We learned this week (Le Figaro and AmoMama) that Professor Samuel Patty, who was brutally murdered in France by a young radicalized Islamist, was also the victim of a lie. Yes, a simple lie by a student who accused him of having taken Muslim students out of class to show the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. In fact, it turned out that she was not present on that day:
While the responsibility clearly and primarily lies with the murderer, it was a somewhat predictable consequence of her lie. This shouldn’t be the case, but unfortunately is in today’s France. As such, there is heightened responsibility for such statements.
This tragedy shows us one more time that facts (= evidence) DO and SHOULD matter in life. As lawyers, researchers, journalists, and as reasonable, logical citizens, this is what we must examine first and foremost in life to be as fair as possible to all.
For all possible reasons, younger or older people may resort to lies (i.e., perhaps in this story, there is a family context. Who knows?). In life, lies can be white or more serious. Regardless, the problem here is not the lie of this student in reality. It’s perhaps more how institutions, companies, communities, or entire countries forget that they have the responsibility to commit to facts and reason/logic… It is only facts that allow us to be as fair as possible to all parties and in challenging situations like this one.
May Mr. Patty rest in peace. May his family members find peace in their hearts… May everyone, young or old, pause to reflect on the consequences of their words or their quick (mis)judgment… The life of innocent people, like Mr. Patty, can be at stake.
“Ma grande” is Bambi’s sister (the latter being her “petite soeur”).
“Ma grande” is inspiring in every way! Not just for Bambi, but for many older and younger fellows!
Happy Birthday to you!! Love you… and miss you, more than you ever imagine!
To conclude this post on a joyful note, Lebanese people have a fun (funny) tradition of congratulating all the loved ones of the beloved family member or friend celebrating his/her birthday (sort of collective joy and gratitude). Well, of course, Bambi did not miss this chance and her loved ones across the world already got their little happy message :).
Here are two songs for you, the first does not need any introduction. It is international! The second one is Bambi’s most favourite Arabic song. It is called “Mabrouk” (= Congratulations). People sing it in birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, closure of happy events… or any successful processes. The singer is called Mr. Ramy Ayash, a Lebanese singer. Please imagine that this is Bambi singing for you today (OK along with your amazing spouse who happens to be Bambi’s brother… OK, we are an incestuous family :). Seriously, these two love each other since age 13… We all grew up, survived war, and immigration together). Look at the pictures carefully and imagine who is also singing with us all :).
Is a “safer place” another buzz word to justify
more governmental interference in citizens’ lives (a form of more socially
acceptable modern censorship)? And if so, why are we doing so?
Despite the noble intentions, is there a potential slippery
slope?
Or is Bambi wrong about her concerns about freedom of
expression?
How can we preserve tolerance in our society whilst also
protecting citizens from evil?
Who gets to decide what is hateful in life?
Is a different opinion hate?
Is a legitimate opposition related to this or that
idea hate?
And what about all the shades of different opinions, including
a so-called hate speech?
Of course, Bambi is not talking about threats of
violence, written or verbal, or violent acts.
She is rather talking about a legitimate different opinion
on this or that matter?
With these questions in mind, today Bambi found
herself taking a few moments to watch a news documentary about Beirut. She saw a
demonstrator who criticized a heavily armed group, in addition to his country’s
widespread political corruption. How ironic that, despite excesses, in this tiny,
bankrupt, and highly volatile Middle Eastern state, citizens can still criticize
powerful groups or their government. They can be vocal on the streets, in the
media, and online. Isn’t it therapeutic to (still) be able to call a spade a spade
in tiny, bankrupt, starving, volatile… yet somehow still democratic Lebanon?
To conclude this post by re-focusing on Canada, why
does our government seem to want to over-sanitize our internet? Is its underlying
motivation to protect us from… ourselves? And how does this make our country a safer
place?
