“I’m not going to accuse @JustinTrudeau
of being a racist. But he’s the master of identity politics and the Libs just
spent months accusing everyone of being white supremacists. He definitely is
the biggest hypocrite in the country.”
Bernier summarized the tragic situation in our country
so well, even in those limited words.
Bambi does not know if the blame for this would only be
on the Liberals though… Although she could be wrong, Bambi thinks that our whole
society is guilty of this sort of collective stupidity described above by
Bernier.
It is hard to govern when we desperately try to please
everyone, instead of taking tough decisions or instead of knowing when to push back.
imagine for one second the following scenario: Had Mr.
Bernier worn such costume (and coloured his skin like that), even at age 3 (not
30) he would have been accused of being a Nazi.
Same for Sheer or anyone else. Same for May.
Perhaps this is old news for Bernier as some called him racist just for having policies on taboo topics such as immigration.
Bambi was born in the same part of the world as Aladdin.
She was not offended by Mr. Trudeau’s old picture… Like Mr. Bernier, what
bothers her the most in life is hypocrisy and the double-standards.
Plus, Trudeau’s costume is not an accurate illustration
of Aladdin, let’s say. Who knows? Aladdin may have been blond with green or
blue eyes (like Bambi’s maternal side of the family).
Anyhow, poor Mr. Trudeau— the Genie (or Jinn) could
not come to help him today. He had to act with courage and fast.
He did well by apologizing to all those who have been offended
(luckily, he is experienced in apologies). For this, Bambi thanks him.
Let’s move on now to more contemporary stories.
More importantly, let’s take the time to think about Trudeau’s
promises (all his “sunny ways”). Did he keep them? Did he deliver on them?
These are the questions that Bambi prefers to focus on before voting, more than on a bad costume in 2001 (Vancouver) or in 2018 (India).
Is the Mediterranean Sea the most beautiful sea in the world?
Today, upon waking up, Bambi saw that she had an SMS from one of her sisters, sharing two pictures she took before starting her 8 AM- lecture at the Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines, Université Libanaise, Tripoli campus (Lebanon).
By mid-day Atlantic time, Bambi received a third picture taken by her sister from her own balcony upon returning back home in Baabda (suburb of Beirut).
After 29 years in Canada, Bambi remains convinced that the most beautiful sea in the whole world is the Mediterranean Sea :)! Of course, she is saying this whilst appreciating the stunning beauty of Atlantic Canada’s beaches… and yes, she may be a bit biased here. After all, the Mediterranean sea is not only in her soul, so to speak, but also in her genes and… on her plate too (thanks to Talented Chef Luigi ?)!
OK, enough of philosophy. Here are the pictures. See for yourself! Maybe you can help in objectively answering the question in the title of this post?
Picture # 1 taken by Roula Azar-Douglas, Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines, Université Libanaise (the Lebanese University, Tripoli campus)Picture # 2 taken by Roula Azar-Douglas, Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines, Université Libanaise (The Lebanese University in Tripoli)Picture # 3 taken by Roula Azar-Douglas from her balcony (Baabda/Beirut, Lebanon)
I hope you have enjoyed this post. Thank you Roula for allowing Bambi to share some of the beauty of Lebanon.
Michael Lifshitz will drop off a building to raise funds for Easter Seals Nova Scotia in Drop Zone Halifax
Bambi would like to share a link to support an inspiring man (+ friend!), Mr. Michael Lifshitz travelling all his way from Ottawa to Halifax for his challenge… and what a challenge!
If anyone would like to donate
for the cause as Bambi just did, here is the link:
Easter Seals Nova
Scotia advocates
for “a barrier-free Nova Scotia and provide top-quality services promoting
mobility, inclusion and independence for Nova Scotians with disabilities”.
Easter Seals Nova Scotia
has “served Nova Scotians with disabilities for more than 80 years”:
Bambi FULLY and FONDLY supports Michael, even if she admits that she worries about him dropping off buildings (she can’t help it because she cares for him ?).
