Author: Bambi

Like Ms. Maria Mourani whose column is translated below, Bambi is a strong believer in the principle of laws for ALL. In addition, she finds the designation and divisions of Canadians as “black” and “white” as being both ridiculous and insulting to “so-called” black or white people and to our collective intelligence, despite any good intention behind the policies established by our governments.

To begin with, there is no such thing as a homogeneous group of so-called black (or white) people. As she has mentioned many times on this blog and during former interviews, including the most recent one with Mr. Tart Vader (https://shorturl.at/lZsyW) , there are unfair or poor living conditions for this or that individual from this or that group (including the so-called white and silent majority). For instance, if you are the personal assistant or political advisor of Mr. Trudeau and you happen to have black skin, you are likely not living in the same socio-economic conditions as someone with the same hue of skin who is homeless or who is a refugee or an inmate, etc.

There are also cultural or ethno-linguistic differences among and within each group. We cannot call all Canadians with darker skin black (or white). A local (so-called white) québécois from Chicoutimi who speaks the French language and likely comes from French-Canadian culture is not like a (so-called white) Toronto-based Canadian who may or may have not been born in Ontario. There are rich and more privileged or poorer and more socio-economically disadvantaged individuals within in each group.

There are African Canadians who are of Haitian heritage. Others locals from Nova Scotia. There are adopted kids with black skins who may have been born in this or that country or who maybe come from just another nearby neighbourhood. Are all these people the same in terms of life opportunities?

With the differences in personalities or in current life circumstances or in early adversity, thankfully, we all can learn to exert personal agency on our own lives to become better versions of ourselves. Of course, we can also all go through crises in life or encounter temptations or sometimes find ourselves attracted to or stuck in certain toxic ways of living or in potentially bad relationships for us, etc.

Despite all these differences, or nuances, that are mentioned above (along with many others, which may have been omitted), Ms. Mourani is right when she writes that one thing must remain unchanged in a democracy: it is the concept of laws, including criminal ones, for ALL (even if we take into account mitigating, or maybe aggravating, factors on a case by case basis in court decisions).

Even if we want to fix an overrepresentation in jails, for the sake of fairness to all (including the overrepresented group itself), we must stick to the basic principle of a law for all. If we start changing the latter, even in the name of more equity, we risk becoming like those third world countries where connections to this or that powerful group could make the difference in determining who goes to jail or not.

Bambi is convinced that the scenario of favouritism mentioned above is not the intention of our government, but sadly this risk being the outcome of such unwise criminal policies in the long-term. Bambi is saying so, regardless of the group in question, of course.

This being said, Ms. Mourani expressed herself in clever and more elegant way than Bambi who will stop sharing her insights here. With the assistance of Mr. Google Translate, she will now translate Ms. Mourani’s column, which was published yesterday in the Journal de Montreal (https://shorturl.at/Ybv3Z). You may or may not agree with this expert and experienced politician. However, her text is surely worth reflecting upon.

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“Last June, the Trudeau government’s Department of Justice produced a report on its Canadian strategy for justice for black people.

Although it starts from a good intention, namely to act on the overrepresentation of black people in the judicial and prison systems, this report includes several aberrant recommendations which de facto create a two-tier system.

On many points, the framework of this report is more akin to a political pamphlet from a group of activists than to a real analysis of the judicial and prison systems.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Justice seems to have adopted these 71 pages of wandering.

If certain recommendations are not bad in themselves and are obvious, such as offering training on racism against black people (and why not on racism quite simply) to professionals in the justice system, some on the sentencing is discriminatory and contravenes section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states that the law “is no exception and applies equally to all, and all are entitled to the same protection and equal benefit of the law, regardless of any discrimination.”

It is still ironic that a report concocted by a group made up mainly of racialized people results in discriminatory recommendations against other racialized people and the French and English Canadian majority.

Sentencing with variable geometry

In my column of May 18, 2022, I already denounced the excesses of the Trudeau government with its Bill C-5, the objective of which was to eliminate minimum sentences for several serious crimes.

The reason this government then gave was that the “excessive incarceration rate of Indigenous people, black Canadians and members of marginalized communities” required this type of measure.

