A picture taken from An Nahar. Rest in peace Ms. Julia Awdeh… Will just ever know how to prevail in Beirut?
Ms. Julia Awdeh is most likely the 219th victim of the Beirut port explosion. The latter woke up from her coma one month following the surrealistic human-made and still unpunished tragedy. However, tragically, she died today after one year and seven months since that doomed August 4, 2020. Bambi’s heart goes to her son, Samuel, and to the rest of her family, friends, and by extension the entire Lebanon.
Anyhow, this post is meant to honour Ms. Julia Awdeh’s memory. If she may, Bambi would like to offer her son and loved ones two songs. The first is a beautiful French-Canadian one, entitled Tu trouveras la paix [You will find peace in your heart] interpreted by the talented Ms. Mélissa Bédard. The second song about the Beirut explosion, by Mr. Ghassan Saliba, is entitled Maakouly shi nhar? [Is it possible one day?]. Bambi has translated the lyrics of this song into English in an earlier post shown further below.
As for the Lebanese political dinosaurs (some are still in power for over 40 years!), Bambi has no word and no song for them. Nothing. May God forgive them for having destroyed their country and killed their own people (and many residents or guests originally from other countries), whether voluntarily or by negligence.
Once again, may your memory be eternal Ms. Julia Awdeh…
Some people are almost always late. Others tend to always arrive early.
In life, sometimes we tell ourselves or others “it is too late“. Yet, at other times, we tell others or convince ourselves that it is “better late than never“.
Some of us will always tend to procrastinate, at any stage of life. Yet others will become increasingly efficient in order not to perceive a waste of time, especially as they advance in age.
We may learn to value time more after life losses or when extra years feel like a gift of life.
We perceive time as being shorter when we spend it with loved ones. In contrast, we may be bored to death if we are with dull people or situations.
We fill our mind with free thoughts and meaningful daily activities when we are or feel like in a prison.
We use time so efficiently in science and technology.
Some may sometimes feel like prisoners (of time or despite the time). Others may become like non-creative products of their historical times.
Sometimes we have the time or we give time to time.
We can also take the time (to listen, to get to know, and to love even).
At times, we may feel as if time is being stolen from us.
Yes, there may be an optimal time, good times, or clearly bad times.
Isn’t it for a wise reason that they say that there is a time for every season?
Indeed, there is a time to love with passion, time to appreciate life and its tender moments with loved ones, time to swear to vent, time for oneself, and time to give from ourselves to our loved ones without any consideration for time.
In the end, there is a time to end a story, turn a life chapter, involving others or us as the main characters. There could be times for new chapters… or it can be the last page of the last one.
There is surely time, if we wish, to fully live (a moment or a lifetime).
Time to grow and keep re-growing, to learn, and time to play (on its own or combined to all the other aspects of life).
Time to rest too, whether through a nap or the final big rest, time to mourn… and to grow… and again keep growing.
To conclude this post on time and the perceived time, here are a few songs highlighting this post’s topic. Bambi hopes you will enjoy them. The last one is strictly in French, but an English translation follows for your convenience.
Have a beautiful Friday/weekend. Remember to enjoy your time :)!
Some love songs like The windmills of my heart, when translated into Arabic, become endless (“no beginning and no end”), as per Ms. Hiba Tawaji’s famous Lebanese songentitled La bidayi wala nihayi:
Bambi just came across this cartoon by YGreck, published in the Journal de Québec yesterday, when we learned that a deal between Mr. Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP) will keep Mr. Trudeau’s Liberals in power until 2025. Yes for that long by providing the Liberals with a majority until then.
The cartoon below show us the love that seems to be uniting the couple Trudeau-Singh. You can see how the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives are taking a big hit (the two politicians to the right of the picture). We can also see all the money flying in the air: More spending since public money grows not just on trees, but also on wedding cakes too.
Anyhow, this is an interesting cartoon, regardless of our political opinion: whether we are happy for this couple (and us all by extension), worried about the country’s present and future, totally indifferent, convinced that Canada has the best Prime Minister ever, and/or the NDP is shining as an independent political party. Yes, it is healthy to laugh in life… or just to smile, if the heart is not completely there.
As for Bambi, if she may, she would like to offer Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Singh a song by Fairouz. Her way of saying Mabrouk :). It is entitled: “I love you in the winter, I love you in the summer” (sub-tittled in English). May their apparent political harmonious love be contagious. Nevertheless, thank Goodness, unhappy marriages end in life (one day or another). Yes, luckily, human relationships are breakable. We can get into them, but we can also walk out of them… if/as needed in life.
