Author: Bambi

First, we learned from this CBC article that “B.C. RCMP officer” was “suspended over racially offensive content posted on Facebook”:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-officer-suspension-bc-1.5645620

It is unclear if he was suspended or resigned first but the bottom line is the following question: Why can’t any citizen, including a police officer (who even used another name), express an opinion on social media?

Quickly, Bambi was curious to know what was this so-called “racially offensive content”.

Did he insult any citizen who was of Asian origins? Or was that citizen Arab? Muslim? Jewish? Black? Native? Or someone from his own group, whichever the latter?

No, not at all. So, really nothing done whilst on the job.

All what he did was to express an opinion or circulate a video on his Facebook page.

A video showing a black citizen (perhaps even an American?) “criticizing the Black Live Matters movement” (BLM), “police conduct” considered “too soft,” and “some of the government’s COVID-19 safety guidelines”.

Without watching the video, Bambi would not be surprised if it was perhaps one stating the following: some demonstrations are not considered to be at risk of transmitting the covid-19 virus (i.e. the socially acceptable ones, of course) whereas others are more heavily portrayed in the media as a public danger (i.e., the socially non-acceptable ones).

Anyhow, guess what? Just for this, this police officer got suspended from his position.

Does that make any sense?

Are we in an African dictatorship? In Iran, Saudi Arabia, or China?

Or are we still in North America?

Why can’t he say “All lives matter” anymore (ALL includes black, no?)?

He is a police officer, for God’s sake, isn’t he supposed to treat all citizens equally? Plus, isn’t it normal not to want to endorse a radical movement that is calling for the abolishment of his own employer ??

https://blacklivesmatter.ca/defund-the-police/

https://blacklivesmatter.ca/demands/

Second, related to the above movement, here is another person (this time a business owner) in a different province (Saskatchewan) who was boycotted for a post on Facebook against BLM, according to Global News. Again, is this reasonable? Is this democratic?

Saskatoon business boycotted after owner’s Facebook comments on BLM protests

Third, we learned that Montreal’s Saint Catherine’s street is now painted with BLM’ slogan in both languages, “joining a global movement”. Is this a good thing necessarily? What about those “black” citizens who do not endorse this radical movement, like in the first CBC article above? If so, their perspective does not matter? In other terms, does their opinion matter only when it fits the current trendy, so-called “globalist” ideology, endorsed by Mayor Valérie Plante?

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/black-lives-matter-painted-on-montreal-s-sainte-catherine-street-joining-global-movement-1.5024169

To come back to the suspended RCMP officer, the so-called offended woman behind this saga pretends to be too “afraid” (to the point of not wanting to disclose her identity). Who knows? She may not even be “black” herself. Perhaps just “too illuminated” to the point of forgetting that her own opinion is not necessarily shared by all.

Why is the RCMP throwing its own employees under the bus like that?

As a society, why are we allowing ourselves to boycott private businesses who are not necessarily fond of the BLM movement?

Last but not least, since when having a different opinion implies racism?

From this Montreal Gazette article, we learn the following:

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/bloc-quebecois-leader-blanchet-denies-sexual-assault-allegations

“Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet “unequivocally denies” allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in the late 1990s.”

“Blanchet released a statement early Wednesday, hours after the claims surfaced in a Facebook post. The post alleges Blanchet brought a woman into the bathroom of a nightclub, offered her cocaine and groped and kissed her, despite her repeatedly asking him to stop.

In his statement, Blanchet said the woman should file a police complaint if her allegations are serious and said he believes in justice for the “real victims” of sexual assault.

The woman who wrote the post is remaining anonymous for fear of online harassment. She told the Montreal Gazette it’s a memory that has haunted her for years and that she “put it in a box” until recently…”

For those who do not know yet, Québec has been “hit” by a second (or third?) wave of “Me too” allegations. Some famous artists have been dumped by their managers, following accusations made on social media platforms (e.g., the talented Kevin Parent whom Bambi enjoys listening to and many others, including a woman, etc.). We do not know what is true or not about these stories. We just know that those artists ended up apologizing in public and the so-called victims did not use the justice system channels in their allegations, just social media.

