Author: Bambi

Bambi would like to share a thoughtful article by Mr. Antoine Robitaille, published in the Journal de Montréal today about the appointment of Ms. Mélanie Jolie to the position of Foreign Minister (oups… her ministry is called “Global Affairs Canada“, Bambi forgot :)). This is one of the most prestigious government positions in our country.

First of all, of course, congratulations to Ms. Joly and best wishes. Second, her choice for this position speaks volumes, perhaps not only about her own vision, but also/rather about the vision of Mr. Trudeau (et al.?) for our country.

The article featured in this post describes Ms. Joly’s vision. Bambi will allow herself to add some comments before sharing it with you.

In addition to her (past or continuing?) globalist vision, Ms. Joly’s view of her/our country (described in Mr. Robitaille’s article) can be described in French as being “à l’eau de rose“, which means sappy or rosy in English. This makes Bambi remember a funny comment made by one her childhood friends about Mr. Trudeau during one of her earlier visits to Beirut. This friend came up with a cute name for him. She referred to him as Papa Noël (or Santa Claus). Without having anything against him (she even liked him), she was lucid enough to see that he did not seem to be grounded enough in reality. Perhaps this is the image we get of Mr. Trudeau. Perhaps deep inside, him and his government know more what they are doing (Bambi still wants to hope…).

Well, bearing her childhood friend’s comment in mind, Bambi is now wondering about the following: if Mr. Trudeau is truly Santa, would Ms. Joly be his Star Fairy (or la Fée des étoiles) :)? Maybe, even if she is smart (in addition to being as beautiful as her name). Thus, thankfully, she has the potential to learn and acquire the needed experience in her new prestigious position. At least, she does not call the Talibans her brothers (which is already a wise start :)).

Very seriously now, although Canada is not a significant player in the world, we cannot afford to be too naive or not to think of our OWN interests FIRST, as all “sovereign” states do/must do. Indeed, it is Bambi’s hope that Canada will not make Lebanon’s mistakes with this regard…

This being said, here is a quick translation of Mr. Robitaille’s article (https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/10/28/joly-ministre-du-gouvernement-mondial-1):

“What is the worldview of our Dominion’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly?

“Does she just have one?” All the bad tongues will scoff her (but, by mocking this politician with a sort of fierceness, paradoxically they will propel her ever higher). Yet we can say that there is something like a “vision of the world” in her book entitled Changer les règles du jeu (Québec Amérique) [Changing the rules of the game (Quebec America)] – an essay full of the obvious and poorly substantiated assertions – published in 2014.

Foundation

At the time, she had just left her position as the leader of the municipal party “Vrai changement pour Montréal” [Real change for Montreal], which she had founded for the 2013 election. In interviews, she said she was happy to have left politics in order to “say more” directly what she thought ”.

In the introduction, she unveiled the programmatic aspect of the book: “I deliver this essay, which is also the foundation of my future actions.”

During the 2019 election campaign, I interviewed her on QUB radio for 25 minutes, reminding her of certain passages from her book. Several of her “political actions” were at odds with what she wrote in Changing the Rules of the Game. Notably, the idea that multinationals should levy taxes on consumption. But also that “any company or person who benefits from accessibility to a state market pays accordingly for this access” (p.179).

As the Minister of Canadian Heritage, she had instead given up “applying the rules of the game”. Remember her complacent policy towards Netflix, among others, which was exempt from levying the tax. She has since admitted that she should have “done things differently.”

Let us hope that as Minister of Foreign Affairs, she will work on international agreements which will force the GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft) to pay their due to states.

Sovereignty

Moreover, the new liberal foreign minister seemed hostile, in her 2014 book, to the idea of ​​state sovereignty, one of the foundations of international relations.

“The states of today must agree to relinquish some of their powers,” she insisted. In particular “in environmental matters”, where they should “absolutely agree to […] subordinate themselves to planetary principles of carbon management” (p.144). She believed that it was necessary for states to accept “binding global agreements” so that states in breach could be “punished”.

