Author: Bambi

The cartoon above appeared in the Journal de Montréal on February 17, 2020:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/02/16/la-caricature-de-marc-beaudet

Ironically, the latest slogan of Trudeau’s federal campaign in the Fall of 2019 was “Choose Forward” (OR “Choisir d’avancer”).

Canadians voted for the Liberals again (a minority government this time). Perhaps they were hoping to see their country moving forward, that is in a direct horizontal line. As things are now, the train hasn’t left the station for over a week.

More seriously, here are thoughtful insights for a deep long-term solution, of course after addressing this crying crisis we are in: Interview with the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould (Global News, February 16, 2020):

https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/f038174c-503c-11ea-9a30-0242ac110003/?jwsource=cl

Sadly, our First Nations people remind Bambi of Lebanon, which finds itself always at the mercy of the manipulation by external forces. Some instrumentalize it. Some speak in its name. We also have people who are surely well-meaning but too illuminated to remain lucid (by either this cause or by the climate change cause or whatever other cause in the future).

Last Canada Day, our town did not celebrate July 1st and we did not see any of our beautiful flags on our streets. This did not prevent Bambi from celebrating elsewhere (nearby towns) or googling as she does every year Oh Canada in both languages and searching for the most beautiful performance, according to her non-expert ears, just for fun. She even once accepted a challenge by her spouse and invented an Arabic version of our beautiful anthem ?.

Anyhow, this is how she searched for messages of politicians (when she was able to find them, in preference to silence or lectures about morality). Anyhow, she came across the Honourable Elizabeth May’s message (Green Party), a joyful one… up until its end. Indeed, in her recorded message, she invited Canadians to have fun, to wear red, to celebrate Canada (nice up until now) and ended it with something like “let’s remember to thank our First Nations for ‘hosting’ us on their land”. With that sentence, she lost Bambi. The word “hosting” was a bit too odd for her ears, especially on this day of pride and celebration.

Even Ms. Jody Wilson-Raybould does not use such words? Indeed, she talked in the video above about the importance of a newer model for self-governance for First Nations People (reform of the current Indian Act that is the legacy of colonialism) within a “strong Canada”, with a more modern federalism, to use her own words.

Why does Ms. May (whom Bambi likes a lot), and along her SO many of the 37 million Canadians, need to outbid this form of collective guilt and/or political correctness to the point of dismissing themselves, their country, their heritage, their culture, and… their pride as Canadians?

Couldn’t we achieve reconciliation with our First Nations People without having to resort to self-flagellation or to kill our economy, and punish our railways?

A young adult woman or an older adult woman are absolutely free to decide to wear a hijab (head scarf) or not, if they feel like it. It is their choice and it is their call. Bravo to them if they find a more meaningful (or spiritual) life like that.

However, a five-year old child (or a 6-9 year-old one) is by definition still a child.

Is a child as young as the one in the picture above able to consent to medical care or to other adult-like-decisions, including the adherence to strict Islam?

Why is one of our Canadian federal banks promoting Islamism in children then?

Why is it normalizing the sexualization of the body of a young girl (who is not even into puberty yet!)?

Why is it encouraging this sort of a barrier between her and the look of others on her (i.e., men)? Why are we contributing to making her feel as if something is wrong with her, just because she is a female, and she is just an innocent child?

Acceptance and tolerance of others is one thing. That is noble. However, the promotion of Islamist values is a totally different thing.

In other parts of the world, and likely in some highly religiously conservative circles in our country, women are daily fighting hard against oppression and for their emancipation.

Can’t we keep being the “kind Canadians” that we are whilst avoiding being too naive in our kindness?

The idea here should be respect, tolerance, and even love of Muslims. Period. We can do this without naively promoting Islamism in our society.

Just as a reminder: Islam is a religion. It is one of three major monotheistic religions (along with Judaism and Christianity). Islamism is a political ideology. It is usually very radical (e.g., Wahabism, Shia Islamism, Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS, etc.). It is VERY far from being fair to women… as well as LGBTQ communities.

The tittle of this CTV article below (with a video) is “Canada doesn’t tell police what to do, Trudeau says of rail blockades”.

Bambi does not know if she should laugh to this statement by our PM or cry. Since when Canada does not tell the RCMP what to do? Are we in a police state or in a democracy?

Canada as a federation appears like a joke now ☹. Ottawa’s responsibility is clear: 1. First Nations and 2. Railway stations to ensure inter-provincial trade.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-doesn-t-tell-police-what-to-do-trudeau-says-of-rail-blockades-1.4811999

Our Prime Minister is clearly too weak (and this has nothing to do with a current minority government). He is too weak in his own mind and leadership (with all due respect). Who knows? He may be also be a bit hypocritical, or… too illuminated by his own idealistic ideology. Perhaps all the above at once?