One cannot help not to wonder, why are they using social media without resorting to the justice system?

Anyhow, sadly, one story seems to strike us as true, and of course, TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. It is the story of Mary-Mai, a famous singer in Canada and in the world. Her horrible story happened when she was 17 (drug in a drink and assault). She seems to have “forgiven”, with the years, but she felt the need to publicly share her story. Bambi’s heart goes to her.

To come back to Mr. Blanchet, he did so well by having a thought for the “real victims”. Thank you for that. This is what upsets Bambi actually: When we use SUCH serious CRIMINAL allegations as a political (or professional) career weapon, by an anonymous accuser! We attempt (and often succeed) to publicly “kill” the receiver (i.e., reputation, credibility, lifetime career, etc.). Plus, one must say that the timing of all this is just so convenient to those who would benefit, isn’t it?  

What happened to the so-called “innocent until proven guilty”? Now, it is guilty by default, especially if you are a man of a certain group.

First, here is an article in the CBC entitled “Canadian business leaders launch national initiative to fight anti-Black systemic racism”:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/anti-racism-bay-st-1.5647583

Second, here is the organization mentioned in it:

https://www.blacknorth.ca/Home

The “BlackNorth Initiative”: The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism is inviting senior leaders from the top 250 TSX companies, over 100 of the biggest private businesses in Canada, major banks, insurance companies, international companies who have a significant presence in Canada, and the largest asset managers and institutional investors in the nation, to take part in the inaugural BlackNorth Initiative Summit to be held virtually on July 20, 2020”.

“At the summit, leaders will be asked to sign a CEO Pledge and deliver a statement regarding what their organization will do to combat the issue and to make our society at large free from anti-Black systemic racism.”

Look at the pledge below— Bambi will reply to each point (see the bold lines).

The BlackNorth Initiative CEO Pledge, available online, asks CEOs to commit to seven goals:

1. We will increase our efforts to make our workplaces trusting places to have complex, and sometimes difficult conversations about anti-Black systemic racism and ensure that no barriers exist to prevent Black employees from advancing within the company.

What is this BS? Who invented it and where does it come from? Companies are supposed to be about excellence and productivity, not about ideologies. If a company’s values are based on respect and a commitment to merit, there is no need for this.

Plus, this point seems condescending to the so-called “black employees” (or BIPOC, as they say on their website. As a reminder, BIPOC is a category where Bambi is supposed to fit and, as a deer, she is too free to limit herself to any trendy acronym!).

2. We will implement or expand unconscious bias and anti-racism education.

Again, “unconscious bias”… the same trendy language that Mr. Trudeau, Prince Harry, spouse Megan Markle, and her Hollywood peers use ?.  Another word “anti-racism”, wow a new invention of our times. Bambi is writing this and she has in front of her eyes her older guitar, brought from Lebanon whilst escaping… on it there is a large pin “stop racism”. She has it since age 17 (either from Beirut or Montreal, she cannot recall). What does anti-racism education really mean in the workplace? Why are we spending money and time for all this BS in the private sector?! So odd! Had Bambi been running a private company, she would never ever participate in such collective insanity.

3. We will share best—and unsuccessful—practices to ensure all companies have access to the programs and strategies needed to achieve true diversity and inclusion.

? or ☹. “True diversity and inclusion”. Too funny!! Hilarious! Sometimes Bambi feels like sending all these people for training to the Middle East or to former communist countries in order to learn what not do in life with all these trendy causes.

Respect of all human beings should be our value # 1 in any relationship, including working relations. A commitment to respect and merit, period!

4. We will create and share strategic inclusion and diversity plans with our board of directors. We will establish at least one diversity leadership council and make efforts to ensure these groups include diverse representation, including senior Black leaders, within our organization.