In certain passages of the essay, the idea of ​​a world government emerges: “It is therefore absolutely necessary that a planetary power of influence is put in place so that the environmental consciousness in the citizen can develop”. (p.138)

This “global centralization” that she calls for should, however, be accompanied by a shedding of nation-states towards “local communities” (p.145). In Canada, to the provinces? No, these are missing from Ms. Joly’s vision in 2014. In her view, cities should inherit more power and money.

Here we are swimming in post-nationalism, according to which “the individual is a political institution in himself that must be respected” (p.140). In short, “in the 21st century, belonging to a country is no longer an end in itself” (p.131).”

But what kind of international politics can we really build from such a position?“

According to L’Orient Le Jour and 961, Lebanon lost Mr. Abbas Mazloum. He was 38 years old at the time of the surrealistic Beirut port explosion. For fifteen long months, he suffered a painful spinal cord injury that has paralyzed him ever since.

Mr Mazloum was a Chef at a restaurant in the Mar Mikhaël neighbourhood, one of the most devastated areas of the Lebanese capital. Who knows? Perhaps he was even the cook at the same restaurant where Bambi’s niece was injured, she could not help not to wonder. Or was it maybe another nearby restaurant in this beautiful area of Beirut. Regardless, Bambi’s heart is aching now for Mr. Mazloum’ family and friends.

https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1279445/une-nouvelle-victime-succombe-a-ses-blessures.html

The Beirut Blast Just Claimed Another Victim Over A Year Later

Will they, along with the other 218 grieving families, ever know the truth behind this unacceptable home-made tragedy (whether by mere negligence or otherwise)? Will justice be finally served?

More broadly, will Lebanon manage to stop its speedy descent toward hell? It has literally become a parody of country where citizens do not have access to their bank savings, do not have their basic needs met (gas, medication, affordable food etc.), and are not safe even in neither their homes nor workplaces. In addition, the ruling mafia of their country keeps paralyzing their political institutions and attacking their judiciary system to avoid accountability. Most alarmingly, the ghost of civil war seems to be still vivid not just in some spirits, but also in Beirut streets where a regular day recently turned into a fatal flashback of the civil war (may all those killed and injured then also rest in peace).

To conclude this post, may Mr. Mazloum’s memory be eternal. If she may, without knowing them, Bambi would like to send his family members and friends her wishes of internal peace, along with a prayer (thanks to Mr. Marc Reaidy Baz)… May external peace know how to keep prevailing in their/our beloved Beirut.

As slow as a turtle, Mr. Trudeau finally formed his “new” government.

We learned from his move that could have been perhaps made, without resorting to a very expensive election (when we are headed for inflation), the following:

Ottawa is creating a federal ministry of mental heath, called the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions:

https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/10/26/prime-minister-welcomes-new-cabinet).

https://globalnews.ca/news/8325724/cabinet-trudeau-minister-mental-health-bennett/

For those who may have forgotten Canada’s federal system, this is CLEARLY not under Ottawa’s jurisdiction. Indeed, Mr. Blanchet, Leader of the clever Bloc Québécois, is absolutely right in “denouncing the unacceptable interference in a field of exclusive jurisdiction of the provinces“, as per L‘Actualité (https://lactualite.com/actualites/blanchet-denonce-la-creation-dun-ministere-federal-de-la-sante-mentale/).

Here is a Google translate of the L‘Actualité article above:

https://lactualite-com.translate.goog/actualites/blanchet-denonce-la-creation-dun-ministere-federal-de-la-sante-mentale/?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=nui

To conclude this brief post, first, thank you Mr. Blanchet. Second, and most importantly, until when will Ottawa keep invading provincial jurisdictions?

Many months ago when the story about this unknown neurological disease was first reported in the media, it was Bambi’s sister who attracted her attention it… all the way from Beirut, Lebanon. Since then, Bambi started following any update with great interest (and even concern), like her fellow New Brunswickers.

