“Mabrouk” (= Congrats!) to the bride & groom, celebrating their union in the middle of the Lebanese revolution on the street!
Malake Alaywe Herz & Mohammed got married on Day 7 of the mass protests in Lebanon, by Mohammed Yassine, from L’Orient Le Jour
Below is a moving picture and a video of a Lebanese soldier with tears in his eyes, touched by the demonstrators’ expression of patriotism and pacifism (chanting the Lebanese anthem)!
No clue what they are all looking at…. Surely not at this demonstrator who is also looking at the same direction ?. From BBC
Here is a video of medical residents/physicians at Saint George Hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon (the healthcare centre near the apartment of Bambi’s parents):
Some even danced on the streets.
Taken from an anonymous video online; What a great dancer! Note: the text in Arabic means: “This man told his wife this morning that he was going to the construction site”
Even the rain did not stop people.
There is also an organized daily clean-up. Here is a picture of two kids cleaning with their mom!
Unknown source
Last but not least, here is a picture of the Christian religious leaders. All united in their support of the people’s revolt, which is an outcry for a dignified life!
Meeting of all the Christian leaders, from L’Orient Le JourA powerful message of support by the Metropolitan Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch for the Archdiocese of Beirut, Lebanon (Arabic content)
What will happen to Lebanon? Only time will tell.
Today, Washington declared that it understands the Lebanese people in their demands.
So did France earlier, asking the Lebanese authorities to respect the protestors’ right to demonstrate.
What will the President of the Lebanese Republic do or say tomorrow at noon (Beirut time)? Indirectly, what will the Hezbollah say or do… or not do?
The Lebanese army will be in a tough position if it
will be asked to stop the protestors, as they tried to do today, it seems.
Clearly, people seem not to fear a political vacuum. They went through one recently for over a period of two years. The country survived and kept moving forward (or backward?), even without a President (and/or a government?).
To conclude this post, people do not trust their
politicians anymore. All the politicians. PERIOD.
As the slogan/song of this revolt goes: “Thawara yiwne thawra…. “Killoun yiwne killoon”. This literally means: “A revolution means a revolution. All of them means all of them” (= loss of trust in all politicians). All of them must step down or go away…. but go where? No clue. Who cares now?
Wow–At the exact time of concluding this post, that was the song playing on a radio station called “Mount Lebanon” from LA (USA) that Bambi enjoys listening to whilst working (no commercial ads, just joyful Lebanese music).
End of Day 7. Tomorrow is a new dawn…
May the light of political wisdom, honesty, and economic prosperity shine on Lebanon at the end of this revolt process.
May the ghost of any violence fade away and let Lebanon just rise again from the ashes of poverty and despair like the phoenix that it has always been!
From Vancouver to Edmonton, from Toronto to Montreal… All
the way to Moncton, Canadians of Lebanese origins gathered in support of
Lebanese protests.
In Moncton, some drove from as far as Fredericton, NB,
or Pugwash, NS (a young family with a toddler and a pregnant mom ready to give
birth soon). Some drove from Amherst, NS, or Sackville, NB to join their fellow
citizens from Moncton in front of Town Hall.
Everyone stood up together, waving Lebanese flags and
chanting the anthem, which goes like: “ALL of us for you Lebanon”. Indeed, we
are all as diverse as the society in Lebanon and as united as they are in their
demands for a dignified life.
A few cars passing by in the downtown area kindly honked in support.
First, here is a video with a speech in English from the President of the Moncton Lebanese Association, Mr. Mike Timani:
A peaceful gathering from our small community in Moncton. Sending our love and support all the way to our beloved families and friends in Lebanon ??
In the link above (FB of the MLA Association), we can see/hear Mr. Timani’s speech (video). Bambi was also moved to read a word of thanks from her sister from as far as Beirut.
Second, here are a few pictures from the event (we can even see a metal “Bambi” and two kids dressed up in the Lebanese army outfit ?).