“Michael was born with a condition called Multiple Congenital
Musculoskeletal Abnormalities. In addition to wearing an artificial leg, he
walks with a cane and uses a wheelchair for longer distances. Contrary to what
many would believe possible, he became a chartered accountant and also obtained
a MBA from Edinburgh Business School.
He has built and sold successful accounting and financial planning
practices. Today, in addition to continuing a successful career in finance and
accounting as CFO and co-founder of Breakaway
Experiences, a gift experience company, he uses speaking, comedy and
writing to not only educate people as to what people with disabilities can do,
but to also inspire them to overcome their own challenges and live their life
to the fullest of their abilities”.
Michael is not only a skilled financial consultant (an entrepreneur in private practice who has worked as a financial advisor with Investors Group and with McGill University, over many years). His is also a talented comedian!
Bambi looks forward to seeing Michael soon. She dreams of welcoming him in Sackville, NB (not NS) one of these days. After all, we now have a high-rise (freezer) building in town…Oh no, maybe Bambi should not give Michael this idea ?!
Talented young Lebanese made their dreams come true in the United States and Britain
Bambi usually follows the news from Lebanon and the Middle
East with much interest.
Sadly, every day, we hear stories about security
threats or violence here and there.
Today, Bambi read and watched two pieces of good news
related to Lebanese youth talent.
First, she read about a student, called Georges Kennan,
who completed a summer research training at the NASA. Bravo!
Georges Kennan, picture taken from l’Orient Le Jour (Sept 15, 2019)
Second, Bambi’s sister shared with her the video below. Wow–Bravo to these talented Lebanese young female dancers whose team is called Mayyas. They participated in the Britain Got Talent show (earlier, Mayyas was the winner of the golden buzzer on Arabs Got Talent, AGT)!
Mayyas charmed all the judges of Britain’s Got Talent, as you can see in the video below (if you take the time to watch).
No life is not black or white: Let’s help youth see the light of hope between the shades of grey
Bambi’s current post is a quick comment to an article by Naomi Klein that she just read in the Toronto Star (Sept 14, 2019) and entitled “Maxime Bernier attacked Greta Thunberg’s autism. Naomi Klein says autism made the teen a global voice of conscience”:
Bambi cannot help not to weigh in on the conclusion of
Klein’s article before commenting on its introduction because, in her mind,
encouraging a black and white view in youth is worrisome. This is even a bigger
threat than climate change or Maxime Bernier’s clumsy yet possibly hurtful
words. Bambi will explain in the following paragraphs:
It is surprising how Naomi Klein, a brilliant
middle-aged writer/activist and a mother, forgot how teen brains are not fully
developed yet.
Whether with high functioning end of the autism spectrum
disorder (i.e. Asperger syndrome) or not, all youth go through adolescence.
Adolescents typically have trouble understanding all the
nuances or complexities underlying experiences and behaviours.
Thus, adolescents typically tend to see the world in black
and in white or in good and bad. In other terms, they have a simple view
of what is good and bad, what is right or wrong, etc.
To add more complexity to the above, adolescence is a
time of dramatic and rapid biological in addition to psychological and social
changes.
There is an increased risk of depression, regardless
of any complex care need like autism spectrum disorder.
Plus, child and adolescent epidemiological data
generally agree that before puberty the rates of clinical depression are
similar in girls and boys. However, gender differences tend to begin to appear
during adolescence.
Greta is an adolescent girl with autism. It is well
known that teens with autism spectrum disorder often experience medical mental
health disorders, such as anxiety and clinical depression (depression usually
goes hand in hand with anxiety). They may also have medical physical problems
and challenges in transitioning to adulthood.
All this is of course independent of any climate
change crisis (or breakdown, to use Klein’s term). Imagine with concerns about
it then?
Thus, adults have the duty to simply support youth
during their adolescence journey and transition to adulthood.
Of course, like Greta, youth with similar conditions
can teach us about life. They can inspire us in many ways with their
intelligence and ability to focus on matters for a long period of times
(obsessions).