By his statement above, he is putting Canada’s police and the provinces in a very bad situation.

Why and how will you be negotiating Mr. Trudeau? Hopefully by not trying to solve this crisis by bribing those protestors to shut them up. That would be caving in to “economic terrorism”.

Bambi does not care by whom. This time it is by those so-called “Hereditary Chiefs of the Wetʼsuwetʼen” and a bunch of fanatic activists (https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/who-is-behind-solidarity-action-for-wetsuweten-hereditary-chiefs). Tomorrow it will be by another group, God forbid. Imagine if Islamists decide to do this? Or Sikhs? Or francophones? Or radical feminists? Or any Jewish group of some sort? Or a Palestinian group? How about a far-right group of some sort?

Will you allow this Mr. Trudeau?

From Bambi’s past experiences in other countries with groups that have been marginalized AND from her experiences as a foster parent/educator or any citizen with a minimum of common sense: Your so-called strategy of negotiation at this point will not work, Mr. Trudeau. Actually, it may be even already too late to solve this crisis that would have been simpler in its early moments: You just remove them from railways (arrest some if you have too, as well written by Mr. Mario Dumont: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/02/14/les-fabricants-de-crises).

By not acting properly and timely, those protesters (perhaps just 0.09% of the whole population) have now learned that tantrums and illegal acts paralyze nations. They will learn that radicalism and taking countries and populations hostage work.

Is this a good lesson to teach, Mr. Trudeau?

On that sad day, Lebanon’s Prime Minster was assassinated in a horrific car bomb in Beirut, and along with him many innocent people. Many other journalists, academics, and/or politicians have also been killed following this “earthquake” that hit Lebanon, to use the same term as the France24 documentary below:

In Bambi’s mind, a Prime Minister is the country itself. Killing him or her would be equivalent to killing a whole country.

Where is the accountability in Lebanon?

Bambi did not have the chance to know Mr. Rafic Hariri as a politician, as she left the country in 1990 at the very end of civil war. She is talking in general.

What she knows is that we owe him the re-construction of the Lebanese capital after the destructive 15-year-old civil war.

Below, you can see pictures she recently took at Beirut airport (that now carries his name), featuring Beirut before and after (war).

She remembers that, during war, many of the Red Cross cars/ambulances had Hariri’s name written in tiny letters (“a donation of Rafic Hariri”).

Another memory that comes to her mind is the LARGE number of Lebanese students who were able to receive bursaries from Hariri Foundation to study either in Beirut or abroad. She personally knows many colleagues and friends. Some came to North America. These students were from all regions and confessions. They had/have one thing in common: the excellence of their work. No one asked them about their religion.

Of course, Mr. Hariri may have been disliked (at least by those who ordered his killing) or those who did not like his work or his ties to Saudi Arabia, etc. Some did not like the business style of his company that has built Beirut. “Solidere” may have indeed operated in an unfair way with some citizens. However, in Bambi’s mind, seeing a prosperous Beirut is by far nicer than the destruction of war or current vandalism.

So, if only for that, Bambi would like to say: Thank you Mr. Hariri. Hope you are resting in peace… despite the economic unrest in Beirut that you have loved and cared for in your own way. You loved your capital so much that your name and hers are forever associated with Valentine’s Day. Sadly, as mentioned earlier, many other citizens as well. They had nothing to do with politics. They just happened to be present at the wrong place and time. May they all rest in peace.

First, here is Mr. Martineau’s article in French, published in the Journal de Montréal today:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/02/13/grand-parleur-petit-faiseur

Second, before presenting the English translation of the article in question, Bambi would like to weigh in as follows:

She is fascinated, yet not surprised, how neither the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould nor Dr. Jane Philpott (congrats on her new role as Dean of Queen’s University faculty of health sciences) are mentioning this story on their social media channels. Why? Likely because they are for real these two women. They act, they do not talk just to talk. They also do not endorse ridiculous or illegal acts, regardless by whom. Needless to add that Ms. Wilson-Raybould currently serves as an Independent Member of Parliament for the British Columbia riding of Vancouver Granville. She is also a member of the We Wai Kai Nation and to use her own words “a proud Canadian”. In addition to her forthcoming academic role, Dr. Philpott is the Special Advisor on Health for Nishnawbe Aski Nation and we all know about her genuine care for our First Nations people.   

Third and last, below starts Mr. Martineau’s article, which is surely food for thought, to say the least (sarcastic yet full of truth).   