Ms. Nadia Jammal. The picture to the left is taken from the USJ website
Bambi’s heart is sad beyond words… She extends her heart to Ms. Jammal’ s family as well as to to her own siblings, cousins, parents, and especially her circle of childhood friends around the world (Lebanon, France, USA, Canada, etc.). Like Bambi, everyone has the UTMOST respect (in addition to friendship) for Professor Nadia Jammal. She is (was and will remain…) a cultural monument and a candle’s light in the darkness of narrow-mindedness, overwhelming Beirut or threatening the whole world…
If Bambi loves the French literature as she does, it is because of this incredibly passionate, talented, knowledgeable, charismatic yet discrete teacher!
Although Bambi left Beirut abruptly in June of 1990, she had the opportunity to re-connect with Ms. Jammal on more than one opportunity in the past 31 years. Perhaps the most unforgettable memory was a group dinner that took place 29 years ago.
Over the years, she kept sending Ms. Jammal warm greetings via friends or relatives (her own dad or even aunt who was her neighbour. Interestingly, both are called Nadia). More than once, when visiting her aunt, Bambi would be lucky to see Ms. Jammal on her balcony. They would engage in warm conversations about Canada, Lebanon, the summer, etc. More recently, perhaps about 1-2 months ago, Bambi was moved to receive Professor Jammal’s warm greetings via her friend Rita (who touched base with her). Bambi wonders if Rita had the time to send her warm regards back…
Professor Jammal taught Bambi at her school in Beyrouth (Zahrat el Ihsan or ZEI). In addition, she also taught the French literature at the Athénée de Beyrouth. She prepared students to the French as well as the Lebanese baccalaureate. She was also a faculty member at the Faculté des lettres et des sciences humaines et à l’Institut de lettres orientales at the Université Saint-Joseph (USJ) in Lebanon.
Ms. Jammal was brilliant not just in literature and poetry, but also in politics and diplomatic relations. She has inspired MANY men and women… She is a cultural loss to Lebanon, to the “francophonie”, and to humanity in our world!
Now, if she may, Bambi will allow herself to share some of Professor Jammal’s own words, as published in the l’Orient Le Jour in 2009 (article by Ms. Collette Khalaf):
“No language is neutral… As soon as there is a creative writing process, there is commitment. By informing it, with our hands like clay, this “raw material” will acquire a density and a particular flavour. A specificity, even an identity. There is no language that is not communication, that is to say signs… The Francophonie is not sectarian. It is an invitation to open up to others in their diversity and likeness. From then on, the other will appear as similar to me in his/her humanism… Nothing that is human is foreign to me … However… each writer, whether Lebanese, Canadian, African or Vietnamese, will bring the specificity of the soul of his people that he/she infuses with turns of writing specific to his/her country. In Lebanon, writers and poets have striven over time to glorify this soul. But what exactly is this Lebanese soul that transcends the limits of the language? Is it as Victor Hugo said when defining the form: “It is the background, which rises to the surface.”
The original French…
[«Aucune langue n’est neutre,
commence par dire Jammal. Dès qu’il y a processus créatif d’écriture, il y aengagement. En l’informant, de nos mains comme une
terre glaise, cette “materia prima” va acquérir une densité et une
saveur particulière. Une spécificité, voire une identité. Il n’y a pas de
langue qui ne soit langage, c’est-à-dire signes», observe-t-elle. «La
francophonie n’est pas sectaire, ajoute Nadia Jammal. Elle est une invitation à
s’ouvrir à l’autre dans sa diversité et sa ressemblance. Dès lors, l’autre
apparaîtra comme semblable à moi dans son humanisme et comme « rien de ce
qui est humain ne m’est étranger…» Cependant dit-elle, chaque écrivain, qu’il
soit libanais, canadien, africain ou vietnamien, apportera la spécificité de
l’âme de son peuple qu’il infuse par des tournures d’écritures propres à son
pays. Au Liban, écrivains et poètes se sont attelés au fil du temps à glorifier
cette âme. Mais qu’est-ce au juste cette âme libanaise qui transcende les
limites de la langue? Est-elle comme Victor Hugo l’a dit en définissant la
forme: «C’est le fond qui remonte à la surface.»]