Why? It does not make any common sense. Again, commitment must be to excellence, period. Our skin colour or body form or whatever other feature is secondary.

5. We will ensure that Black communities across Canada are aware of opportunities of employment within our organization and that employment opportunities are set aside for Black people, including committing to specific hiring goals of at least 5% within our student workforce from the Black community.

NO and NO! Do not do Lebanon’s tragic sectarian quota mistakes! Again, a commitment to merit only, not even to gender in Bambi’s own company ?.

6. As a numeric goal provides real impetus for change, we have made a goal of, at a minimum, 3.5% of executive and board roles based in Canada being held by Black leaders by 2025.

Ha! Ha! Ha!!!!

7. We will set inclusive talent management goals and include them in senior executives’ annual performance scorecards.

? or ☹.

Companies that sign the pledge will also be expected to track their progress and share their results publicly.

If Canadian companies are as stupid as our current PM, they may sign. Let’s hope they have higher ethical standards though!

This is for you Nina 🙂 and for your beautiful country.

Yes, today is July 14… The beauty of working from home is that Bambi can sing this song all day long, without bothering her colleagues :)!

By the way, Happy Birthday to Amale too!

Yesterday evening, a friend from Montreal called Bambi. They naturally spoke about Lebanon’s saga of political corruption that led to the country’s financial fiasco. They also talked about Mr. Trudeau, as both were long-term Liberal voters. “Why did you do that Mr. Trudeau?”, her friend said.

Bambi’s friend then added: “In Lebanon, people have been asking for the resignation of their political leaders since October, 2019. There, even if they change them, they remain influential. At least, here if people go to the street, Trudeau will step down immediately” ?.

Bambi smiled and said: “I am not that sure of that, you know?”

Bambi predicted that Mr. Trudeau will say he is sorry and try to get out of this again with a little fine. He will remain in power, so will his financial minister, most likely… More than that, Canadians may even vote for him again ☹!

This is the difference between the Lebanese and Canadian populations. There, they are more lucid. They do not let themselves be deceived by the media and politicians. Sadly, this does not change the outcome.

In Canada, people prefer to keep their eyes closed. It is more convenient or reassuring. It gives a sense of security, especially in uncertain times like a pandemic. Sadly, the outcome is not surprising, at least to Bambi.

If you are wondering about the title of this post, this award is the MOST prestigious one in Lebanon. Bambi feels sorry for insulting her birth country with this joke. The idea is just to show that Mr. Trudeau is not that different from those Lebanese politicians after all. He may just be more hypocritical. He may also think we are stupid… and who knows? He may be right: his apologies may work on many of us… They don’t/won’t on Bambi. He is no longer funny… He should resign. Period.

Oh, if he wishes, perhaps the “We Charity” can organize a “We Day” for him in Beirut ?. Whilst there, he can receive his National Order of the Cedar and get a selfie with his colleagues!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-sorry-we-contract-1.5647515

Beirut has been destroyed and re-built seven times throughout history.

It will surely survive again… but for now, Beirut is just tired… of being tired.

Here is a song for you Beirut by Mr. Enrico Macias (video # 1) with beautiful pictures, followed by a short movie Bambi just discovered by Mr. Elie Fahed & Ms. Carmen Bsaibes (video # 2).

Hang on Beirut! It is not for nothing that you have been called “Sit el Dounya” (the Lady of the world). Further below you can see a translation of this beautiful poem by Mr. Nizar Quabbani written during war, which later became a famous song by Majida (video # 3).

Some used to call Beirut the “Paris of the Orient” or “the Switzerland of the Middle East”.

These days seem far away… and yet when we are a true lady, deep inside, we remain one even in our misery. Indeed, Bambi recalls very well the wise words that her grandmother Asma used to say: “The rich remains rich despite poverty… and the poor remains poor despite all the richness”. She meant the richness of the spirit, of course (not of the pocket).