“Oh he speaks well, our Prime Minister!

Women’s rights, blahblahblah.

The environment, blahblahblah

First Nations, blahblahblah.

Comfortable, in control, with just the right amount of emotion.

The gloomy days

And what about his new disguise – that short beard (i.e., salt and pepper goatee) he found in the bottom of his trunk, between a Sikh turban, a fakir tunic, and a pair of slippers?

It suits him perfectly, adding to his personality a “je ne sais quoi” of wisdom and maturity…

Gone, the little guy with the wet navel. Now, he has the look of an experienced head of state!

Who knows? In six months, we may see him with a pipe, thinking aloud about the state of the world in front of a fireplace, an open atlas on a pedestal table …

In short, when the time comes to speak, there is no one like our “national” Justin.

But when the time comes to act, however, as is the case now with the railroad blockade, our PM is as comfortable as a fish on an ironing board.

Where’s Justin?

He went to take his Bovril, come on!

AN EXPLOSIVE SITUATION

I know what you are going to tell me…

“The matter is however simple: a citizen disobeys the law? Send the police to arrest him, thank you, have a good evening”.

In theory, indeed, the matter is simple.

But in practice, it is not.

Because the citizens who are currently blocking railways and taking the country by the family jewels are members of the First Nations.

And in this era of exacerbated political correctness, where one climbs the curtains as soon as a “White” dares – oh scandal! – to make sushi in the kitchen, you don’t mess with the First Nations.

Not a gala, a show or an event that begins without an announcer reminding us, in a serious and dramatic tone, that “the performance you are going to see this evening takes place in unceded Native territory”…

So imagine what would happen if the police charged in the pile and arrested the culprits!

The images would go around the world in three and a half seconds.

“Look how we treat the members of the First Nations in the country of Justin Trudeau!” The UN should get involved! “

The image of our Prime Minister would be shattered.

And he cares about his image, Justin. After all, that’s all he has…

MARC GARNEAU IS IN THE HOUSE!

So he’s trying to buy time.

Especially since he’s in Africa, doing what he enjoys most in the world: talking.

The greatness of Africa, blahblahblah.

The guilt of the West, blahblahblah.

The importance of bringing Canada to the Security Council, blahblahblah.

And then, why bring the PM back when Marc Garneau is so well seated in Ottawa?

We had to see the Minister of Transport makes this Québec’s problem.

Go stop them, these Amerindians, that’s not our problem!

Oh no? The First Nations file is not a federal responsibility?

Come on. I may be alarmist, but I find (excuse my cultural appropriation) that this whole story is starting to smell like lasagna…”

First, despite a widespread lack of trust by angry citizens, the Parliament of Lebanon voted to give its confidence to the government. That happened yesterday. Today, this government asked for the technical support of the IMF (International Monetary Fund):

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/world/lebanon-to-request-imf-technical-help-government-source-410111/

We can either think: (1) Finally, one concrete action to try to solve the deep crisis, even if it is a shy move OR (2) Why are they giving mixed signals if Lebanon cannot commit to a full IMF Program because of its tough conditions? And of course, there is always a question in the background (an elephant in the room): What does Hezbollah want?  Because in reality without its silent or loud approval, nothing can happen in Lebanon, according to Bambi’s non-expert opinion (they are the strongest link). People have been protesting for four months against all the political leaders in vain.  

Second, Bambi would like to share two comments by anonymous protesters she has watched online in the media. There is truth to their insights. The first protester said: “I bet this government will be more concerned in helping the banking sector than the poor population; even if some may be very competent folks, they have been nominated by the same political parties. Plus, one of the so-called “technocrats” in this government is related to the banking sector”. The second protester said: “Usually when a treatment protocol does not work anymore, we change the treatment. We do not prescribe the same drug or its generic” (he was referring to the government being a continuation of the same old…).

Last but not least, after reading the serious (perhaps promising?) news, Bambi did not want to go to bed without laughter. This is how she decided to re-watch an older video about “dating a Lebanese man” that a Canadian friend from PEI shared with her. She hopes it will make you smile too. One thing is sure in her mind: Lebanese men are cute, even if they are at the antidote of her spouse ?!   

Today, Québeckers commuting by train woke up to trains being blocked by the natural gas pipeline protesters (https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/pipeline-protesters-plan-to-be-there-until-further-notice-as-exo-cancels-trains-on-candiac-line-1.4804798).

Yesterday for the third day, Ontarians travelling by train between Toronto , Ottawa, and Montreal, have been blocked in 18 VIA rail stations (https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/indigenous-rail-blockades-cause-chaos-for-ontario-travellers-commuters).