It is indeed heart-breaking to see what all these patients have gone through. Of note, some of them are so young, including Ms. Gabrielle Cormier who is just 20 years old. It is very sad to read about the distress of their hopeless families. Plus, who knows? This may also be a potentially worrisome development in our province, with 48 patients (six of whom have even died… May their memory be eternal).

This being said, bravo to the families who are asking our government for more transparency. Thanks to our politicians, namely our own Green Party MLA Ms. Megan Mitton and others from the opposition, for supporting these families in their call for more transparency, as per the CTV News-Atlantic below:

https://globalnews.ca/news/8327861/mystery-brain-disease-deaths-new-brunswick-dr-gerard-jansen/

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/it-s-a-ticking-clock-mysterious-neurological-disease-patients-are-calling-on-the-government-for-transparency-1.5639727

To conclude this post on a sarcastic note, had our governments wanted citizens to be as afraid as of the coronavirus, the media narrative would have likely been more abundant and alarming. Who knows? Perhaps the public opinion would have been even as concerned as with the Covid-19 pandemic (whether with or without a reason). Anyhow, regardless of any speculation, Bambi’s heart goes to all the patients and their families. She thanks all the journalists who gave a voice to these otherwise voiceless patients and their loved ones. Last but not least, she joins her own voice to all those urging our government to be as transparent as realistically possible (even without clear answers)!

Bravo to the Lebanese Higher Judicial Council for not intending to disccuss Judge Tarek Bitar removal (https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/285057-report-higher-judicial-council-doesn-t-intend-to-discuss-bitar-removal).

Bambi is saying so because the intimidation by the most powerful group in Lebanon (mafia ruling it) has reached exponential, and even dangerous, levels lately.

According to France24, “the man handling the biggest case since former prime minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination is a little known figure who never talks to the press or even appears in public... “His determination will be tested more than ever after a [demonstration] for his removal Thursday by supporters of the Shiite Muslim Amal and Hezbollah movements degenerated into deadly violence and scenes resminiscent of the 1975-1990 civil war” (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211014-tarek-bitar-lebanon-s-judge-with-a-grudge).

As a reminder, at these heavily armed yet so-called “peaceful” demonstrations mentioned above, we have seen images of demonstrators burning posters of this Judge. Same for the US Ambassador in Beirut, Ms. Dorothy Shea (without hearing the classical mantra of “death to America” though…).

Anyhow, to come back specifically to Judge Bitar, just check the words used by the two journalists, Ms. Sarah El Deeb and Mr. Bassam Mroue from the Associated Press, to describe Judge Tarek Bitar’s decency in an article entitled “The judge leading Beirut blast probe: Discreet and defiant” (https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-explosions-lebanon-beirut-2c813a38a3ab2789f07fa48799aac82a):

“Relatives of victims of the port blast described Bitar as deeply sympathetic to their quest for justice. One man said the judge told him he approached the case as if his own daughter had been killed.”

“Bezdjian said Bitar told the families that he feels a responsibility because of those killed, wounded and displaced and because “half of my capital was destroyed.”

If you were one of the families who lost your loved one in the blast, wouldn’t you also want to know that your case is in the caring hands of Judge Bitar?

In a CBC article, a journalist called Ms. Zeahaa Rahman wrote the following (title): “On election day, I greeted people who voted for parties that hate people like me”. The CBC even uses the following graphic picture:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/first-person-elections-right-wing-politics-1.6220540

As soon as Bambi started reading this article, she immediately stopped to search for “Bernier” in the text, as she guessed that it would be a piece of disinformation about one of our federal political parties called, the PPC :). Indeed, she found the name of Mr. Maxime Bernier along with the following misleading sentences:

“Some of the people I had interacted with had voted for the far right People’s Party of Canada, whose leader, Maxime Bernier, has proposed to end multiculturalism, reduce the number of immigrants and refugees Canada receives, and fosters hate-speech under the guise of free speech as part of his party’s platform. The PPC received more than 840,000 votes in the 2021 federal election. That’s more than double the number of votes they received in the 2019 federal election, and it’s because these policies resonate with at least some Canadians.”