Beirut you will surely rise again eventually, hoping your people will recover what has been stolen from their own pockets, along with their dreams!

Beirut Lady of the world (a poem by Mr. Nizar Quabbani)

“Ya Beirut

Ya Beirut…Lady of the World

We confess to the one and only God:

That we were envious of you

And your beauty was harming us

We confess now:

We maltreated you and we were not merciful

We did neither understand you nor excuse you

We handed you a dagger (or knife) instead of a rose

We confess to the just God:

We injured you and made you tired

We burnt you and made you weep

We burdened you O Beirut with our sins

Ya Beirut

The world is not enough

We now know your roots are deep within us

We now know what our hands had committed

Rise…Rise…Rise

Rise from beneath the rubble

Like an almond’s flower in April

Rise from your grief… Rise

For revolution is born from the womb of misery

Rise from beneath the rubble

Rise in honour of the forests

Rise for the love of rivers

Rise in honour of the rivers, valleys, and mankind…

Rise for the love of mankind

Rise oh Beirut ….Rise

Revolution is born from the womb of sorrows

Ya Beirut….Ya Beirut!”

To begin with, here is the tweet by Mr. Maxime Bernier. Is there someone left out there who can justify this?

If so, please help yourself on this blog. Unlike the CBC, comments are always open here.

Bambi is saying so and she is a former LONG-TERM liberal voter. She remains a classical “liberal”, mind you.

To conclude this post on a funny note (despite the seriousness of Canada’s matters), here is a cartoon published lately in the Journal de Québec. Mr. Dion (Ethics Commissioner) is saying: “Another conflict of interest”! Mr. Trudeau (check the heart on our PM’s belt ?) is giving us a speech, saying: “Well-ordered charity begins with yourself” ?. We can see his mom, spouse, and brother with their hands in a big “WE Charity” pot filled with dollars and we can read: “It is the CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) for rich families”.

Bambi would like to thank her friend Amale for sharing the last two videos shown further below. Of note, in the first one, you can see/hear the American University of Beirut (AUB) President, Dr. Fadlo R. Khuri saying: “Now I am going to be blunt to you. This is the worst government in Lebanese history with regard to their understanding or of care of higher education…”.

Before sharing these videos, Bambi will thank Ms. Jane Ferguson for her journalistic piece for the PBS News Hour. It describes the tragedy of Lebanon very well…

Lebanon deserves much better than this financial/economic fiasco.

No, it is neither the covid-19 nor the USA’s fault. This is a homemade tragedy…

Here is Ms. Durocher’s hilarious article published today in the Journal de Montréal:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/07/09/we-love-justin-trudeau

Here is a quick English translation:

“We recap

– Justin Trudeau’s wife is an ambassador for WE.

– Justin Trudeau’s wife hosts a podcast for WE.

– In one of the WE podcasts hosted by Justin Trudeau’s wife, Justin Trudeau’s wife interviews Justin Trudeau’s mother.

– Many photos on his social media show Justin Trudeau’s wife in front of a WE logo, holding a WE microphone or wearing clothes with the WE logo.

– In his first public appearance after his election, Justin Trudeau participated with his wife in a WE event.

– In March, Justin Trudeau’s mother, Justin Trudeau’s wife, Justin Trudeau’s daughter and Justin Trudeau’s half-sister went to London to participate in a WE event.

– Trudeau’s mother was paid $ 250,000 for her various conferences for WE.

– Trudeau’s brother was paid $ 32,000 for lectures he gave for WE.

And despite all that, at NO point did Justin Trudeau see that he was in a conflict of interest by entrusting WE with the mandate to manage a contract of 900 million, contract for which WE was going to put 19 million in its pockets?

Are you pulling a fast one on us?”

End of Ms. Durocher’s funny article.

Now here is Mr. Blanchet’s serious request: He is requesting that the PM steps asides, at least during the ethics investigation (as he also said in an interview with TVA News channel), leaving the “responsibilities to the deputy PM”.

Will anyone listen?