Some signs were in English:
Other signs in French:
Yet others in Arabic:
And some did not need any words:
Thank you to the Moncton Lebanese Association for allowing us to gather together to show our support to our beloved ones in Lebanon!
To conclude this post, below is a famous double picture that has circulated on social media today. It shows a Lebanese woman during the civil war of 1975-1990 AND it shows her again, today (October, 2019). This lady, older now, is rejoicing. For her, today is the true end of civil war because ALL the Lebanese people are on the streets UNITED with their Lebanese flags (only!) and with the same demand: A dignified life… because enough (of corruption) is enough.
Best wishes to Lebanon in the next stages of its history!
To honour her country of birth, Bambi would like to share
two videos:
(1). A video produced by the MEA (Middle East Airlines) showing the safety instructions in a creative way, that is with landscapes from Lebanon and dancing, etc. (please see further below). This is the video she watches on any MEA flight she takes from Europe to Beirut.
Perhaps this is not the best time for tourists to visit Lebanon. Hopefully soon!
(2). A moving French song by Mr. Enrico Macias for
Beirut that moves Bambi’s heart every time she hears it. Thank you Mr. Macias!
Lebanon is a wonderful touristic destination with
incredible food, with fabulous mountains and beaches, with welcoming people who
will make you feel like kings and queens with their generosity (regardless of the
money in their pocket).
Almost everyone speaks Arabic, French, English, in
addition to Armenian (for some Lebanese). Many speak also other languages (e.g.,
Portuguese, Greek, or German, etc.).
Sadly, today three Arab countries asked their citizens
to leave Lebanon immediately.
The Lebanese army escorted some travellers safely to the
airport. Other tourists may have trouble reaching the airport with all the
demonstrations across the streets of all the country.
Anyhow, here is the fun video by the MEA airlines:
It is both sad and worrisome when even Lebanon (at
least right now) seems to be more democratic than Canada.
Lebanese people demonstrating on the streets forced
their government to scrap a recently approved WhatsApp tax.
Although it is unclear what is going to happen next in that country, its people already gave us five little lessons:
Lebanese people are not paralyzed by a so-called political rectitude. People talk. People act… Most interestingly, people seem to be listened to.
People are much stronger when they are united (left/right or any other political spectrum, Christians/Muslims/others/secular, men/women, younger/older, etc.). They are all chanting their Lebanese anthem on the streets. Many have changed their WhatsApp’ profile pictures to the Lebanese flag in solidarity with each other and with their country.
People are angry at ALL their politicians combined. They do not fear those who may be more powerful (i.e., armed).
People do not vandalize electoral signs… and if they do, it is surely not with stupid words (check the first video ☹!).
People have a sense of humour that helps them during rough times. Bambi smiled to the second video after watching the first one. The latter reminded Bambi of Ms. Nancy Mercier’s saga in our town (Sackville, NB).
Bambi thinks that NO sign of any
candidate from any political party should be vandalized. No to violence. Period!
We should all be concerned about what
happened in Sackville recently.
Bambi is disappointed by the lack of public
voices denouncing what has happened in our town with Ms. Nancy Mercier, including
our other candidates.
Luckily, there is a citizen from our town who generously offered a reward to anyone who may have information that can help the police investigation concerning Ms. Mercier’s electoral signs ($500).
Now, to end this post with a touch of Lebanese humour, if you like to smile/laugh like Bambi, check the second short cartoon video, which shows the reactions of travellers when they were told the following (in standard Arabic): “Due to a sudden failure, their airplane must urgently land in Beirut, Lebanon” ?.