First, the word “far right” does not mean anything is a country that has become almost communist. Indeed, look at the level of governmental intrusiveness in our lives and the widespread empty slogans or ideologies. At the governance level, all the federal parties are almost all to the left of the political spectrum, or leaning to the left, or pretending to be left. Even the official opposition does not seem to be strong or efficient enough, despite the excellent performance of some of its great elements holding our government accountable (like for instance Mr. Pierre Poilievre).

Second, Mr. Maxime Bernier did not propose to end multiculturalism. He denounced “extreme multiculturalism“, which becomes destructive like sectarianism or tribalism (especially when it is exploited for political purposes). For this, he should be commended for having been the first Canadian politician to advocate for badly needed unity among Canadians.

He talked about his ideas in the same year he left his Conservative Party and eventually created his own political party. Bambi recalls this very well. Back then, she was shocked to see the level of political correctness in our country (from the reaction he got from the media and from his peers… in addition to the milk producers of his region, one must not forget. The latter were largely responsible for his defeat in his former party. Had he won, we may have perhaps had Mr. Bernier instead of Mr. Trudeau, as Prime Minister. Who knows?). The whole woke movement, which pretends to speak in the name of minorities, was starting at the time.

Today, wokeism is widespread in so many brains and in many censorship actions (from books to people cancelled, from books and churches burned in the name of justice to stores destroyed, of course in the name of justice too). Some politicians pretend to be woke to survive. Others may be true believers (in NB, we seem to have at least two of them (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-land-acknowledgment-racist-1.6224063). Which one of the two have the potential to be more radical in a society? Think about it. Bambi does not have an answer, but she always wonders about it.

Mind you, it is not only Mr. Bernier who denounces extreme multiculturalism. Most Québeckers do (even those who are federalist, but not into wokeism). Just read or listen to intellectuals like Dr. Mathieu Bock-Côté, as an example. He is the author of a book entitled in French “Multiculturalism as a political religion”.

It is this extreme multiculturalism, in a “postnational” country (as per Mr. Trudeau’s own terms) that Mr. Bernier denounced in the past. Not the pluralistic nature and beauty of Canada. You may agree with him or not, but why vilify him for his ideas, Ms. Rahman?

Third, where is the problem in reducing a massive number of immigrants and refugees in order to ensure their better integration in our county, welcoming them from the best of our capacity and being fair to them? Again, you may agree or not with this point, but why are you vilifying this political party?

Fourth, when you wrote “… fosters hate-speech under the guise of free speech as part of his party’s platform“, can you give us specific examples to illustrate your statement, please? Bambi searched this platform and did not find anything that looks like hate. She found the word hate only when it was in the name of a proposed bill (Bill C-36) by our government about online censorship. This party was the only stating clearly in its platform that it is against this bill. Just like Bambi, mind you.

Fifth, you seem to insinuate that the “far-right“, hateful, and racist platform of this party has resonated with some Canadians (at least, you are accurate in showing the increasing popularity of this party in our country): “… that’s more than double the number of votes they received in the 2019 federal election, and it’s because these policies resonate with at least some Canadians”. So, are you telling us that some Canadians are racist and this is why this party appealed to them? If so, you are insulting many Canadians, some of whom wear a hijab like you. Actually, Bambi knows several Muslims and Jews who voted for this party. You are also insulting others who may have perhaps also voted for this party.

Finally and most importantly, why can’t you respect your fellow Canadians, Ms. Rahman, regardless of their political vote at a particular point in time? It is called democracy, in case you forgot it.

Thank you.

Today our town said goodbye to Pat (or Ms. Patricia Belliveau).