Furthermore, let’s not forget that we all have a bit
of Greta in us. By this, Bambi means that we can all have autistic traits. This
being said, Greta’s story of mental health issues is not a secret. It is
actually public: her mother published a book and Bambi has read her mom’s
tweets or interviews.
In a clinical depressive episode, people (young and
old) may have a black and white
view of the world.
Once again, it may be unwise to
encourage both Greta and her young peers to remain trapped in this view.
Bearing this in mind, Bambi would like to comment now on
the introduction of Klein’s article. The author started by writing about how
Mr. Maxime Bernier “insulted” Greta (in one tweet out of a series) by stating her
mental health struggles in order to score a certain point.
Yes, he did not choose the most sensitive words, Bambi
sadly agrees. However, he had the humility to clarify his thoughts afterwards. How
many politicians have the courage/humility to do so?
Bambi watched/listened to the video of Klein with Greta
and her other talented peers. What a smart, friendly, and funny girl this Greta
?!
Klein was excellent
in general and happy to meet Greta. However, at one point, she took the time to
mention Mr. Bernier’s story to Greta and her American audience, without any
apparent consideration for Greta’s feelings. Perhaps she asked her privately
before if she can ask this question? Who knows? Luckily, Greta seemed to joke
about this story. Perhaps she has already learned to develop a thick skin like
politicians? Good for her then!
As for Bambi, she would have preferred to see Klein debating
with Bernier about Greta’s comments: “To solve the climate crisis, we have the
money in the banks. Just give it away”.
Anyhow, it surprising how an experienced writer, like Ms.
Klein, omitted to cite her references properly. Specifically, she started her
article by informing us that Mr. Bernier is the “leader of the *extremist*
People’s Party of Canada”. However, instead of inserting a link to his
political party and letting us see for ourselves his extremism, she inserted/cited
an article in the Toronto Star about him. Instead of showing the readers the
bio of Mr. Bernier, she inserted a link to another (biased) article about this
politician.
Mr. Bernier’s words may have been interpreted as being
insulting to Greta. Klein’s words could be said to be insulting the Toronto
Star readers’ intelligence.
To come back to Greta, Klein added: “In fact, a big
part of what has made Thunberg such an inspiring figure, is the fact that she
is a living proof that diversity — in her case neurodiversity — is absolutely
key to the survival of our species”.
Well said… but what about the (intellectual, political,
and scientific) diversity? Doesn’t this matter anymore?
Furthermore, Klein noted that people on the autism
spectrum disorder are “intensely vulnerable to bullying” because of the
neurodiversity.
Interesting point with which Bambi agrees. However, what
about their intensive vulnerability to political child use (abuse?)?
Anyhow, Bambi worries about how Greta will fare in the
long-term given all this premature fame in life. Is she really equipped to deal
with it? Of course, her parents are there to protect her. However, they can
also end up suffering from fame by proxy or from their own fame (as activists
or as artists). Indeed, numerous examples of young Rock or Hollywood stars
teach us that fame is challenging. After becoming famous, it is hard to turn
back. The pressure can become unbearable for all, especially for an adolescent
(with autism and/or co-occurring other medical problems).
Klein also wrote about how, “at age 15, she decided to
stop doing the one thing all kids are supposed to do when everything is normal:
go to school”. Is this an insinuation
that it is OK for other kids to stop going to school now to be like Greta.
According to Klein, “pretty much *every aspect of our
economy* would have to change if we were to decide to take climate change
seriously, and there are many powerful interests that like things as they are”.
Isn’t this solution too extreme (not Bernier then ?)?
Klein concluded her article as follows: “Because if
the emissions have to stop, then we must stop the emissions. To me that is
black or white.”
This white and black view scares Bambi. Although she
may be wrong, it can lead to an intolerance for any developing nuance in one’s
own thinking and… in others’ diversity of opinions.