FIRST VIDEO:
Here is the first video by a PPC candidate, called Ms. Tara Dos Remedios, copied from her Twitter account:
Bambi just received the following message by email (thank you Lamia and thanks to the Moncton Lebanese Association):
“Good Evening Everyone,
في
ظل ما يحدث في لبنان ودعما للشعب اللبناني الذي يطالب بالعيش الكريم بما
يضمن كامل حقوقه، تدعو الجمعية اللبنانية في مونكتون جميع المهتمين في
نيو برنزويك الى مشاركتها في التظاهر سلميا يوم ٢١ ت١، الساعة١١:٣٠ صباحا امام مبنى السيتي هول، مونكتون.
نتمنى عليكم المشاركة لدعم اللبنانيين من نيو برنزويك في مطالبهم المحقة.
نامل ان نراكم جميعا
In light of what is happening in Lebanon and in support of the
Lebanese people, who are demanding a more dignified life that guarantees
their rights, the Moncton Lebanese Association invites all those
interested to come join us on Sunday, October 20 at
11:30 a.m. at Moncton City Hall to stand peacefully alongside the
people of Lebanon.
Please come in numbers to show our support from New Brunswick, as
this is an issue that affects us all inside and outside Lebanon.
Hope to see everyone there.
En vue de ce qui se passe au Liban, et afin d’appuyer le peuple
libanais qui revendique une vie plus digne et plus respectueuse de leurs
droits, l’Association libanaise de Moncton invite tous les intéressés à
venir nous rejoindre dimanche le 20 octobre,
11h30 à l’Hotel de ville de Moncton pour pacifiquement manifester votre
solidarité avec le peuple libanais.
Veuillez venir en grand nombre pour démontrer l’appui provenant du
Nouveau-Brunswick, puisque cet enjeu nous touche tous, soit à
l’intérieur ou à l’extérieur du Liban.
Nous espérons bien vous voir.
Regards
Lamia Chami (on behalf of the Moncton Lebanese Association)”
A video from Lebanon (the second day…):
A video created by Bambi’s nephew, Nicolas Douglas on his Instagram:
As you can see in the picture below this one, peaceful protesters courageously stood up between the police and those committing vandalism (infiltrating crowds):
All Lebanon from the North to the South, from the East
to the West, is on the streets right now (it is nighttime, at the moment of this
post).
People are united against their corrupt government, regardless
of their community, their religion, socio-economic class, sex/gender, etc.
They all have ONE single demand: The resignation of the government. They want a reduced caretaker government. These seem to be their demands. They do not want to stop until they achieve this.
Schools and banks will be closed tomorrow (no, it is
not because of Greta’s Fridays!).
The whole country is in a sort of a revolution, united
against poverty/the corrupt system.
People are fed up. Too much poverty. Too much
corruption. Too much taxation (the icing on the cake was today’s approved tax
on WhatsApp calls! People use WhatsApp a lot there; just like Bambi does to chat
with her family).
Here is a video from downtown Beirut in front of the Parliament with people chanting together the Lebanese anthem:
Here is another video somewhere in Beirut:
Of course, we are in the Middle East (even if Beirut is called the Paris of the Middle East). Burning tires is sadly always on the menu, even after the 103 fires:
From L’Orient Le Jour
Bambi’s heart goes to Lebanon… May justice and
prosperity prevail. A beautiful country with its beautiful people deserves beautiful
politicians.
They say we usually have the government that we are willing to tolerate. Lebanese people elected or re-elected many of these same politicians (some in power for decades). They lost their patience. Will a change take place? And what will happen after such a change?
A $500 reward being offered for information about vandalized/stolen campaign signs of Ms. Nancy Mercier running for the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) in Beauséjour (NB)
A Sackville man
is offering a $500 reward for information that can help lead to the
identification of the person(s) responsible for the vandalism (+ stealing) of
the electoral signs of Ms. Nancy Mercier running for the People’s Party of
Canada (PPC) in Beauséjour riding (NB).
Many thanks!
May this $500 reward help our police in finding the responsible(s).
Merci bien! Que cette récompense de $500 à celui ou celle qui aurait de l’information utile puisse mener la police vers le ou les coupables.