To conclude this post, «mille merci Madame Nadia Jammal”. Thanks for whom you have been and for the inspiration to all of us… We all love you and your students feel somehow orphans in their hearts right now. Indeed, you will be missed greatly by many generations of francophiles. To try to make you smile, Bambi will ask if you can kindly say hello to her aunt (your neighbour) Nadia, if you ever bump into her in heaven :). However, more seriously now: May your memory be eternal. May your broken heart over your beloved country find peace… We all beg you to be that little star in the sky that will know how to illuminate your tiny, broken yet culturally rich Lebanon!
Until where can we push the funny excesses of political correctness?
The world is devastated by the tiny yet dangerous coronavirus.
The economy is falling apart… here and there and everywhere.
Everyone is too busy with life, work, school, quarantines, and/or concerns.
Kids need entertainment and continuity in their lives, perhaps now more than ever…
Well, in the name of “inclusiveness” and kindness, even “Monsieur Patate” and “Madame Patate” deserve our respect for their longevity. Instead, the company producing them decided to cancel (or eliminate) them. Of course, ultimately, this decision belongs to this private American company.
More seriously now, many of us played with “Monsieur/Madame Patate” literally around the world and in many languages. Younger toy consumers may be more attached to these characters. Older ones may be torn with mixed feelings (i.e., not caring and sarcastically laughing); like many reporters from Québec, France, and Switzerland. Bambi will spare you these news documentaries as they are all in French.
To conclude this post on a lighter note despite the obituary, Bambi would like to use this fun video to pay tribute to Monsieur/Madame Patate whilst welcoming any new “Potato” character. If she may, she would like to also dedicate this cute kids’ song to her now adult nephews and nieces. Like their aunt, they have a sense of humour, despite any sorrow :).
Long live all the potatoes of the world! They are delicious, with or without titles.
“Vive les patates du monde entier”! Elles sont toutes délicieuses”. Mmm.
Bambi just read that Ms. Ensaf Haidar will be seeking the Bloc Québecois (BQ) nomination in Sherbrooke (Québec). Wow and best wishes to Ms. Haidar!
As for the BQ, this party has been playing an excellent opposition role in Ottawa. Bravo to Mr. Blanchet and his team for standing up for freedom of expression.
Ms. Ensaf Haidar is Mr. Raif’s Badawi’s spouse. The latter is in jail in Saudi Arabia. In an earlier post, Bambi described how he was “sentenced to 1000 lashes, a 10 year sentence, and a fine of 200,000 Saudi Arabian riyals (CAD $69,381). Even if he gets out of jail, he cannot leave his country to join his family in Sherbrooke, PQ, Canada for at least 10 years. His kids are growing up without him nearby. He and his spouse have not seen each other for God knows how long. All this because he was accused of blasphemy“.
Well, this story is reminding Bambi of Mr. William Sampson who sadly passed away in England in 2012, according to the National Post (https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/william-sampson-dead-canadian-survived-prison-torture-in-saudi-arabia). As per Radio-Canada and many other media (https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/114050/sampson-torture), the BQ helped free Mr. Sampson from jail (along with the UK, as he held the double citizenship). A BQ party member even travelled to Saudi Arabia and met with him in jail. Tragically, Mr. Sampson was accused of false yet very serious accusations. He even suffered from torture, but thankfully he survived his ordeal. He spent the last ten years of his free life clearing his name.
To conclude this post, may Mr. Sampson rest in peace. May the BQ continue to stand up for freedom of expression in Canada. May Ms. Haidar and her children be finally reunited with Mr. Badawi. It is about time for this innocent dad to find himself where he belongs that is with his family, in their beautiful Sherbrooke (Québec) and among us all in Canada.
It has been seven months since the Beirut surrealistic port explosion.
NO accountability yet.
NO (new) government yet.
This week, the Lebanese Lira (or pound) fell to 10,000 to the American dollar. This means that it lost about 85% of its value. If Bambi understands the situation there well, the minimum salary is now worth US$62 per month. Can you imagine the magnitude of this economic tragedy?!
