Today is France’s national day. Bambi wishes this beautiful country much brighter days (than the recent dark and sad ones). France deserves not only social peace, but also love.
A song to France… with love
Author: Bambi
What do the late Ms. Simone Veil and Dr. Hubert Reeves have in common, besides having resided in Paris?
Bambi admires both Ms. Simone Veil and Dr. Hubert Reeves for different reasons. In this post, she will share what she knows about them respectively and what they have in common, namely the same birthday. Yes, it is July 13, perhaps also like someone Bambi knows too well [is Katia reading now :)]?
For those who have never heard of her, Ms. Simon Veil was a French magistrate and politician in several governments (Health, Justice, etc). In addition, she acted as the President of the European Parliament (1979-1982). She also happens to be a Holocaust survivor. Imagine she survived both the Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps where she sadly lost her mom. However, her sisters and herself survived the shoa, thankfully. Tragically though, they also lost their dad and brother who were deported to the Baltic states from where they never came back; most likely murdered there (https://rb.gy/oejkg).
“Mistakes are not to be regretted, they are assumed. Fear is not fleeing, it is overcome. Love does not cry out, it proves itself” (Simone Veil)
Bambi admires Veil’s humanity and feminism. Indeed, she was a champion of women’s rights in France. As a health minister, she is known for the 1975 law that legalized abortion. This law is even called “la loi Veil” [or The Veil Act] (https://rb.gy/cgl3u).
In 2010, Ms. Veil became one of the 40 “immortals” of the Académie Française. Of note, she was the 6th woman to have such prestigious distinction of her country (https://rb.gy/cgl3u). In June 2017, at age 89 (well almost 90, to be precise), Simone Veil was buried in the Pantheon (https://rb.gy/eeewu). What an honour!
Now, who is Dr. Hubert Reeves who turns 90 today? Happy Birthday to him, to begin with. Reeves’ birthday song will follow his brief bio and a thoughtful quote from him, which Bambi likes a lot.
Reeves was born in Montreal, Québec, Canada on July 13, 1932. After spending part of his childhood in Léry, a small town on the south shore of Lake Saint-Louis, he returned to Montreal where he graduated from school (Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf), obtained a BSc. degree in Physics (University of Montreal), and an MSc degree (McGill University). Following this, he received a PhD in Physics in the United States (Cornell University). He was awarded highly prestigious national and scientific awards from Québec, Canada, and France (https://shorturl.at/afryA).
After teaching at the University of Montreal, he has worked as an advisor to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and is a director of research at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique [French National Centre for Scientific Research] (CNRS). He often speaks on television where he vulgarizes science and makes it appealing to popular audiences (https://shorturl.at/afryA).
To conclude this post, Bambi would like to thank both Ms. Simone Veil and Dr. Hubert Reeves. May your memory be eternal, Ms. Veil. Happy Birthday wishes to you Dr. Reeves! From now on and until her death, Bambi will think of both of you each July 13 :)!
Making our inner sun shine year-round, regardless of the weather
It may be sunny yet we may be going through a cloud of unpleasant times in our life. Alternatively, we may feel internally content even if it is cloudy outside like this summer in the Maritimes, at least thus far, where an unstable weather is alternating between being cool and warm. Independent of the weather and even life seasons, how about making our inner sun always shine all year round?
As the great philosopher (551-479 B.C.) Confucius stated, “Happiness is not always in an eternally blue sky but in the simplest things in life”? If there is truth to the latter old Chinese wisdom, what are your own “simplest things” in your daily life? Are you aware of them? If so, do you allow yourself to take the time to appreciate them?
Another tip for happiness comes from Robine, Bambi’s mom, who recently said: “Think of beautiful things and the world around you becomes more beautiful“. Maybe this piece of wisdom is inspired by an old Lebanese saying that goes like this: “Smile and the world will smile back at you“.
Of course, “your” cloud may be too thick to make you (re)-connect with your inner sunshine or appreciate the outer light or warmth. In that case, as the proverb goes, “every cloud has a silver lining“. Indeed, even if you cannot see it (yet?), with increased lucidity and perspective, thanks to time, you can see a good aspect in every bad situation.
Before leaving you with music, Bambi wants to remember today, and perhaps also remind you of the following: Even in the worst situation, the promising aspect may lie in the potential for painful yet meaningful lessons, which are the essence of personal growth. Thankfully, we can learn something valuable from all our experiences, including about ourselves, and thus enrich our life journey.
What does a cow mean to you?