In BC, highways have been blocked by activists protesting the same cause (https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/84be145a-4c61-11ea-85c7-0242ac110002/?jwsource=cl).

What is ironic in the case of the train in Québec is that the citizens (and government) of La Belle Province are known to be anti-pipeline. Bambi says this because of the Lac Mégantic tragedy a few years ago, that has taught us how trains can be more dangerous than pipelines to transport dangerous yet much needed substances.

So why do all those “activists” go to that extreme, even miles away from the west side of our country?

In the National Post article above, travellers described their frustration (even if they understand the cause) because they missed a funeral or a wedding. One young woman missed the chance of seeing her boyfriend after a long month. Luckily, VIA rail will be reimbursing everyone, it seems.

Bambi can only feel for these travellers. She used to take that VIA train between Toronto and Montreal to a great extent, especially the fast route (4 hours). She once left work on a Friday evening in a rush and took the train, for a 24-hour trip, to say good-bye to her aunt in her last moments of her life. Had such interruption occurred then, Bambi would have been annoyed; regardless of the “activists” and their cause, even if she had sympathy for it.

Another question that begs itself: Why do our authorities allow all this to unfold, even when a decision was made in December to allow the company in question to proceed AND when the company consulted with 20 first nations who ALL support this project?

Why do we hear the name of one entity, the Hereditary Chiefs, and not other leading groups or Mr. or Ms. Average Person from their communities?

Anyhow, these questions are not the topic of this post but they cannot help not to run into Bambi’s mind whilst reading the news as she tries to understand all this.

To come back to the question raised by this post: “Is it OK to impose our convictions on others?”, Bambi is asking this question regardless of the cause of the day.  

For instance, a few days ago, animal activists stormed an organic store in Montreal, (https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/202002/09/01-5260228-des-militants-antispecistes-font-irruption-dans-une-epicerie-montrealaise.php) and a few weeks ago, a pig farm in Saint-Hyacinthe (https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/animal-activists-occupy-a-pig-farm-in-saint-hyacinthe-and-are-arrested-1.4719827),  and at one point, they invaded a restaurant serving beef and bothered the clients who went to relax and enjoy a good meal (https://www.mtlblog.com/news/canada/qc/montreal/montreal-restaurant-joe-beef-stormed-by-animal-rights-activists-video).

Why do we tolerate this form of so-called environmental activism that resemble more social “terrorism”? In the name of what? Of “climate change” that is resembling more and more a cult and less and less science?

Bambi, as a deer, is concerned by the driving of humans in her habitat (where we built highways). Imagine, if she, and her fellow deer of Canada, decide to block our highways and train rails to denounce this noble cause to her species. Will this be acceptable and tolerated by “human” Canadians?

In the following French article by Ms. Magaly Abboud in the l’Orient Le Jour, one of the Lebanese major daily newspapers (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1205941/pres-de-220-000-emplois-supprimes-depuis-octobre-60-000-depuis-decembre.html), we can read the following:

“About 220 000 job losses since October, 2019; 60,000 since December.”

“Over half of the businessses interviewed by Infopro in January 2020 have cut the pays of their employees.”

This is HUGE. This is sad.

Will the new Government get the trust of the Parliament of Lebanon tomorrow and on Thursday?

What about earning the trust of the people?

After all, they are the ones paying for their political leaders’ corruption (i.e., funds stolen… without accountability yet) and/or for their mismanagement?

To conclude this post on a note of hope, Bambi had wished (OK still wishes, if at all realistically possible?) to see the same level of professionalism and talent in the Lebanese politicians as in “Captain George Deeb, along with Co-Captain Karl Stefan,” who “managed to take control of the Airbus 330 while it was landing at Heathrow in London despite the storm”.

Indeed, “the move showed the professionalism of MEA captains” (“Lebanon online” on Youtube).

Bravo to the Lebanese pilots ?!

Whilst working and listening to the radio on the internet, Bambi heard a moving song about Beirut (the one below) interpreted by a beautiful male voice. She took a quick break to search the web trying to find this piece and uncover the man behind the voice. This is how she came across Ms. Talia Lahoud playing the guitar and singing.

What a moving talent. Indeed, she cannot help not to share her discovery with you, hoping you will enjoy it too.

The first video is about a famous song for Beirut by Feiruz (sub-titled in English). It was written during the Lebanese civil war:

The second song below, also sub-titled in English, is dedicated by Ms. Talia Lahoud to all the countries of the world. It is called “Mawtini” and it literally means my homeland.