It is one thing to lecture adults. It is another thing
to play the same game with adolescents. Indeed, Bambi is concerned not about
the climate problem per se (although this is important) but rather by the whole
world-wide “circus” or drama around Greta/the climate. Even someone as
accomplished as Naomi Klein seems to be inflating her own public image with
Greta’s brand name.
Teens usually have existential questions concerning values,
love, friendship, parents, the future, society, morality, religion….and
justice. They naturally question everything. They judge adults. Sometimes they
do so very harshly because, as mentioned above, they cannot see the nuances yet.
They are also searching for and building their own identity. They remain
vulnerable, despite their increasing autonomy.
To conclude this post, school is usually important for
children’s education all the time, not just from Monday to Thursday. Plus, it
costs money to skip all these Fridays. Instead of strikes (where many kids are
just excited by skipping school), let’s help youth keep focused. They will need
their focus and hard work to graduate. Some of them will eventually train to
become the scientists of tomorrow. Those scientists who will innovate solutions
to the world’s climate change problem.
Bambi would like to briefly comment
on an article by Ms. Katie Tower in the Sackville Tribune (September 9,
2019) entitled “Sackville town council could undergo salary review”
“I knew what the compensation package was when I ran for office and I’m
happy with it”.
Tower’s article continues to read as follows:
“Evans said he doesn’t support the idea of pursuing any kind of salary
review, either by council itself or by a citizen-led committee. He said council
is paid well, both in terms of salary and benefits, which includes a life,
health and dental package.
“If you add those two together and you compare it to every other
comparable-sized municipality in New Brunswick, we’re the best compensated,” he
said. “We seem to be doing very well.”
Mmm… Bambi has three burning questions for Councillor Evan:
(1). Is your comment just an expression of an innocent virtue signalling?
(2). Or does this “Look at me, I am so good (always better than others)” attitude also serve to prevent your current or future colleagues from a potential wage increase?
(3). Maybe you do not need an increase yourself, for whatever reason. Good
for you but what about others?
Regardless, your input on this matter may be perceived as being uncollegial.
Ironically, this could backfire on you in the outcomes of future elections.
Bambi would like to share a deep thought by Mr. Stéphane Laporte from La Presse that made her smile. This journalist’s daily thoughts can be quite sarcastic yet always clever.
Thought of the day by Mr. Stéphane Laporte (La Presse, Sept 13, 2018)
“Jagmeet Singh could become Prime Minister of Canada, but he could not become a primary (or elementary) school teacher in Québec” (Bambi’s translation).
«Jagmeet Singh pourrait devenir premier ministre du Canada, mais ne pourrait pas enseigner dans une école primaire au Québec» (Mr. Laporte’s original French text).
This thought reflects the cultural difference in the conceptualization of secularity between Québec and the rest of our country.
Yes, we can smile (and even laugh) at ourselves in any situation; of course, with all due respect to Mr. Singh (and his peers from all the other parties), to Canada, and to Québec (needless to say here that Bambi supports its laws, including Bill 21).
After reading this thought, Bambi felt the urge to be even more sarcastic than Mr. Laporte (it’s Friday night ?). She could not help not to think to herself:
Justin Trudeau could hardly remain Prime Minister of Canada, but he could easily become a school teacher again, even in Québec.
Where are the voices of our radical feminists to denounce honour killing abroad?
This beautiful young woman’s name is Israa (Ghrayeb).
Israa was a make-up artist from a village near Bethlehem. She died a month ago after being rushed to the hospital with severe wounds. Her family members killed her…in the name of honour (simply because of a picture on Instagram!).
Three male relatives of Israa have been
officially charged. Will they go to jail? And if so, for how long?
Will their story serve to make others whose brains may become blinded by the same murderous madness stop to reflect: Enough senseless tragedies in the name of a cultural attachment to an ideological concept like family honour. Fruitful coping efforts are possible when we allow our rationality and (psychological) flexibility to operate. Yes, it is possible to learn to solve conflicts without resorting to crimes. Some ingredients that can help deal with bursts of anger may be simple common sense, love, forgiveness, and humour.