Did you know that July 11 has been declared, by God knows whom, as “Cow Appreciation Day“. But what is the latter? It “is a day that has been designed to raise awareness about cows and appreciate everything that they do!” (https://shorturl.at/npuGZ).
Bambi loves all her fellow animals as well as human beings. She does know about your favourite animals, but the cow holds a special place in her heart. Who knows? Perhaps it is the same for you for different reasons. Maybe you are into farming or for a veterinary purpose? Maybe it is for spiritual reasons since cows are considered “sacred” by India’s Hindus? Maybe you love their meat or milk? Of note, in Canada this meat is called “beef” whereas in Lebanon it is called “cow”.
Whatever your reason, in addition to being heart-warming, cows often symbolize fertility, thus motherhood, and generosity; this representation exists across many cultures. This being said, both Bambi and her spouse love cows. They appreciate seeing them while driving or walking in the rural areas of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as per the picture shown below:
In addition to finding them cute, Bambi is highly grateful to cows because she is a fanatic milk drinker. Even at almost age 51, she still drinks lots of milk. Indeed, on average, every ten days, she drink 2 litres of this delicious and nutritious white substance! No wonder her friend Jane teased her by saying that she may have forgotten to switch to wine when she became an adult :).
Furthermore, Bambi is an ice cream lover. She is lucky to live close to Trueman Blueberry Farms where ice cream is homemade and served on a delicious, also homemade, waffle cone (https://shorturl.at/fjpHR). Same for the famous Cows of PEI!
Yes, we owe cows our balanced human diet, which includes (at least for some of us), ice cream and other delicious dairy products like cheese. Louis, Bambi hopes you are not reading thus far given what cheese means to you. Yak :).
This being said, enough of human food likes and dislikes! What about cows? What do they eat, have you also wondered about it? According to the Dairy Farmers of Canada (https://shorturl.at/wxIKV), the most common food for cows is grass with a typical mature cow eating about 29 kg. of it per day. Cows also drink lots of water, of course as a function of their age, lactating status or not, and the seasons.
Although our devoted dairy farmers continuously collaborate with nutrition experts to come up with a diet tailored to their specific cows (https://shorturl.at/wxIKV), some humans forget about cows’ natural eating habits. They offer them the pleasure of an ice cream. After all, they did contribute to its production.
To conclude this “cowy” post with music, Bambi will leave you with “La vache qui rit” [The Laughing Cow], a famous French cream cheese ad, which reminds her of her childhood in Beirut (it is sub-titled in English). In addition, if you like it, you may listen to a kids’ song about an adorable cow called “Lola”. Happy Cow Appreciation Day to all, regardless or your diet or beliefs. Moo :)!
Second Street’s Colin Craig interviewed Drs. Mark Milke and Rima Azar: “Are we seeing the erosion of our Canadian values?”
Many thanks, Mr. Colin Craig for interviewing Dr. Mark Milke and Bambi, as co-authors of “the 1867 Project” book (with 18 other writers). As described by the News Forum‘s on YouTube, “they discuss Canadian values and why we need to continue to create a free and flourishing society“.
Bambi enjoyed the thoughtful conversation. It is her hope that you will learn something valuable about our beautiful country and its history.
The older posts, shown further below, introduce the book entitled “The 1867 Project: Why Canada should be cherished, not cancelled” and edited by Dr. Milke. If you are interested, it is on sale now on Amazon: https://shorturl.at/aAIX6. If you happen to be reading it now, well enjoy it! Oui, bonne lecture!
Full interview can be found here:
https://www.newsforum.tv/videos/why-we-should-celebrate-canada-on-second-street
Only the first part is embedded here…
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What is your favourite summer song?
Bambi has always liked several songs, which celebrate summer times. Some of these songs are a call to go to the beach. Others invite us to dance or to love. This being said, what about you: do you have a favourite song?
With this question in mind, Bambi discovered a superb new song by Kendji (Mr. Girac) and Vianney (Mr. Bureau). If she may, she would like to share it with you today.
Kendji and Vianney are two great French artists who joined forces to write and co-sing Le feu” [The Fire], which is a French and Spanish melody about love. Precisely, it is a promise to protect and keep alive a relationship with a loved one, especially through adverse days.
The promises we make in life are supposed to be seriously deep because they are about commitment. Yet, despite its deep lyrics, “Le feu“, with its melody and video clip, sounds light and thus refreshing like a sea breeze. It is also a celebration of friendship through a successful artistic joint venture along with carefree beach scenes among friends.