To conclude this brief post, following the DW News brief documentary, Bambi will dedicate Fairuz’ song “I love you Lebanon” to the Lebanese people. May God help them keep their sanity while coping with all the adversity and uncertainty they have been facing since October 17, 2019. Eventually (soon?!), this tiny country will hit the rock bottom of its misery, finally begin its recovery journey, and rise again!
It is perhaps in our collectively insane times of extreme political correctness that we appreciate even more every refreshing (learning) opportunity of an academic chat among scholars.
Bearing the above in mind, Bambi felt honoured, happy, and even touched when the accomplished Dr. Frances Widdowson, Associate Professor of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies, invited her to her excellent show cleverly entitled “Rational Space Disputations“.
Before sharing the interview below, Bambi searched the net and came across a website with public information about Dr. Widdowson’s own surreal story of censorship: https://wokeacademy.info/episodes/. What a deeply sad and shocking story out of our Canadian universities about intolerance of different opinions in academia and, by extension, in today’ society…
Anyhow, thank you again, Frances (or Dr. Widdowson), for having Bambi. What an enriching (and fun) discussion with a unique formula: First hour, you interview your guest. Second hour, your guest interviews you.
To conclude this post, Bambi/Rima will forever be grateful for your kindness Frances and for the support of the Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship (SAFS) back in February 22, 2021 (a big thank you to Dr. Mark Mercer, SAFS President and to all the Board members, including yourself). Last but surely not least, and from the bottom of her heart, Bambi wishes you all the best in your own arbitration!
As she is writing this post, Bambi’s heart is flying across ocean and sea, miles away, to her dearest mom. She would like to thank her for having brought her to life and for having raised her to be the woman she is today. Happy Mother’s Day mom [Happy Grandmothers day too :)]!
This being said, Bambi would like to also wish her sisters the same: Bravo for being the wonderful mothers whom you are.
By extension now, Bambi will also send her warm wishes to her relatives and friends celebrating today as well as to ALL the mothers of her birth country. Mind you, some great Lebanese women are talented in love and care without being mothers. Bambi is thinking of them too, including Nadia, her late godmother and her late aunt Ramona. Of course, Bambi is also thinking of her beloved cousin Liliane. Thanks to her for the inspiration.
To conclude this post, may all the mothers of Lebanon be merry today, despite the economic hardship or any geographical distance with their loved ones. As for you mom, Bambi would like to offer you four songs. The first one is in Arabic and subtitled in English (Ms. Fairuz’ “Oummy ya malaki“, which means “My mother, my angel“). The second song is in French and subtitled in English as well (Ms. Linda Lemay’s “Une mère“). The third song is in English (Ms. Céline Dion’s “Because of you loved me“). As for the fourth song, Bambi received it this morning from her friend Mary. This moving performance is by Mr. Kendji Girac’s mother, along with Jennifer (his spouse?), who surprised him with his own beautiful song “Les yeux de la maman” [The mama’s eyes]. Mary, thank you for sharing the latter and Happy Mothers’ Day to you. With much love, Bambi thanks you for being you, that is the devoted, inspiring mother as well as the faithful, caring friend.
Once again, Happy Mothers’ Day to you mama. May we see each other as soon as realistically possible ?!
In a few hours, the spring will officially arrive.
However, the days are already longer in Atlantic Canada.
Hello spring! “Oui, bonjour joli printemps”!
To welcome the new season, Bambi will post some songs for the spring that crossed her mind. She will do so while wishing you all a renewed hope for more beautiful days filled with love.
May the season(s) ahead be filled with increased common sense, tolerance, and peace in our world.
This being said, here are the songs, hoping you will enjoy them!
The first melody is a famous Armenian song called Karoun Karouné [Spring… it is the spring]. Bambi would like to dedicate it to Diana, Nina, Rita, and a reliable friend from Yerevan :).
The second song is French-Canadian and it is by the late Mr. Michel Fuguain. May his memory be eternal…
The third song is a kids’ song in Arabic (likely Lebanese?) called Bi Fasel el Rabih [in the spring season]. Talking about spring, well, this song is for you dear Rabih :)!
Finally, the last song is one that Bambi sang in the springs of her childhood. She would like to dedicate it to all her childhood friends, and especially to Zeina (her niece or first cousin once removed). She, her mom, and all the family who love her dearly will know why :). The song is from France and it is called Ouli Oula le printemps est là!
Some people associate happiness with sunshine (hello Mr. Trudeau… with your promised “sunny ways“).
For some, happiness may be memories of snow and warmth by the fire… Perhaps with family, friends, or lovers?
For many, immeasurable sources of life happiness stem from their children, grand-children, nephews/nieces, or young kids/youth they love as educators… Bambi is using the latter in its broadest sense since we are all “educators” in the “village” that “it takes to raise a child“.
Yet for others their perceived or
aspired happiness may be their illusion of power… or their wealth.