One of the recommendations found in this report is therefore to “remove all mandatory minimum sentences provided for in the Criminal Code.”

Does this mean that there will no longer be a minimum sentence for murder?

Their demands do not stop there!

In the Criminal Code, there is a paragraph (718.2e) which requires the judge when determining the sentence to take into account circumstances specific to Aboriginal offenders, taking into account their colonial history and its consequences.

As a matter of fact, one of the recommendations is to add black people to this paragraph in the name of the segregation of which they were victims in Canada.

Let’s push the logic to the end. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander [translation of “Si c’est bon pour Pitou, cela doit aussi l’être pour Minou!“]! We would then have to add to this paragraph the long list of immigrant peoples who experienced segregation in Canada, notably the Italians, the Chinese, the Jews, the Vietnamese, etc., and to top it all off, the French Canadians who were dealt with…

Since we are remaking history, let’s do it big!

A single justice?

We live in an imperfect world and justice is much more a concept than a reality. Some have more power, more money, more connections. But one thing must persist in this jungle of the absurd: the LAW. And it must be the same for everyone.

Ultimately, it is the only and true justice”.

From the 98.5 radio station, Bambi learned the following: “during his press review on Wednesday, host Louis Lacroix discusses various current issues, including the evacuation of Valérie Plante from the City of Montreal council on Tuesday. “Around fifteen pro-Palestinian demonstrators were invited to this council meeting. They chanted slogans like: ”Israel is bombing, Valérie is supplying the weapons”. The demonstrators have repeatedly accused [the governments] of Canada and Quebec as well as the administration of the City of Montreal of being complicit with the Israeli regime” (https://shorturl.at/pKYzb).

Thus, for security reasons, it was “decided to evacuate Valérie Plante as a safety measure. Subsequently, the demonstrators were escorted out of the building and the council was able to resume its activities” (https://shorturl.at/pKYzb).

We may accuse Ms. Valérie Plante of political incompetence, of neglect out of fear of extremists, of partisanship, or of being too ideological. We may easily recognize that both Québec and Canada are far from being optimal, but to accuse the latter of being complicit with Israel in its conflict with Hamas (or even with the Hezbollah), this is absurdity 101. Can we please collectively regain a bit of touch with the nuances of reality?

To conclude this post, Bambi will end with a famous Lebanese song by Fairuz called Mayor of the Mayors. If she may, she would like to offer it to both Mayor Plante and the activists.

This brief musical post is the most selfish one. Yes, it is meant for the pleasure of Bambi’s own ears and eyes before she goes to sleep. Of course, she is also writing these words while thinking of you, dear readers. Many of you happen to know Mr. Mike Massy who has been regularly featured on this blog.

For those of you who do not know him, Mr. Massy is a highly talented Lebanon-based artist with an impressive international career. For those of you who may not know him, “he is a Lebanese-born singer, songwriter, film score composer, arranger, pianist, actor and celebrity vocal coach whose musical register fluctuates between Arabic lyrical singing, the repertoire of world music and French songs. Of note, he played the role of “Jesus” in a French movie as well as a musical theatre entitled “Jesus de Nazareth à Jerusalem” created by Mr. Pascal Obispo and Mr. Christophe Barratier (https://shorturl.at/q8nyA). He speaks, writes, and sings incredibly well in many languages, including both Lebanese-Arabic and the standard Arabic language which he masters very well.

Below, Bambi will share a very brief YouTube video produced by him (in French and English) about his preparations for a new Arabic song with musicians in Brussels. She does not know about you, but Bambi cannot wait for this new song. Until then, she will share some of his older work in Spanish, French, and Arabic. This post will end with some of Mr. Mike Massy’s appearances in French TV shows (i.e., a montage of interviews). Bravo Mr. Massy; please keep singing!

Thanks to an article by Mr. Josie Desmarais published today in La Presse, Bambi learned the following facts: “For several months, a list of Jewish Montreal restaurants has been circulating on social networks, calling for them to be boycotted because of the “links” they allegedly have with Israel. Negative ratings, hate messages and calls for violence have since multiplied against restaurateurs. One of them found projectile impacts in the window of one of his restaurants” (https://shorturl.at/gQ7qY).