Regardless
of the outcome of the police’s investigation, Bambi hopes that democracy will
know how to prevail (ironically that was one of the concerns of Ms. Mercier
when Bambi interviewed her). May respect and tolerance of other people’s
different opinions prevail in our brains and hearts.
There is
some truth in all opinions. All opinions are worth being heard. No opinion should be shut down in a free
society.
Freedom of thought. Freedom of choice. Freedom of speech. These are the basic values of democracy. They are under attack in our Sweet Little Sackville… and by extension in our Canada.
Bambi is not fond of fascism for having lived through
civil war times all her childhood and teenage years.
She is neither fond nor intimidated by fascist behaviours.
However, she is allergic to seeing someone being harassed.
In our days and times, in our small town, it is Ms. Mercier
who has been harassed big time lately.
Bambi has wished to see more people denouncing those
criminal acts.
This is why, like one of the commenters on her blog
(thank you), she chose to vote for Ms. Mercier, even if she acknowledges that
all the other candidates have good ideas or may be good or have the potential
to learn more on the job.
Actually, it seems to her that all the other
candidates appear more reasonable, and even stronger, than their weaker leaders.
This being said, to illustrate how things are undemocratic in Sackville, Bambi just returned from a tour of the town. SYSTEMATICALLY, all the electoral signs of Ms. Nancy Mercier have been removed, whether they were put by others or by herself/her spouse to help Ms. Mercier after her first harassment incident in Sackville. Some signs were near the hospital, others in the industrial district, others on Bridge street, one York street, and on the Main Exit (the largest vandalized one in the ugliest manner possible).
Ms. Mercier is laying charges, as per her own tweet three
days ago. Good for her!
Those responsible must be punished, hoping they will
learn a lesson. Bambi says this and she has no clue who may have done it and
she does not care to know. She is talking in general, and even regardless of
the targeted candidate (of any party, currently running or… in the future).
This is not just illegal. This is harassment and it is
morally unacceptable.
Bambi worries about Ms. Mercier visiting Sackville again (she is on a wheelchair, for God’s sake. It would be perhaps more challenging for her to defend herself if any overzealous fascist decides to attack her). Look what happened to that old lady in Hamilton. Disgusting, to say the least.
The local New Wark Times published today an article entitled “Liberal Dominic LeBlanc unable to campaign in Beauséjour while Trudeau focusses on neighbouring NS riding”.
In this article above, we can read that “Green
candidate Laura Reinsborough has been taking her message door-to-door and
persuading voters to display her lawn signs since late June in her campaign to
defeat LeBlanc who has held Beauséjour for 19 years”.
This seems lovely on the surface but if we link the title of the New Wark Times article (Mr. Leblanc taking care of his health) with the harassment of Ms. Mercier’s signs (and silence of all our local newspapers, from the Sackville Tribune to the Wark Times), we can see that the competition in Sackville does not appear to be as romantically beautiful as it seems to be.
For one, Bambi wishes Mr. Dominic Leblanc ALL the
best. She sends him her positive vibes!
For two, she has been a long-time voter for him and
his party. Plus, she usually knows how to give to Cesar what belongs to Cesar:
He is clearly a strong (+ smart) Liberal party member, with more leadership
than our Prime Minister and Opposition Leader combined.
Ms. Laura Reinsborough seems to be a talented, motivated
candidate (especially linguistically).
Trudeau may have chosen to go to Amherst for the reasons mentioned in the article above. It could also be for a tacit alliance with the party line of the Green Party too. Who knows?
Anyhow, Ms. Reinsborough is running for a party whose colour is sexy to many around here and elsewhere, older and younger… but one must go beyond a colour in life, even if it is green and it is trendy. One must read and compare the platforms of parties, on environmental issues (+ other issues). Which ones makes the most sense? Is the proposed policy related to the environment truly the best for the Green Party because of its platform or just the perception of a sexy colour?