If Bambi understands well, this has been the national anthem of Palestine at one point in time and then of Iraq. What a moving poem! What a superb music. According to a Wikipedia page, “It is a popular poem written by the Palestinian poet ʾIbrāhīm Ṭūqān in 1934 and composed by the Lebanese composer Muhammed Flayfil” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawtini_(Ibrahim_Tuqan_song):

Last but surely not the least, the third piece is John Lennon’s “Imagine”.  No need for introductions obviously. Of note, Ms. Lahoud sings it in both English and Arabic (her Lebanese Arabic version whilst the two songs above are in Standard Arabic):

Thank you Ms. Lahoud for your talent. Please keep nurturing it and generously sharing with us!

Mind you, Bambi is particularly moved to see (and imagine you also) singing in the entrance of your building in Beirut. Who knows? Perhaps you are a neighbour of her parents? Or maybe one of her sisters ?? Neighbours or not, from the same birth country or not, we are all surely relatives in humanity. The latter knows no boundaries.

The purpose of this post is to share a translation of an article by Mr. Mathieu Bock-Côté, published this morning in the Journal de Montréal as it is food for thought.

However, before introducing this translated article further below, Bambi would like to share the following personal comments: One of the several reasons she did not vote for our current government again is illustrated in this older cartoon by YGreck in the Journal of Québec ? about our Prime Minister. You can notice the short and clear answer in English to the right (meant for the rest of Canada). A contrast to the long, vague, and senseless answer in French to the right (as an answer to journalists from Québec). Indeed, Bambi is sensitive to congruence in politicians in both languages (especially when they speak both English and French well enough). It may tell us something about not only a hot topic (and courage) but also, and more importantly to her, about authenticity.

Well, regardless of Bill 21 (it is just an example), Bambi has always been for the respect of Québec (+ the other provinces/territories; e.g., Alberta) in an optimally functional federalism. In her mind or heart, she has always been for “a strong Québec in a united Canada”, to use a cliché. However, things seemed too “disunited” in our beautiful Canada lately, along with an extreme campaign of our mainstream media against Québec (with a total misunderstanding of Bill 21) that Bambi felt somehow pushed into finding sympathy for the Québec sovereignty movement. Can you imagine the danger of pushing things too far?

This being said, enough of Bambi’s blahblahblah now. Here is the translated article in question. Thank you Mr. Bock-Côté. It is food for thought, whether we agree or not.

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/02/08/le-canada-un-pays-hostile-au-quebec

“Canada: a country hostile to Québec”

By Mathieu Bock-Côté

“Much has been said in recent days about the challenge of Bill 21 by the English-Montreal School Board and its illegal funding by the federal government, through the court challenges program – funding that the controversy has driven the EMSB to refuse.

Several, including François Legault, have accused Justin Trudeau of insulting Québeckers. Others have argued that Justin Trudeau had little to do with this decision because the program would be “independent” – such an assertion, however, deserves many nuances, including that it is ideologically very oriented.

Trudeau

It doesn’t matter whether Justin Trudeau would be personally responsible for this challenge. The main thing is elsewhere. Rather, what we need to recognize is that the federal system itself, with or without Justin Trudeau, is fundamentally hostile to Québec’s assertion. He submits it to a constitution it did not sign, to a Charter of Rights which engenders an undemocratic and multiculturalist government of judges, which demonizes and reduces us to the status of an ethnic minority in plural Canada.

Canada is a country fundamentally hostile to the people of Québec. It pushes for its political dissolution and its demographic marginalization.

Nothing that is happening right now is surprising. The great virtue of Bill 21, in some respects, is to remind Québeckers of a truth that they wanted to forget: Québec may well be made to believe that it is free to decide for itself in the federal framework. It is wrong.

Federalism

Québec must be deployed in the space that is granted for it. Let us be clear: It is politically submissive to Ottawa.

And if, sooner or later, the Supreme Court decides to suspend Bill 21, there won’t be many cards left in its game. There is a price to pay for not being independent.

What will François Legault do then?”

Thank you for your time if you are still reading this post, whether you agree with Bill 21 or not, Bambi hopes you will at least see that it is is a bill made by Québec for Québec.

To conclude this post, here are Bambi’s earlier posts on the topic:

What about “collective” rights of the Québec nation, Mr. Pallister?

“Naziland, QC?!”: Facal’s article is food for thought, whether you agree or not

Test yourself with Bill 21: Multiple Choice Questions

Mr. Richard Martineau is right: The Globe & Mail editorial on Québec’s Bill 21 sucks

A French debate more professional and enjoyable than its English fiasco version