Oh, Bambi almost forgot… there is also the Covid-19 pandemic.
To conclude this post devoted to Beirut, Bambi just came across this moving song (called “Pray for Beirut subtitled in English). It is performed by a Montreal-born singer called Ms. Nicole Arrage (with pianist, Mr. Guillaume Dion). The song is by Mr. Joseph Attieh.
What a beautiful tribute to Beirut… all the way from Canada. Bravo and thank you!
“We already knew that for Montreal mayor [Ms. Valérie Plante], systemic racism exists in the city, especially within the police force. We did not know, however, that some within Valérie Plante’s party are pushing for a racialization of municipal institutions.
Those who doubt it can only listen to the remarks made by city councilor Marianne Giguère during a meeting of the Montreal Executive Commission, which was held on February 24. In order to promote diversity, the elected official from the Plateau Mont-Royal would find it interesting for the city to set up “safe spaces” for people of colour. It is, in her words, “to have instances where there are no whites, people find themselves between them as a safe space …”.
Divide people according to their race
For my part, it seems to me that dividing people according to their race, activity X for people of such and such a race, event Y for people of such and such another race, is the worst thing to do to build a society that promotes living together. Moreover, it is necessary to emphasize here that the colour of the skin of the people does not in any way determine their culture or their way of being.
Anyone of any race can belong to any nation or culture. In all Western countries, for example, you have people whose ancestors came from Asia or Africa, but who have adopted 100% of the culture of the country in which they live. It is the same in Québec, where many of our fellow citizens have origins other than European, but have nonetheless become, over the generations, 100% Québeckers [why do we always seem to forget that immigrants also have a responsibility in their own adaptation process to their host cities/countries?]. This gradual process of assimilation into the nation, and I use the word assimilation in its noblest sense, is absolutely vital to the functioning of our society [true…].
With its racialist excesses, that is exactly what Project Montreal is attacking. First, it is about locking people into a racial box and establishing a system of separation between them. The next step is to deny that two people with different skin colours can share the same culture.
Pairing system …
But Councillor Giguère is not stopping there. She also wants a system of pairing municipal councillors to be established. Each of them would be forced to have a diversity advisor. This would be a kind of political commissar. He would act as a duplicate of the elected official and would be responsible for monitoring and educating him so that he conforms to the racial and diverse orthodoxy that many espouse at Projet Montreal. This would, I imagine, reinforce messages of the type that Bill 21 constitutes systemic racism and makes Québec a model of supremacism, as Bochra Manaï, the anti-racist expert recently hired by the city, has already said.
I close by addressing Montreal Mayor. In her election year, it is imperative that she disown her advisor and make a clear promise that she will not go down this path. Racializing our institutions would be one of the worst things that could happen to us [indeed…]”.
How can we foster our intellectual curiosity, creativity, and decision-making skills?
How to broaden our minds, encourage debates, and reach out to others to welcome all the shades of different opinions and perspectives?
Perhaps one key element to achieve all the above is to continuously invent ways to nurture and deepen our critical thinking.
But what is critical thinking, to begin with?
As shown in the video below, it can be described as the process of “deliberately” analyzing information in order to make wiser decisions.
Could this wisdom be applied to both real and online lives (i.e., social media)?
To what extent can we be (or learn to be) congruent at all times, that is in our real and online lives?
What about respect? Or at least self-respect? Is the latter the cornerstone of this congruence?
Self-respect is a must in order to genuinely respect others by treating them well.
Respect does not mean hypocrisy.
Respect does not mean censorship.
Respect is a choice.
Respect is a re-choice.
Respect has a twin. It is called trust.
In both respect and trust, there are beautiful ingredients called integrity and transparency.
To conclude this post, Bambi will spare you her philosophical questions. She will just ask the following: In life, is there anything more simple yet beautiful than treating everyone with respect… and earning their respect back? Or is it self-respect that comes first? Oh, it is getting late…. time to sleep now.