Bambi thinks that it would be good to have more Green
candidates in Ottawa to hold our politicians accountable and to push on the
ecological front… but not too many as this would become totally paralyzing to the
economy in the longer run.
Ms. Zann seems to be a talented person who cares for
people in her riding. Bambi met her once in the past and enjoyed the chat.
She does not know Mr. Scott Armstrong in person.
However, he seems to be an excellent candidate, just like Mr. Vincent Cormier seems
to be in our own riding. Plus, like Dr. Jean-Marc Bélanger, Mr. Armstrong seems
to have had a career caring for children and youth’s well-being. Good for them
and thank you!
As for Ms. Mercier, she has demonstrated that she is a
candidate with calibre. Bambi has been impressed with her campaign.
Regardless of the results on October 21, long life to Canada… and hopefully to democracy.
Whilst other countries or non-countries are facing
tragedies ☹ (Lebanon burning with
103 fires & the Kurds betrayed by the US and their allies), Canadians seem to
be outdoing themselves with odd decisions in the name of so-called diversity
and inclusion, and what have you… to the point of excluding the vast majority
from the society.
Bambi is referring to two pieces of news, perhaps the second
even more worrisome (the first can just make us smile ?):
1. Air Canada will no longer be greeting us with “Sir/Madam”
or “Ladies & Gentlemen” (or “Bonjour Madame, Bonjour Monsieur”):
Instead, its staff will use words like “Everybody” or “Tout
le monde” (who knows maybe “Yo” as students sometimes write in their emails ??).
Madam or Sir may offend some travellers who may not self-identify as either a male or a female or who may be transgender, etc.
In and by itself, this decision seems noble. It is
amazing to be respectful of clients. However, let’s not forget that we are talking
here about a very small minority of clients that can be perhaps offended or
triggered if not addressed properly.
Instead of calling a specific traveller in a non-gendered
manner (say after checking his or her passport and perhaps noticing “other” or
X for the gender), we choose to go the extreme by denying ALL the clients the polite
words in both French and English, even when they would be the majority.
For instance, the AC staff may clearly greet or serve
a pregnant woman and we do not want to address her with Madam in order to be
inclusive. Perhaps they will be serving an elderly man during a 7-hour-trip
overseas, wearing gloves before interacting with him every time.
Plus, during a violent turbulence or serious incident, Bambi suspects that the words that will get out of the mouth of staff will be tainted with neither political correctness nor politeness (maybe). I hope so as what would matter then would be to save lives and not to offer a safe verbal gender-neutral space to an injured person.
Anyhow, the news is more amusing than anything else.
Air Canada may not call me Madam/Sir but Bambi will keep being polite in the same manner, especially when too jet lagged to remember societal trends (I will likely be saying: “Merci Monsieur”; “Merci Madame”; as long as the flight attendant is OK with this of course). As for Bambi, she frankly does not care how you would address her as long as you offer her good food on board on longer flights ?.
2. Now the MORE worrisome news is a link in the
article above about the Ontario provincial police (OPP), no longer releasing
the gender of people charged with crimes.
With all due respect to the OPP and all the police
forces, Bambi finds this decision absurd. Indeed, it does not serve neither
common sense nor science anymore (messing up epidemiological public data).
Bambi wonders what would have Indigenous Ontario women, victims of violence, thought about this had they been still alive? Is this a good thing for the sake of justice? What do their grieving families think?
More broadly, what do the current or future so-called
victims or so-called criminals think?
Why doesn’t the OPP use the language used in Lebanon in
the media. They name the gender but not the name (just the initials). That way they
protect the privacy of the person (if this is the motivation here).
If Bambi is not mistaken, the Edmonton police may have
moved in the Lebanese direction (protection of identity by hiding names).
Basically, why is the OPP complicating matters?
Why can’t it call a spade a spade anymore?
Is it truly to protect others or to protect itself from
any liability or… to give in/dive more into the collective insanity of political
correctness?
Today it is about gender neutrality. Tomorrow about
what?