Since the beginning of 2019, 19 Palestinian women
died in cases of domestic violence, according to L’Orient Le Jour (Israa
is # 19).
There is no impunity, largely because there
is no legal protection yet.
A bill that was supposed to put an end to impunity in domestic violence was finalized in 2004. It is still not adopted by the Palestinian Government, even if the Palestinian Prime Minister declared that the protection of women should be reinforced. Despite his good intentions, it is hard to pass such bill. A culture of “real” patriarchy truly exists in this part of the world.
First, let’s stop to think about the term
*honour killing*. Victims, mostly women (+ at times men), are perceived as having
caused dishonour to their family because of a shameful behaviour, that is judged
as being immoral. This real or just suspected behaviour may be refusing a pre-arranged
marriage, having been sexually assaulted, appearing in a picture with a man, being
suspected of having kissed a man or having had an intimate relation before marriage,
being gay, etc.
Why would honour killing be still committed by some in 2019? Why would the so-called honour of a family be valued more than loving one’s children or forgiving them (for any real, perceived, or even simply suspected behaviour)?
Make no mistake. Israa’s story is NOT only made in Palestine. This sad story could have occurred anywhere in the world, including Canada (i.e., the Shafias, if you recall). However, these tragedies occur primarily in Arab and Muslim countries (e.g., Pakistan, Iran). In Arab countries, we can think of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and sadly even in Lebanon where, in 2011, the Parliament agreed by a majority to abolish an Article, which was used in the past as an excuse to reduce sentences related to honour killing. That was a piece of good news… but, to truly get rid of honour killing, there should also be a general shift in societal attitudes toward gender-based violence, via massive educational programs in all the communities, perhaps especially in highly religious ones. Even if honour killing is more cultural than religious per se, religion may act as a carrying vehicle for it.
Honour killing also occurs in other countries,
namely in South America (e.g., Ecuador, Brazil) and in Asian countries, namely
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Cambodia. One must also note that in India, honour
killing can occur in all sorts of families, including Sikh (in Punjab) and Hindu.
Like the horrible murders in Kingston, ON,
Canada (i.e., Shafia’s family), several cases of honour killing have occurred throughout
France and also in the UK (also in immigrant families).
The article in Le Monde above was published
in 2011. It is hard to believe that we are in 2019 and such crimes are still
tolerated in some other countries.
Related to this, Bambi cannot help but to
wonder to herself: Where are our radical Canadian feminists to join their voices
to the tireless women (and men) who have denounced this honour killing?
Perhaps they are too busy denouncing rape cultures
or patriarchy in our civilized societies? Perhaps they are comfortable in their
“safe spaces”, who knows? Or perhaps like our politicians and societies, they are
exhibiting political correctness.
Anyhow, Israa’s story ended with her death. Other forms of barbaric stories, also committed in the name of cultural traditions, lead to another form of death (the brutal unsolicited end of sexual pleasure in life). I am thinking specifically of cases of vaginal mutilation in some parts of the world (e.g., 27 African countries as well Yemen, Irak, and Indonesia):
On this differently disturbing note, Bambi would like to end by hoping that Israa is resting in peace now. May her memory be eternal… Israa, in addition to being beautiful, you were a make-up artist on earth. May you enjoy your rest; wherever you are, perhaps somewhere among the *beautiful* stars in the sky.
Bambi would like to share a cartoon by Mr. Yannick Lemay (“La caricature d’Ygreck” in the Journal de Québec; September 9, 2019) without any comment (just a smile ?):
Bambi usually follows the news from Québec with great
interest.
Herein she will comment on this article entitled “Le bloc Québécois veut que Ottawa respecte la laicité au Québec” (The Bloc Québécois wants Ottawa to respect Québec secular state):
She would like to thank the Bloc Québécois, even if
she does not reside in the Belle Province (clearly not a potential voter).