After reading this French article, she searched for English information about the topic to be able able to share it with you on this blog. She found and article in the Montreal City News entitled “Mile End restaurant targeted, owner believes it’s because of his Jewish heritage“, published two weeks ago (https://shorturl.at/yJgRM), and a video shared below. This place is located near Bambi’s old college.

If there is anything amazing about restaurants in Canada’s cities, it is the richness and the beauty of their diversity. For instance, in Toronto, we often come across fusion restaurants or multi-ethnic or cross-cultural restaurants. An example may be a Lebanese cuisine with Indonesian food at the same restaurant or a place serving both Korean and Mexican cuisines, etc. In Montreal, we have the choices of eating at the delicious Schwartz’ deli (https://shorturl.at/tJFiM). Yes, it is Jewish and delicious, or enjoying a mouthwatering Québec poutine (https://shorturl.at/KugSV) or a tasty Shawarma at the Lebanese Basha restaurant (https://shorturl.at/Ouocc).

The above example is now making Bambi recall how, when she was a student in Montreal working long hours at her lab located downtown, she used to call the Basha restaurant sometimes. She used to inquire about the daily homemade Lebanese meal to take back home with her. Kindly, and more than once, the owner told her on the phone: “oh sorry, we do not have it, but if you give me extra time, I can see what I can do”. Can you imagine the generosity and kindness of this service? This is the hospitality of Montreal restaurants, regardless of its type of food or place of birth of the owner.

Bearing the above in mind, why are we using conflicts at the other side of the planet as an excuse to intimidate restaurant owners and harm their businesses and reputations? The pandemic was not enough to affect small businesses and family-owned restaurants? Let them earn a living and let people eat wherever they want and whatever they wish.

You personally want to boycott a business for whatever noble reason, you are absolutely free. Go ahead, but please do not impose it on the rest of your fellow residents or harm family businesses. Bambi is saying so for all and any restaurant owner’s background: Malaysian, Russian, Iranian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Israeli or simply Jewish without any family ties to Israel. Who cares? What matters is the fun of eating out, the taste of food, the good times with friends, the costs, etc.

Let Montreal, Québec, and Canada remain what they have always been: a welcoming and loving place to live and dine in with peace. May open-mindedness find its way again to our society. May only love have the final word, regardless of any political view or conflict-related emotional scar or trigger.

Last week, in a large metropolitan Canadian city, Bambi and her spouse took a taxi whose sweet driver was of Algerian heritage. They chatted about the Maritimes and food, etc. Of course, the conversation naturally diverted to the lovely Arabic language and culture.

Bambi told this Algerian-Canadian fellow how much she likes an Algeria-born French singer called, Mr. Enrico Macias. She mentioned his beautiful song about Beirut where she was born. He shared the same feelings about him and told her about another Jewish-Algerian female singer. A diva whose name he could not recall. Bambi was curious since that chat. Today, she decided to act on her curiosity by taking the time to search the internet. This is how she discovered Ms. Alice Fitoussi.

From her Wikipedia page, she learned the following: “Ms. Alice Fitoussi is an Algerian Jewish singer, having lived all her life in Algeria, born May 9, 1916 in Bordj Bou Arreridj and died in 1978 in El Biar” (https://shorturl.at/swnia).

Of note, “her father, Rahmim Fitoussi is a renowned singer and violinist. It was from him that she learned to sing and recorded her first record at the age of thirteen, she was the only Jewish singer who performed al-Madih (Muslim religious song to the glory of the Prophet Muhammad). After independence, she decided to stay and live in Algeria, only going to France to spend the winter” (https://shorturl.at/swnia)”.

Bambi is grateful to this charming cab driver (to whom she said in French while leaving his car: “please Sir keep your beautiful smile on your face“): the chat with him was enriching and he made her discover singer Alice Fitoussi. Who knows? Maybe some of you already knew the latter, especially those of you are familiar with Arabic music in general or Algerian songs in particular.

Of note, Bambi tried to find el-Madih Muslim chant performed by Ms. Fitoussi to share it with you, but there was nothing on YouTube (unless she missed it). She will thus only share three Algerian traditional songs performed by this late singer and end with Mr. Enrico Macias’ eternal Beirut song.

Long live the mix of cultures. Long live arts, music, languages, and… may the memory of Ms. Fitoussi be eternal.

