Author: Bambi

How will Lebanon navigate its existential turning point, namely of “escaping the Israeli-Iranian trap?” This is the question that Mr. Anthony Samrani helped us understand in his excellent YouTube short video shared below.

Thanks to Mr. Google Translate—the faithful online friend— for assisting Bambi in translating Samrani’s insights from French to English.

Bravo to Mr. Anthony Samrani and L’Orient Le Jour for the continuous outstanding journalism.

Good luck to Lebanon.

“Lebanon is more than ever the scene of an Iranian-Israeli power struggle mediated by the Americans. And in this context, many Lebanese are convinced that the solution will necessarily come from outside.

Some are betting on Israel. In other words, the Israeli offensive will make it possible to finish off Hezbollah. But this bet is doubly problematic. On the one hand, this offensive has an exorbitant cost for Lebanon. We are talking about dozens of villages being razed, completely erased from the map and from memory, thousands of deaths and possibly a long-term occupation. On the other hand, even if Israel can significantly weaken the militia, it cannot eradicate it, any more than it has been able to eradicate Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Others are betting on Iran, either hoping for an agreement favorable to Iran that would strengthen Hezbollah in Lebanon or hoping that Iran would eventually negotiate the Hezbollah card in exchange for guarantees in Lebanon or elsewhere.

But Iran has never agreed to negotiate its missiles and militias, and even less Hezbollah, which is an integral part of its security apparatus. In the past, every time a regional agreement has included a Lebanese dimension, it has always been to our detriment.

What if there was a third way? What if Lebanon could only be saved by the Lebanese themselves? This would imply two things. On the one hand, an agreement with Israel to recover all of our territory, and on the other hand, the neutralization of the militia to recover all of our sovereignty. But this raises two questions: do we have the means, with the risks that this implies in terms of implosion of the army and internal tensions. And on the other hand, and most importantly, do we have the will?”

How can Bambi go to sleep before wishing her sister and nephew a lovely birthday?

June 3rd is a special time of the year because it is Rania’s and Michael’s double birthday.

Bambi is blessed because she had the opportunity to hug them both when she visited her late dad in Beirut last summer. These family moments, with everyone and especially with Antoine who was thrilled to see his adorable great-grandson for the first time, are precious memories she holds in her heart forever.

Thank you Rania and Michael for who you are. Rania, thanks for all that you have done with deep care, along with a great sense of responsibility. Mabrouk again/bravo Michael for being such an inspiring dad. Bambi who loves you both A LOT wishes you increased inner peace, joyful moments, and a wonderful year ahead ❤️❤️!

Drones, airstrikes, destruction, deaths, injuries, increasing threats even to its capital, and surprising de-escalation attempts. Lebanon saw it all today.

At one point during the day, Bambi had to get out of town. While waiting in the car for a few moments before hitting the roads again, she read the news from the Middle East.

She consulted live updates, first from the Lebanese L’Orient Le jour/Orient Today, then from the Times of Israel. She thought that these quick readings might perhaps help her in understanding today’s increased violence.

Reading about war in the Middle East from her faraway country/continent, while being in a vehicle in a quiet town of Atlantic Canada, this violence seemed even more absurd.

Rationally speaking, Bambi’s brain could perhaps still try to understand some of the complexities, along with the ambiguity, of that ongoing war, both regionally and in her birth country. Yet, in those brief car moments, she was stunned with only one question coming to her mind: When will this absurdity finally end?   

Indeed, when will the innocent people of her birth country finally live in peace (without shelling and/or occupation)? Same for the innocent people on the other side of the border. They also deserve to be safe. Same for all the countries of the Middle East (without intimidation)?

All this loss of life, all the lost energy, what for? Life is already too short. Instead of power struggles and endless armed conflicts, how about using human capital to build bridges among people and nations, collaborate on useful projects for humanity, enjoy getting to know one another, and to embellish the world together?

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Bambi doesn’t know about your own opinion about the Lebanese-Israeli direct talks in Washington, if any. However, here is what she thinks about it, at least right now. Clearly, she prefers the Lebanese Prime Minister’s speech to his fellow citizens over the Hezbollah’s bragging words after firing twice rockets into northern Israel. This Lebanese, yet Iranian-backed, militia stated that it launched a “rocket barrage” at Kiryat Shmona “in defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the Israeli enemy’s violation of the ceasefire” (https://tinyurl.com/3wys27e9).