Enjoy the summer everyone. May the fire of your passions, whether romantic or not, all remain alive; not just during this season but all year round.
The Fire (taken from: https://shorturl.at/mwyJ1)
“I don’t have the words to absorb your pain
I only have my hands to tell you mine
I have worked without counting my weeks
I didn’t steal the life I’m bringing to you
I didn’t want it to smother ours
I did all of this so that the “We” wins
I knew you were simple but I saw you alone
You had been extinguished so young
Oh why?
Tell me, why?
So I had to struggle
To better bring you back
Deep in my eyes
I lit a fire
Oh for you
Nothing but for you
I promise you
From the best of me
And when the downpour comes
I’ll protect the embers
I promise you
From a life of light
And when the snow falls
I’ll protect the embers
The fire, the fire
I can’t fight against the wind
And contain what I feel
I want you to know my wish
I can’t move the clouds
But I can be your fur
When you want it
Ask me
I was alone
Pensive
I thought you were strong
I didn’t understand
Oh, why
Tell me why
Take my heart
I give you my song
For when it will be cold
I’ve made a fire
Burning
Burning
I promise you
From the best of me
And when the downpour comes
I’ll protect the embers
I promise you
From a life of light
And when the snow falls
I’ll protect the embers
The fire, the fire
My musical promise
For your hellish days
When you cry
I promise you I will be there
I promise you a whole inferno
Thousands of flames
Deep in my eyes
I made a fire
Deep in my eyes
I made a fire
I promise you
From the best of me
And when the downpour comes
I’ll protect the embers
I promise you
From a life of light
And when the snow falls
I’ll protect the embers
The fire, the fire”.
Mother bear is such a good mama!
Two days ago, Bambi opened YouTube and found this video, which she watched twice. She would like to share it with you. Check how the cute little cub had much difficulty climbing, contrary to his siblings. Mama Bear did the impossible to help him; he succeeded in the end :)! It is fascinating how mama bear holds her younger ones, like cats do, and how she crosses the street. She seems to be carefully looking both ways. To salute this lovely wild family, Bambi will end this “beary” post with songs related to bears!
Canadian singer Isabelle Boulay: happy birthday to her!
In addition to her humanity, talent, and beautiful look radiating authenticity (https://shorturl.at/boy01; https://shorturl.at/hyBEH), Ms. Isabelle Boulay’s voice is as charming as the region she originally comes from, namely Sainte-Félicité in Québec, Canada (https://shorturl.at/tITW9).
As today happens to be Boulay’s birthday, Bambi would like to wish her a wonderful new year. She thanks her for the great music, which she listens [and sings :)] to while driving.
Below, and following the Happy Birthday song, Bambi will share some of Boulay’s performances solo, in memorable duets, and with other inspiring singers from the USA, Europe, and Canada. Except one English song, with the late and great Mr. Kenny Rogers, the rest of the melodies are all in French; some are sub-titled in English for your convenience. Thanks to all those who posted them on YouTube. Of note, Ms. Boulay’ last performance is a French adaptation of “The Winner Takes It All” by the amazing Swedish pop group ABBA.
To conclude this post, it may be Boulay’s birthday on July 7. However, instead of her receiving a gift from you and from Bambi today, this much talented singer is offering us all a precious musical gift: a bouquet of songs with deep lyrics and heart-felt emotions. “Merci chère Madame Boulay et bonne fête”! Happy Birthday to Ms. Isabelle Boulay ❤️!
PBS News Hour’s nine-minute documentary and Mr. Ghassan Rahbani’s new song about Lebanon
Today, Bambi came across a highly informative PBS New Hour brief documentary almost at the same time as Mr. Ghassan Rahbani’s powerful Lebanese-Arabic new song, entitled “Chou Bi’i Men Lebnan” [or “What is left of Lebanon“], which is about corruption in his county and its resulting fiasco. This post is simply meant to share both with you.
Thanks to PBS News Hour for shedding light on how “Lebanon struggles to emerge from financial crisis and government corruption“. As for you Mr. Rahbani, it is moving to hear you singing for the “humiliated” people, to use your own words. Thanks and bravo to you, the talented musicians, the children, and to all professionals who made the YouTube video-clip possible, including but not limited to the following: Mr. Jad Rahbani (lyrics, Music & Arrangemen), Ms. Ranya Ghosn El Hage (Direction), Mr. Marwan Ziadeh (Cinematography), and Diamony Digital Distribution @WataryProduction (Production).
