, Mr. Saadé seems to be both brilliant and grounded. Being talented while remaining humble is a refreshing combination in the business world. What a piece of positive news not just for his company, but also for the future of his beloved birth country, Lebanon, with his strategically diverse business investment plan (in other sectors).
Best wishes to Mr. Saadé’s CMA CGM for its continuous worldwide successes. As for Mr. Samrani, may he keep up his great journalistic work!
Today, Mr. Joseph Aoun stated that Lebanon is still working toward securing a deal with Israel, which would be “potential prelude for peace” (https://tinyurl.com/3m3k8wv6). Indeed, the ambassadors of these two Mediterranean neighbouring countries met in Washington to discuss ahead of the forthcoming US-sponsored direct talk (https://tinyurl.com/34n7axzd).
In the same interview reported above, Mr. Aoun added that Lebanon is determined to disarm the Hezbollah and that was “nonnegotiable”. The Lebanese president urged new force to replace UNIFIL, which mandate is about to end, as a reminder (https://tinyurl.com/3m3k8wv6).
Mr. Aoun’s strong message is filled with hope for a brighter future for Bambi’s birth country. However, how does the Lebanese President envision a peaceful disarmament of a heavily armed Islamist militia, like the Iran-backed Hezbollah?
Despite its many losses over the last two devastating wars, including the ongoing one (without forgetting about the war of July 13, 2006), Hezbollah remains suicidal in its mindset and defiant in its attitude. Not only it started two wars, it is still refusing to give its weapons to the Lebanese authorities.
To what extent can we change in life, as individuals and as groups, when our past (+ current!) behaviour are usually the best predictor of future behaviours? Without an intervention (i.e. the use of force or any form of consequences to our actions), change is unlikely.
Most significantly, without a change coming from within, how can Hezbollah transform itself from a militia to a strictly political party or to anything else less destructive and thus more rewarding to the Lebanese society?
Indeed, sadly young Hezbollah-related Lebanese people are dying and their families are suffering? Don’t they deserve to enjoy non-violent lives? And most importantly, don’t their fellow Lebanese civilians deserve safety and peace? Same for the innocent Israeli civilians across from the Lebanese border?
With these challenges, what’s next for Lebanon (Israel-Hezbollah war) and what’s ahead of the Middle East (USA and the Iranian regime, along with other quieter big actors in the region, including China or others)?
To come back to Lebanon, as Mr. Joseph Aoun cleverly stated, “we cannot jump directly to a peace agreement” (https://tinyurl.com/3m3k8wv6). So, how would we jump from a stubborn warrior mindset to a novice lover of peace?
Two days ago, in an apocalyptic scene and as reported by L’Orient Today, “massive Israeli explosions on Ali Taher caused “shockwave of 4.1 on Richter scale; Israeli media says over 1,100 tonnes of explosives used” (https://tinyurl.com/35rfc5vd).
A picture taken from L’Orient Today (September 10, 2026)
We may be angry toward…
the harsh Israeli IDF for the bold military act in Ali Taher.
the suicidal Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah for having built the tunnels in the first place.
the unkind Iranian regime for having financed the tunnel network in South Lebanon.
the lovable Lebanese army for the incapacity and unwillingness to confront Hezbollah.
the silent, and thus ineffective, UNIFIL despite gratitude for its peacekeepers’ sacrifices.
Indeed, we may be angry toward all these actors while being deeply sad for the innocent people of (Southern) Lebanon. When will they finally live safely and free from any occupation or colonization, whether Israeli, Iranian, American, etc.? When will they also live free from internal illegal weapons… and tunnels?
Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, will be celebrated soon. Last year, this beautiful event coincided with Labour Day. In 2026, it overlaps with one of the saddest days of history, namely the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. May the memory of all the innocent lost lives be eternal.
To come back to Rosh Hashana (i.e., the Hebrew year 5787), this celebration is an opportunity for families/friends to come together to celebrate pleasant moments, cherish past memories, and hope for a “sweet” future for everyone. Like in the picture shared above, apples and honey are a symbol of wishes for good health and happiness. A round bread, called Challah (mmm!), symbolizes the continuous circle of life. Last but not least, pomegranates symbolize good deeds. Is there anything more heart-warming than kindness, or generous actions, toward someone else without expecting anything in return?
In addition to Rosh Hashana traditional celebrations, the Jewish new year precedes a highly spiritual day in Judaism called “Yom Kippur”. Celebrated 10 days later, Yom Kippur is usually spent in fasting, prayers, and self-reflection about forgiveness. Jewish or not, whether we are observant/spiritual or not, is there anything more liberating than the process of forgiving ourselves and those who have harmed us—intentionally or not?
May the new year bring love and peace of mind to everyone. May forgiveness, peace, love, and friendship spread from heart to heart. “Shana Tova” [A beautiful year] to all, especially to those who will be eating apples and honey soon : )!
From Naharnet, Bambi learned that Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar wrote on X the following: “We expect this stage to be completed during or towards the end of October, a crucial step towards uncovering the truth and achieving justice in one of the most painful cases for the Lebanese people” (https://tinyurl.com/4uk74wn9). Indeed, this translation is accurate and here is the original message in Arabic:
Perhaps criminal indictments do not necessarily have a firm deadline. However, the aching hearts of the grieving family members, and all the survivors, of the Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020 are overtired. Don’t they deserve to know when justice will be served (if ever)?
Of note, some of the 7000+ injured people are still in the coma, six years later. Can you imagine? Indeed, Bambi listened to a mother on a Beirut-based radio station last August 4th. The surreal story of her daughter was heart-breaking. If only for this mother and the young children of her beloved daughter, please Lebanon for once dare to end impunity.
Judge Tarek Bitar did his investigative work, despite all the obstacles and threats to prevent accountability. Beirut deserves to benefit from this judge’s remarkable independence. Same for the survivors and all the people of Lebanon who deserve to be, and to feel, protected by the rule of law.
Shat (շատ) thanks [yes, many thanks] Diana for sharing two lovely songs.
For those of you who do not know it yet, Bambi has always been fond of Armenia and of its culture. There is a reason why her childhood nickname is “Bambineh” : ). One of her dreams is to follow the steps of her parents by visiting Armenia one day.
To come back to the two Armenian songs, Bambi was recently worried about her friend’s drive late at night and under the heavy rain. She was reassured that there was no need to worry because of two Armenian songs that keep her awake and wanting to dance!
Well, after listening to the songs in question [without understanding their lyrics, except for the English part in the first one : )], Bambi understood what Diana meant. She hopes you will enjoy them too, dear readers.
Thankfully, the rain stopped and the sky is blue again. Long live the Armenian music… and may God always protect Diana, regardless of the weather in the Maritimes 💙!