Enough of the vicious cycle of endless wars. The latter led Lebanon, time and again, to where it is right now: destruction, displacement, mortality, injuries, and traumas. It did not work. Try something else for once!

“In light of the Israeli escalation and the Washington negotiations, I say this today:

I want to speak frankly to the Lebanese people:

Are negotiations guaranteed to succeed? Certainly not. But they are the least costly path for our nation and our people, compared to the other options available today.

… This path is not easy, nor will it be short, but it becomes shorter, and we become stronger, when all efforts are united under the umbrella of the Lebanese state.

This requires abandoning unilateralism and ceasing stubbornness. The state is conducting the negotiations today on behalf of all Lebanese, and it is incumbent upon all of them to rally under its banner, so that the decision of war and peace remains a Lebanese national decision, not one made by one faction over another, and not one imposed from outside our borders”.

Almost each morning, Bambi listens to the news from her birth country. The other day, she learned an interesting detail about the Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon, Mr. Kenji Yokota.

To begin with, she is grateful for Japan’s support of the expansion of the Karantina medical supply warehouse in Beirut. The completion ceremony took place in partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, along with the World Health Organization Lebanon office.

Last but not least, she is very impressed by Ambassador Yokota for his outstanding speech in perfect Standard Arabic, wow!

Well, Bambi was so impressed that she mentioned the story to Japanese-speaking Bente and to Arabic-speaking Rania. It turned out that Mr. Kenji Yokota is highly appreciated in Lebanon. He often posts on social media heartfelt messages of support to Lebanon in the Arabic language. He talks about it with genuine caring words, like his own birth country, Bambi understood from her sister.

Arigato/Thanks to Mr. Yokota for his humanitarian, diplomatic, AND linguistic/cultural talents (https://tinyurl.com/vfdeetsc; https://tinyurl.com/45j3359e)!

Adha, known as the “Eid” [Feast] of Sacrifice, is celebrated worldwide by people who happen to be Muslims and Druze, whether religiously or culturally.

Happy Adha, dear readers, if you celebrate it.

May love prevail and may next Adha be a more joyful “Eid” to you and to your loved ones.

Wherever you are reading this post from, be safe and well.

On the 27th of December 2025, Bambi thanked her sister Roula for her most moving Christmas gift, a puzzle of Beirut, in an older post shown below.

Today, with a heavy heart of worries about Beirut, it means a lot to Bambi to honour her birth place by sharing this beautiful puzzle with you, dear readers.

Thanks again Roula ❤️. May God protect you (et al.) as well as Beirut and Mr. Carlos Mounir Haidamous, so he can continue with his creative business (https://tinyurl.com/2tp65jx5). His innovative product is of high quality and it was a PURE pleasure to complete it. Bravo and “shoukran” or merci :)!

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A Christmas moment of love and talent, starting in Lebanon, via China, to end under Bambi’s Christmas tree in Atlantic Canada: THANKS to Roula and BRAVO to Mr. Carlos Mounir Haidamous!

Hezbollah’s Chief is now openly threatening the Lebanese state by stating that “the people have the right to topple the government” (https://tinyurl.com/2yhhr8wj).

To what extent are his words wise, patriotic, and compassionate toward his fellow citizens who are dying in the cross-fire between Israel and his militia? Or those who are struggling to economically survive in this insanity? And what about the innocent displaced people sleeping in shelters or, even in tents, on the streets of Beirut? Doesn’t he feel their pain? And what about his young militia members, does he have respect for their sacrifices to recognize that it is time to stop the suicidal wars, which have been started to serve the regional interests of its founder and funder, the Iranian regime, surely not Lebanon.

Bambi is saying all the above while recognizing the role of the current “resistance” on the ground, with all the young men sadly dying to fight for justice in the unfolding Lebanese tragedy and fiasco.

Enough Mr. Qassem of imposing your views on your fellow citizens. The innocent people of Lebanon deserve to live in stability and in peace. ENOUGH, please.

Bambi has been silent lately. Although she has been busy, without anything particular to write about or share with you, she cannot remain silent tonight. How could she when tomorrow is such a significant day?

Indeed, like tomorrow but 102 year ago, French and International singer Charles Aznavour was born (as “Shahnur Vaghinak Aznavourian”) in Paris, France (https://tinyurl.com/b97x4wrx). Thank Goodness for his generous and impressive legacy. The world would have not been the same without his existence. May his memory be eternal.