The Bloc Québécois is simply reminding Ottawa (i.e.,
our current Prime Minister) and the rest of Canada (i.e., leaders May and Singh
as well as some former politicians from Alberta) and organizations from the
rest of Canada that this new bill is made in Québec and is meant for Québec… In
other terms, please all remember to respect Québec’s will (the bill is supported
by the majority of the Québec population; maybe it was controversial but only in
Montreal; sometimes for legitimate concerns; other times for other reasons).
It is hard for the rest of Canada, and maybe the rest
of North America, to understand the history and mindset of Québec, especially
when often people and politicians alike forget that Québec is a distinct nation
(even within our beautiful Canada).
To come back to Bill 21, there have been many articles
written about it. Many of them, if not most, include errors and/or omissions.
Contrary to what people think, whether they like this bill
or not, it came after 10 years of public debate.
To clarify this bill, here is a quick summary:
Four principles:
The separation of state and
religion
The religious neutrality of
the state
The equality of all citizens
Freedom of conscience and
freedom of religion
Some government
employees in positions of authority, such as prosecutors and police
officers, as well as teachers and principals of public primary and secondary
schools, will not be able to wear religious symbols in the performance of their
duties.
The Act
specifies that persons who were in office on March 27, 2019, retain the right
to wear a religious sign, as long as they hold the same function within the
same organization.
The bill also clarifies that public services must be
provided and received without a covered face during an identity check or if needed
for security reasons.
Compared to other similar secular bills in other
countries, the bill is moderate (ex., more than in France or even Switzerland).
Not surprising to me because the bill reflects Québec’s pragmatism, tolerance,
and collective self-respect.
This law is a natural historical logic to Québec’s
past (a domineering Catholic Church, which led to a Quiet revolution).
Bambi took the time to reflect about this bill. She clearly
supports it or supports Québec’s will.
This being said, spontaneously, she first saw the
logic and merit of the police and lawyers not wearing religious or tribal
symbols (+ of course, the part of the law about the security). She struggled a
lot, especially at first, to see the government logic behind the extension of
this bill to teachers/school principals (as authority figures). Maybe she still
does not fully understand it but she endorses it, especially with the reactions
of (religious and other) lobby groups and the media.
Perhaps Québec is naive still. It does not understand that we can indoctrinate kids without wearing any symbol, religious or not. She also thinks that it is not because you are wearing a religious symbol that you would be narrow-minded… although you may have trouble teaching topics like evolutionary biology, who knows?
She also wonders why the bill didn’t extend to universities to protect education students/trainees, wearing religious symbols, who are aspiring for a job in the public sector? However, the government made the choice to legally protect only current employees. So, luckily no one would lose his/her job!
Yes, it is sad to imagine one single woman (or man, if
any) who may find herself prevented from applying to a job in public schools
and risk being isolated in their homes ☹.
However, one must remember that they can apply for jobs in the private sector.
Anyhow, this law is less authoritarian as it does not
force students not to wear any religious symbols (so much more moderate than in
France or, at one point, in Turkey).
Now, why does Bambi think that this bill is wise…. Because Québec respected its past and took the time to think of its future, preventing potential problems like those we see elsewhere, sadly like in her home country or even its neighbouring Israel, when religious lobbies become too powerful.
Bambi thinks that this bill is about the secularity of the government; not about removing any right to anyone. The government made a compromise and removed a traditional cross from its National Assembly. Even if Bambi has (Christian) faith in her heart (+ her family includes members of 7 different religions), she salutes this gesture. According to her, it was even about time for a province which government is now officially and fully secular.
To conclude, Bambi would like to thank the Bloc Québécois again and cite a (translated) quote from the Honourable Simon Jolin-Barrette, Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion and Government House Leader: “We have just written an important page in the history of Québec. The public has been waiting for this moment for more than ten years, and our government has had the courage to finally act in this way with rigor and pragmatism. It is legitimate for the Québec nation to decide how secularism applies in its territory and in its institutions. I am proud, on behalf of your government, to finally affirm and define the secularism of the state by placing it in Québec law for the first time”.
Thank you Québec for having the courage to govern and for perhaps providing an example to the world of how to stand for one’s values.