Bambi is thrilled! She just finished interviewing a highly accomplished guest, namely Montreal-based Mr. Patrick Georgevitch. She is eager to share this enriching chat with all of you in this post.

First of all, what can Bambi tell you about Patrick in only a few words? He began his professional journey with a degree in physiotherapy. He has since refined his academic and professional skills with numerous postgraduate certifications, particularly in mechanical and manual therapy.

Not only is Patrick a fitness expert, having become a personal trainer, fitness therapist, and a sports and strength conditioning specialist with various sub-certifications, but he also specializes in performance nutrition.

In addition to these impressive credentials, Patrick pursued a certification in hypnotherapy out of personal curiosity and studied professional photography.

After relocating to Canada, he registered as a kinesitherapist, took additional certifications in manual therapy, and earned a graduate degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from HEC Montréal. As of May 2024, Patrick is also a certified genetics-based program designer.

❤️❤️❤️

Following the informative interview entitled “Health Matters: Bambi’s chat with Pat” shared below and on Rima Azar’s personal website (https://shorturl.at/AOsNO), you may wish to watch three of Patrick’s brief yet highly educational Youtube videos entitled 360 with PAT (https://shorturl.at/Xhh1i).

Of note, Patrick’s videos are largely produced in English with some in French. Regardless of the language, they are outstanding. He is also active on other social media platforms, including Instagram (https://shorturl.at/niHUr) and Facebook (https://shorturl.at/lcqgu).

Thank you for your time, Patrick. Your generosity in sharing your scientific and clinical knowledge as well as your uplifting philosophical insights is much appreciated. Please keep up your multi-talent and impressive productivity!

This brief post is meant to honour the memory of Mr. Louis Armstrong, on the eve of his death anniversary, while sharing with you a magical moment from today’s early morning.

While driving on the Trans-Canada highway from the town of Sackville to the city of Moncton, Bambi was delighted to see a deer on the side of the road on the grass near the trees. It seemed to be carefully observing the cars. Was it cleverly waiting for the cars and trucks to pass before crossing the road?

Regardless of its intention, this animal was very cute. Bumping into a fellow deer on the side of the road (thankfully not in front of the car), was a pure magical moment for Bambi. Indeed, without much thought, she found herself waving hello to the wild animal while saying out loud: “Hello, deer“. Yes, we can act quite silly when we bump into a loved one unexpectedly.

Reflecting on her long day before going to sleep, Bambi cannot help not to think of her wild friend [or maybe relative :)?] who embellished it. What “a wonderful world” indeed, just like Mr. Armstrong’s timely song.

This brief post is meant to express the following wishes:

May everyone who will be celebrating the 4th of July tomorrow have peace of mind, be safe, and as joyful as possible.

May the year ahead be filled with hope and happiness.

May wisdom, unity, freedom, peace, and prosperity prevail not just in the United States of America, but also in the neighbouring Canada and the entire world, including the Middle East.

Happy 4th of July to all wherever they are at home and abroad ❤️!

As many of you know, Bambi adores Mr. Kendji Girac whose songs are often featured on this blog.

On April 22nd, 2024, he and his family went through an ordeal that could have ended his life (https://shorturl.at/0OI9D). Thank Goodness, he has recovered. Indeed, he is on a healing journey and he wants to live, move forward, love, be loved, and sing again.

This post, which is meant to send this young and HIGHLY talented French singer/songwriter positive vibes across the ocean, will share his own heartfelt message while ending with his uplifting music.

Because Mr. Girac’s message is expressed in French, it will be followed by a quick English translation (thank you, Mr. Google Translate).

As for you Mr. Kendji Girac, please keep on taking good care… and BRAVO for your inspiring courage!

“I am so stressed and happy at the same time to address all of you.

Since my message of May 10, I have not given you any news because I had to take care of myself and think about what had happened to understand how I got to this point and, above all, make the right decisions for the future.

I also wanted to let justice do its work. Now that this is the case, I am keen, since I am better, to speak out. I am reaching out to you with my words to tell you how much I truly regret everything that happened.

Before the accident and for some time, I had developed bad habits. I had entered a spiral that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Despite the advice of those around me, I was not aware of it at all and unfortunately, I got lost.