Thank you, Pat, for having existed and for having touched SO many lives.

May you rest in peace now… May your memory be eternal in our hearts.

May both God and time, slowly but surely, comfort the hearts of your children, grand-children, and entire family. Same wishes for all your friends and loved ones.

To conclude this post, a French song is coming to Bambi’s mind now (by Mr. Pierre Delanoë and Mr. Michel Fugain, 1967). It is interpreted below by Ms. Vox Angeli. If you wish, you may read an English translation of the beautiful lyrics (found online). This song reminds us of how short life is/can be: short yet precious. Perhaps even more precious because it is short. Too short yet beautiful, especially when it is lived to a full and genuine extent. In other terms, to a meaningful and inspiring way… like Pat’s life.

“I won’t have enough time

I won’t have enough time,

Enough time…

Even if I run

Faster than the wind,

Faster than time,

Even if I fly,

I won’t have enough time, ( no, no, no)

enough time.

To visit all the immensity

Of a universe so vast.

Even, even, even, even if I had 100 years,

I won’t have enough time

To do everything.

I open my heart wide.

I love with my open eyes

But it’s too little,

For so many hearts (For so many hearts)

And so many flowers.

Thousands (Thousand) of days,

It’s much too short (It’s much too short)

It’s much too short.

And to love

As we have to love,

When we really love,

Even if I had 100 years,

I won’t have enough time,

Enough time.

I won’t have enough time,

Enough time.

I won’t have enough time,

Enough time.

—

Here is an earlier post honouring Patricia’s Belliveau’s life:

Sackville, NB, will not be the same without you, Pat Belliveau!

Tonight, Bambi discovered a music composer and film maker from Lebanon. His name is Mr. Abdulaziz Issa:

About

In 2017, for the 150th anniversary of Canada, it seems that he kindly honoured our country with his oud instrument. Thank you!

Of note, the oud (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud) is an oriental musical instrument, which was featured in one of Bambi’s older posts (see further below).

As for Canada’s national anthem, according to Bambi, it is simply one of the most beautiful anthems in the world. Well, if you do not believe her, just listen (or re-listen?) to the incredible voice of Ms. Ginette Reno below. By the way, may Ms. Reno keep on getting well soon. Thankfully, she was recently discharged from the hospital!

Ginette Reno is discharged from the hospital – Rhythm 105.7

—

The oud’s beautiful sound

Bambi just came across an English song about Beirut on YouTube.

This song was written/composed by a young Lebanese singer-songwriter called Esmaralda. It is a tribute to her childhood friend, Mr. Ralph (Mellehe) almost a year following his tragic death in the surrealistic Beirut explosion.

This song moved Bambi’s heart, especially that she had honoured Mr. Ralph Mellehe in an older post (shown at the end of this one). In her older post from 2020, she mentioned that he loved Fußball-Club Bayern München, just like her (and actually her entire family). Indeed, Bambi grew up fascinated by this soccer team that she had the chance to bump into in Germany almost 30 years ago. Well, Thanks again to FC Bayern München & to Germany for having paid a beautiful tribute to Ralph. Thank you, journalist (and dear sister) Roula Douglas for having re-tweeted its message of August 12, 2020 (8 days after the tragedy). May his memory be eternal…

May Esmaralda and Ralph’s family members find some peace in their hearts, despite the cruel pain of their loss. May justice be finally served for Ralph and for all the other 217 victims (children and adults), 6 000+ injured folks (many of whom are still suffering), 300-400 000 homeless people, and ALL the traumatized survivors (MANY left their country since the surrealist Beirut port explosion).

Talking about trauma, meet 9-year-old Jad who is also a soccer fan. Look at his beautiful smile :). Bravo to him for having overcome his fear of leaving his place (due to anxiety following the blast)! Thank you UNICEF, France for having helped him in his achievement with an online psychotherapy.