Meant as a musical tribute to Mr. Aznavour, this post shares a few songs with you, dear readers. A powerful source of pleasure, great lyrics AND music, like those of Mr. Aznavour, can comfort the hearts, heal the wounds, inspire the minds, and uplift the souls.

To begin with, thank you Roula for having shared a deeply moving song on emotional vulnerability.

It is Bambi’s turn now to share this musical piece with you, dear readers.

Of note, the singer is unknown. Despite doubt, the song does not seem to be a creation of Artificial Intelligence, or is it?

Regardless, this beautiful song is clearly a product of high emotional intelligence and poetic talent. Both the song’s lyrics and the singer’s voice have touched Bambi’s soul.

For your convenience and if you are interested, dear readers, following the YouTube video, you can find the original Arabic lyrics, which are followed by a quick English translation. Thank you Mr. Google Translate for your assistance.

Long live humanity, music, and the most beautiful Arabic language.

“يا من رأيتَ ضحكتي، فظننتني

طلقًا كموج البحر لا ينكسر…

ما كنتَ تدري أن تحت هدوئه

غرقًا يغنّي، والأسى يتوغّل.

تعلّمتُ أن الكسر عيبٌ إن بدا،

فصغتُ من الأوجاع وجهًا أجمل.

وأضحك، لا فرحًا، ولكن خيفةً

من عالمٍ بضعفنا يسخر ويقتل.

ترى الشمعة تضحك فوق لهيبها،

ولا ترى أن الضياء يقتل.

تفنى لتعطي النور كلَّ من اقترب،

وبصمتها المرّ الخفيّ تذوب وتذبل.

أنا الذي شيّدتُ من جرحي المدى،

وفتحتُ للناس القلوب،

وأقفلتُ النور الذي أخفيه

في ليلي، وفي صدري الظلام المثقل.

يقولون: ما أقواه من رجل!

وما دروا بوحدتي إذ أذبل.

أبدو صلابةَ من يقاوم وجعه،

وإذا خلوتُ بجرحي أتمزّق.

رأيتُ من يبكي يصير أضحوكة،

فقلتُ لدمعي: ليس هذا المحفل.

وصرتُ أمشي في الحياة كأنني

فوق المسارح كلَّ يوم أمثّل.

وأشدّ ما آذى فؤادي أنني

أتقنتُ دوري حتى كدتُ أجهل:

أيَّ الوجوه أنا؟

وأيُّ حقيقة؟

أأنا المتعب،

أم أنا المتجمّل؟

مررتُ نحو المرآة ألفَ مرة،

وتجنّبتُ الوقوف كي لا أسأل:

من ذا الذي في الوجه يبدو متعبًا؟

من ذا الذي بالكسر داخله مثقل؟

يهوي وينهار الفؤاد بصمته،

ثم يبتسم لكي يقال: تجمّلوا.

أنا الذي شيّدتُ من جرحي قلعة،

وتركتُ باب الصبر دومًا يُفتح.

يقولون: ما أقواه، ما أقساه…

ولا يرون بأن قلبي يُذبح”

“O you who saw my laughter, and thought me

As free as the sea’s waves, unbroken…

You didn’t know that beneath its calm

A drowning song, and sorrow deepens.

I learned that vulnerability is a flaw if it shows,

So I fashioned a more beautiful face from my pain.

And I laugh, not out of joy, but out of fear

Of a world that mocks and kills our weakness.

You see the candle laughing above its flame.

And you don’t see that light kills.

It perishes to give light to all who approach,

And with its bitter, hidden silence, it melts and withers.

I am the one who built the horizon from my wound,

And opened hearts to people,

And locked the light I hide

In my night, and in my heavy darkness.

They say: What a strong man!

And they don’t know my loneliness as I wither.

I appear resilient, one who resists his pain,

But when I am alone with my wound, I am torn apart.

I saw that he who weeps becomes a laughingstock.

So I said to my tears: This is not the place for this gathering.

And I walked through life as if I were

performing on a stage every day.

And what pained my heart most was that I

perfected my role so well that I almost didn’t know:

Which face am I?

And what is the truth?

Am I the weary one,

Or am I the one who puts on a show?

I passed by the mirror a thousand times,

And avoided stopping so I wouldn’t ask:

Who is it that looks tired in the face?

Who is it that is burdened with inner pain?

The heart falls and collapses in silence,

Then it smiles so that people will say: “Put on a show.”

I am the one who built a fortress from my wounds,

And always left the door of patience open.

They say: How strong he is, how cruel…

And they don’t see that my heart is being slaughtered”.