To share the song’s simple yet deep lyrics with you, Bambi translated them into English (following the embedded videos). As usual, she is grateful for the assistance of her friend, the tireless Mr. Google Translate.
Best wishes to the people of Lebanon ❤️!
“What is left of Lebanon after you took it?”
What is left about Lebanon? Words you did not say yet.
There was some misery and the promise of tragedies.
What is left, what is left for the rest, I hope you will leave.
What is left of Lebanon, I wish you would forget.
And you sleep for two eras, so we can forget what you did.
Because in this country there are people, not herds.
Every time an hour ticks, they walk away.
What did you do in Lebanon, I hope you remember.
Because my little ones won’t forget.
And the humiliated people are the ones preserving Lebanon.
I wish you would leave. Stop the killing.
What is left of this land after you plundered it.
We even dream of a future that you took out of our mind.
What is left of Lebanon, what is left, nothing worth it.
You fight for it until you divide it.
What is left of Lebanon after you ate it?
You stole the light from the sky and the air you breathe.
Leaders on behalf of the sects (or religions), you made your country a farce.
What you stole from Lebanon, it’s time for its return”.
Madame/Dr. Denise Bombardier: what a loss!
May her memory be eternal.
Upon doing a quick tour of the news, Bambi first came across this cartoon by Mr. Yannick Lemay:
It took Bambi’s brain a few seconds to understand why Denise Bombardier is portrayed as a beautiful angel in the above cartoon. When she thought of death, she was shocked and googled media articles about her. Indeed, the first article announcing this tragic news was from the Montreal Gazette and entitled: “Quebec columnist and author Denise Bombardier has died at age 82” (https://shorturl.at/iy469). It is hard to imagine such a sharp and rich monument of Québec gone :(. What a deep loss for her family and for all of us, for humanity, for the francophonie (she defended the beautiful French language passionately), for women (she was a great feminist), and for convictions and principles.
Indeed, as Mr. Lemay wrote in his cartoon: “MERCI Madame Bombardier”! What a lady, Ms. or rather Dr. Bombardier. Her articles in the Journal de Montréal were always food for thought. Bambi translated or cited a few of them in older posts, all shown further below. In addition, she read a number of her books, including Vieillir avec grâce [Aging with Grace]. She was eager to one day read her many other books, including Nos hommes [Our Men] or L’Anglais [The Englishman], which tells us the story of her beloved husband Mr. James Jackson (fictionalized version: Philip T. Spencer) who speaks an impeccable French, by the way. Bambi’s heart goes to him as well as to her son and grand-daughter et al.
This being said, as the world is small, Bambi once bumped into Bombardier in one of Montreal’s bakeries. She made sure she greeted her, expressing her admiration in the tone of her “Bonjour, Madame Bombardier!” For those of you who do not know her, here are some of the milestones of her impressive and inspiring career: Three years after earning a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Montreal in 1971, she obtained a PhD in Sociology from the Sorbonne University in France. She started her career as a researcher for Radio-Canada. She also hosted several highly successful programs since 1975. In addition to authoring about 20 books and essays, she contributed articles to both international and national media, such as “Le Monde“, “Le Devoir“, “Châtelaine“, “Critère“, “Le Point”, “L’Actualité“, and Journal de Montréal (https://shorturl.at/pHIS8).
As reported in the Montreal Gazette (https://shorturl.at/iy469), Prime Minister (the official name for Premier in Québec) Legault tweeted the following: “Bombardier was in love with Québec and the French language… She was brilliant, courageous, funny.”
Of note, Madame/Dr. Bombardier was named to the Ordre national du Québec (2000) and admitted to the Order of Canada (2015). Also impressively, she was made an officer of the French Legion of Honour (2009).
If all the above, including having the courage of her convictions while being flexible, is not inspiring for younger and older generations alike, then what is? As Bloc Québécois Leader, Mr. Yves-François Blanchet, expressed it well: “Bombardier was a monument in Québec’s cultural, political and intellectual arena, relentlessly rigorous in her convictions but capable of evolution and also of that sometimes brave spontaneity that nourishes everyone’s thinking” (https://shorturl.at/iy469).
May Dr. Denise Bombardier’s memory be eternal. Who knows? Perhaps she is hanging out in heaven now with her colleague from the Journal de Montréal, our dear Dr. Frédéric Bastien? Bambi will ask them to please watch over, not only their families, but also their beloved Québec (and thus over Canada and the rest of the world). May love, along with integrity, have the final word in our world.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
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