All that is not part of me, I’m not a boy like that, that’s why I’m telling you that I got lost and that I want to apologize to you today.

I almost lost my life, the love of my family, my audience, my friends.

My daughter almost lost her father.

I don’t know what happened. So I don’t plan on doing all these things again, obviously. I want to go back to being the boy I am deep inside.

The most important thing is to learn from our mistakes. We can always get back up in life. The most important thing is to understand it. To get the needed help so we don’t start again. That’s actually what I’m doing today.

I also understood that there are a lot of people who love me: my family, my friends, my daughter, my wife, my audience. All of this is the centre of my life, this is why I want to apologize to those I have hurt, to whom I have caused pain. I never wanted that.

God gave me this second chance. And it’s not for nothing. It’s to make things more beautiful. Now it’s all behind me”.

From the bottom of her heart, Bambi thanks Dr. Gábor Lukács for giving her the permission to share with you all his very thoughtful article, which was published today on LinkedIn (https://shorturl.at/hmoin). July 1st is not over yet :). Happy Canada Day again and enjoy the rest of the week everyone ❤️!

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“A plea for restoring tolerance and ending division

For the past sixteen years, I have been fortunate to be able to keep my advocacy work and personal political views separate, and have deluded myself that I can keep doing so. 

My wake-up call came on Canada Day 2024 in the seemingly benign signature line of an interview request, identifying the reporter as a “settler” in Canada. The reporter, whose work and intellect I greatly respect, seemed utterly oblivious that some people may find this terminology and the related identity politics offensive and divisive, and that it may make others feel unwelcome in Canada.

Perhaps it is my fault and the fault of other like-minded Canadians that we have remained silent for too long, and have allowed a vocal ideological fringe group to create the illusion that they are the majority and their views are what average Canadians believe. It is time to speak up.

I am an immigrant to Canada. I was born in Hungary, lived in Israel from age 8 to 16, and came to Canada by myself before my 17th birthday as an international student to do my PhD in mathematics at York University in Toronto. Back in 1999, York University was an amazing place that truly celebrated multiculturalism and diversity, provided spaces and venues for a wide range of political views, and had a large variety of student groups and clubs reflecting these values. In those days, students’ racial, ethnic, cultural, or national origins just did not matter at York. The unwritten rule was not to bring “political baggage” from our “old home” but to debate every topic, including sensitive ones, as academics.

Typical of those times, one of my non-academic mentors turned out to be the late Father Massey Lombardi, a Roman Catholic priest who kindly allowed me to practice my meager keyboard skills on the organ at his church. Father Lombardi’s best friend was a Jewish rabbi, and both of them accepted me as an atheist. 

It was this culture of tolerance and acceptance, the urging of my amazing professors at York and of Father Lombardi, that persuaded me to apply for permanent residence in Canada. It is thanks to them that in 2005 I became a permanent resident, choosing Canada as my home, and that in 2009 I became a Canadian citizen. My intent was to be an equal among equals, nothing more and nothing less.

It is this culture of tolerance, acceptance, and equality that I am being robbed of gradually, over the past few years, and I am feeling increasingly unwelcome in Canada.

The reporter’s signature as a “settler” was the last straw. How ironic that it came on Canada Day.

If a person born and raised in Canada is a “settler,” a kind of second-class citizen,  then what am I in Canada? A “newcomer”? A “hunky”? A third-class citizen? What happened to “a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian”?

Like any other country, Canada too is built on the ruins of injustices; but two wrongs do not make a right. Turning one group of Canadians into scapegoats and unwelcome second-class citizens is not the cure for the countless historic injustices committed against other groups; rather, it is bound to alienate allies, and ultimately members of marginalized groups will end up paying the price for being used as pawns on the political chessboard.

It is high time to restore the culture of tolerance, acceptance, and equality that used to nourish Canada, and to end the division and the pitting of Canadians against each other under the guise of identity politics.

Those who seek to “decolonize” Canada may wish to consider exercising their right under s. 6(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, with particular emphasis on its last two words.

We, the silent majority, however, prefer to live in peace with our fellow Canadians, and have no interest in importing any culture war into our lives, workplaces, and cities.”