To conclude this post, bravo and thanks to Esmerlda for her song, along with her own moving words in introducing her song (https://youtu.be/_5__Z4wSt3E): “It’s almost a year since the explosion and still no answers, no closure. We still have nightmares, we are scarred and we are broken. You took our souls, our loved ones, our houses and our lives. You burned our forests, you polluted the air we breathe, and the funny part is: you would never take the blame. This song is a small piece of my mind. It’s about the things I felt but could never say, mixed with a line from Feiruz’s famous song “Li Beirut”. To all the people that can relate to my song, I hope it helps you heal just a little bit like it helped me. Personally I have lost my childhood friend; Ralph: this one goes out to your beautiful soul. I am really glad that I got to be your friend. To all the souls who were lost on that tragic day and every other day, due to their ignorance, I say: “You will always be remembered and loved”. Beirut in this song is not only our beloved city, it is every Lebanese out there, every person suffering, every family, every parent and every beautiful soul we have lost! We don’t deserve the pain and hardship we are being put through…and for that: “Beirut, I’m sorry”.

—

His name is Ralph. His body was found today. Like Bambi, he was a fan of FC Bayern München…

First, here is the CBC article in question. It is entitled “How can Canada roll out COVID-19 vaccines in a ‘child-friendly’ way?

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-friday-edition-1.6221439/how-can-canada-roll-out-covid-19-vaccines-in-a-child-friendly-way-1.6221564

Second, or rather first, here is what happened in California. It “recently enacted state and local Covid-19 vaccine mandates for students“, those younger than 12 years old (likely the 5-11).

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211001-covid-vaccine-to-be-mandatory-for-california-students

The California Governor said: “It is just one additional vaccine” (https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2021/10/02/covid-19-le-vaccin-va-devenir-obligatoire-pour-tous-les-eleves-en-californie_6096816_3244.html). His plans are that “once fully FDA-approved, the Covid-19 vaccine will be required to enter school just as other vaccines such as measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, and tetanus are, to name a few” (https://www.forbes.com/sites/ninashapiro/2021/10/01/california-governor-to-mandate-covid-19-vaccine-for-schools/?sh=4428e15e78da).

But is it really like just another vaccine? Especially the one we will be injecting them with? And does this coronavirus affect children in the same way as the 70+? NO… Or those with chronic diseases or weakened immune system? Generally no and yes, for children who have known risk factors, like those in older people, or other medical complexities (mind you, this being said, we do live in a part of the country where childhood obesity is prevalent).

Once again, Bambi will ask the same questions, as in an earlier post: “will we respect parental choices of vaccinating their own children or not? This is usually the case in trials or in medical treatments. One must also recall that the coronavirus is rather low risk in MOST children (of course, excluding those with the known risk factors of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, like in adults, or those with medical complexity)?”

And again, “will we respect parents’ choices? Or will we treat them like children?” “Will parents be given full informed consent, according to Dr. Bruce Pardy“.

To come back to California, here is how parents reacted there: They “demonstrated on Monday to show their opposition… Many of the parents said they’re not anti-vaccine, but they don’t want to be forced to get their children vaccinated” (https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20211019/california-parents-protest-school-vaccine-mandates).

What would/will Canadian parents do if similar mandates are enacted here? Will they accept it, as they accept so many odd or excessive measures because they may be too paralyzed by fear… or collectively too passive?

To conclude this post, despite the losses, Bambi feels blessed today because she does not have kids. She just feels for all the parents who are lost now or, worst, who feel pushed by all the narrative and authorities, to give a perhaps unneeded vaccination to their child, even if it is generally safe (being approved by Health Canada)? Perhaps their child already had Covid-19, with or without symptoms, or perhaps they are not as worried as other parents (who are eagerly awaiting to vaccinate their children)? Bambi is asking all these questions because it is her understanding that the vaccinated can still transmit the virus. Plus, she observes that some of the politically decided measures are harsh or irrational (arbitrary).