Others can easily tell that their happiness is in (and because of) love… or because of their faith in a creator… and/or in humanity too. Who knows? Perhaps the capacity to have faith and to nurture it may be related to the art of being in love with life (in its broadest sense), to give and hopefully to receive back love.
And what about moments of peace of mind, and even joy, despite a less optimal health or despite another adversity?
What about hope now and what is its role in happiness?
Is hope an antidote to unhappiness… or a free-of-charge, ecological fuel of sustainable happiness?
How can individuals keep their hope alive and be happy when they live in countries where they lack dignity and basic needs?
Bambi is thinking specifically of Lebanon… and of Afghanistan. Yes, both countries are now last in the list of “happiest countries” in a UN-funded study, according to L’Orient Le Jour. Can you imagine Lebanon that low?
With all due respect to Afghanistan, Lebanon’s results are far from being glorious.
How could its people be happy when they struggle to survive on a daily basis?
Let’s think of some examples of changes in people’s lives in Lebanon. For instance, the last time Bambi took a service-taxi in Beirut, it was in December 2019 during her last trip there. For LBP1000, you could go anywhere you wish from point A to point B (yes, this is less than CAD $0.83, at least on March 18, 2022). Today, it is over LBP40,000. Taxi and van drivers are also struggling like their clients (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/lebanons-taxi-bus-van-drivers-block-roads-protest-82619547).
Another example of hardship to the people of Lebanon is that supermarkets now require a payment in cash money (credit or debit cards not allowed, it seems). People do not have access to their own savings or enough money… so imagine cash money!
Anyhow, to cheer us up from this survey, Bambi will conclude this post devoted to happiness (from a micro to a macro level) by sharing a French song she adores. It is by Mr. Christophe Maé and it is called “Il est où le bonheur [Where is Happiness?] You can read an English translation following the song. Enjoy… and may everyone be merry (depending on his or her definition of happiness :)].
All the above words seem beautiful. Of course, we want everyone to feel included, but what do our big banks really mean by “speaking for inclusion” precisely? And why is this a new aspiration of the banks in Canada and abroad like the example shared above?
If such aspiration or slogan is 100 percent genuine, are those with the “wrong” political opinions also allowed to bank in Canada? Would they now also feel “included” in our banking institutions, if they visit a branch (you may wish to read the older post on this topic a the end of this one)? OR the latter does not apply when big banks are following governmental orders? Why can’t all citizens simply bank and receive the great customer service they deserve without any lecture in wokeism?
This being said, some of our Canadian banks, like the CIBC, sometimes show pictures of young little girls wearing a hijab to highlight diversity (or inclusion? Or equity?). In the name of this slogan, these institutions seem to promote the sexualization of young girls (as per an older post by Bambi also shown further below).
Well, in the name of diversity, the list of other examples goes on and on. Do not worry, Bambi will stop here as it is getting late for her. Once again, she cannot help not to wonder: why do all these banks seem to promote governmental agendas to that extent?
If you are like her, you probably do not care about any of these “woke” messages. You would care more about your satisfaction with the banking industry (e.g., a practical access to your bank account, an excellent client service, good products and financial advantages, transparency and accountability as an antidote to corruption, ability to transfer money fast, as needed, etc.).
By no means, Bambi is saying here that all customers share the same philosophy of life or the same practical or entrepreneurship mindset. Contrary to her, some may actually prefer to see increased woke ideologies while banking. Despite the latter preference, they remain clients and thus they also deserve more substance in services (and maybe less “ideological” decorations).
To conclude this post on a more positive note, Bambi would like to clarify that this post is strictly about woke slogans, not about our banks’ inspiring social or health-related actions, promoted by their foundations for years (ex. the breast-cancer related CIBC “run for the cure“; https://cancer.ca/en/get-involved/our-events/cibc-run-for-the-cure)! It is also not about funding opportunities for excellent social projects. Thanks to our banks for the latter opportunities. To celebrate their good actions, and for fun, Bambi will end with the Abba’s song Money, money, money…
“The decision of Judge Ghada Aoun is illegal”. Me I say: “This is because of your own abusive decisions since 2019: Maintaining a stranglehold on our accounts, resorting to a systemic theft of our savings, blocking our credit cards… are all the latter legal measures?”
Regardless of any responsibility of the boards of these banks or not (before or following the financial crash of October 17, 2019), Bambi would like to offer the Lebanese people a beautiful song of hope that she discovered on Youtube. This artistic performance is entitled Au ciel du Liban [In the Skies of Lebanon] and it shows us some of this country’s landscape. Thanks to Mr. Roy Barbara for the music and orchestration. Thanks to the musicians and to performers, Ms. Olga Kadi and Mr. Ghady Harb.
Good luck Lebanon… you deserve better days. It is about time for a change!
