Author: Bambi

Bambi would like to thank the relative and the friend who shared with her a story from out of an American university called the Minnesota Hamline University (https://nyti.ms/3XeURVO).

From the article above and others online, we learn that a small group of so-called triggered students filed complaints to their university; after an art course ended, if Bambi understands well. One of the latter was a Black AND Muslim student; two hot identities at once. This was enough for the administrators of this university to fire Professor Erika López Prater for showing her students a piece of historic Islamic Art.

The explanation reported in the media is that in Islam you do not show any representation of the Prophet Mohamed. Everyone knows it, especially the victims of Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan in France. All those who know Islam very well and have the utmost respect for it, like Bambi, also know that the extremism of Islamism is harmful to Islam before having a negative impact on all the society.

Bearing the above in mind, Bambi could be perceived to be from a so-called deer-of-colour group and she has relatives who are Muslims, not just friends. Yet, she strongly denounces the insanity of firing of Professor Erika López Prater for simply doing her educational job. This includes teaching her students about pieces of historic Islamic arts. What happened to this professor smells like bullying by some individuals with a thin skin and like cowardice by those managing her institution.

Why are university administrators allowing this collective insanity to happen? From what are they afraid of, more precisely? The extreme left (i.e., wokeism) or the extreme Islamism or the meeting of the abusive and bullying forces of both? And how can you teach students without concrete examples? How can teachers keep doing their job while walking on eggshells out of fear of being cancelled… for just being educators? If this is not obscurantism, what is it then?

To conclude this post, Bambi would like to express her full solidarity with Professor Erika López Prater. She hopes she has a good legal representation to defend our right to academic freedom and to keep earning a living!

Bambi would like to take the time to celebrate life today. She will do so in two ways:

To begin with, she wishes Tony a Happy Birthday. She will always remember who taught her to ride a bike. This being said, she also has another more “traumatizing” childhood memory of a linguistic lesson. It is precisely about the awful meaning of the Lebanese expression “I will show you the stars at noon” :). Her great, and highly teasing, teacher was again you, Tony; with the complicity of your sisters. All of you against Bambi :). Anyhow, may you keep having your sense of humour in life and may you have a wonderful new year. Have fun today with you family and all your loved ones!

Last but not least, Bambi, the Sun shown above, and all the stars join forces to happily welcome the cutest, and most beautiful, “Baby Kate” among us and in her home now :)! Bravo to her mom and dad again; congratulations to her aunt, grand-parents, all the relatives on both sides of the family, and their close friends literally around the world. Everyone is likely enjoying the “Meghli” baby desert now. Mmm and, let’s not forget that in few months, time for another desert to celebrate Baby Kate’s first tooth. It is called “Sinayniyeh”!

To end this brief post on a musical note, here are two songs that fit all happy events with two words: “Mabrouk” [Congrats] and “Yalla, Nifrah” [Let’s rejoice]. This will be followed by a Happy Birthday song, especially tailored for you, Tony. Thanks to the anonymous person who shared it on YouTube!

Believe it or not? Today is the National Day of Bubble Bath!

Of course, you have to have running water in your place to be able to indulge in a bubble bath.

You also ideally need a bubble bath soap or even make your own, if you prefer.

Whether you will take a bubble bath before midnight or not, here are a few songs for you from Bambi; half of them are in French and the other half in English :)!

In the past, at different opportunities, Bambi has applauded several decent politicians. They have either verbally defended freedom of expression or acted as free leaders themselves. This includes Mr. Maxime Bernier (elected, then non-elected with the PPC), Ms. Jodie Willson-Raybould (removed from Cabinet, then independent), and Mr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc Québécois). Today, Bambi would like to thank and congratulate Mr. Poilievre for his excellent explanation of freedom of expression and for his clear as well as strong position, defending Dr. Jordan Peterson’s right to free speech!

While chatting with her dad, Bambi learned that Lebanon’s artists are sharing the pain of singer Georges Wassouf, his (former) spouse, and family who are mourning the sudden death of their son, Wadih, following a surgery (https://bit.ly/3Zi0DYD). May God know how to comfort their aching hearts and may his memory be eternal…

Bambi cannot help not to think of Ms. France Gall (1947-2018) today. May her memory be eternal…

Bambi keeps standing in full solidarity with Dr. Jordan Peterson, as shown in the earlier post below. Please take the time to listen to his daughter, Mikhaila. Just imagine that Dr. Peterson is your dad, uncle, psychologist, or… yourself. As for Mikhaila, imagine that she is your sister, cousin, best friend, or… yourself. What does it do to you? Do you see that this is done to intimidate us all, including yourself? Even if you cannot see it now, as Dr. Peterson said earlier, you’re next.

“The College of Psychologists, an organization set up by the government in the 1960’s to protect individuals is harassing my dad and has been for 4 years, because of his political opinions. He criticized the Trudeau government and they’re after him because of that and his tweet about Elliot Page and the sports illustrated obese cover model. They’re threatening to take his license for “causing harm” and actually have the power to take his license. I think complaining about the college for causing harm to my family is more than reasonable“.

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Bambi stands in full solidarity with Dr. Jordan Peterson!

Bambi refuses to go to bed without musically reacting to a thoughtful tweet by journalist and author Roula Douglas. Her message reminds us that it is has been 884 days since the double explosion of the Beirut port (August 4, 2020). Yes, “884 days of injustice; 884 days of impunity;884 days since the double explosion, which ravaged Beirut. # They are all criminals.”

As a reminder, we are talking about over 218 deaths, 7500 injuries, 300, 000 instant homeless people, 150+ permanently disabled, over 3/4 of the capital damaged, 4 hospitals totally destroyed, US$15, 000, 000, 000 worth of damage. All this in addition to those who have been traumatized; many of whom migrated around the world.

Bearing the above in mind, there is no word that can come to Bambi’s mind right now to write anything about the level of either criminal negligence or criminality of ALL those involved in this tragedy. Sadly, there is no term that could well express the disappointing yet not surprising silence of the international community.

However, luckily when we lack words in life, there is always music and powerful lyrics we can rely on. Through this post, Bambi will borrow the words and emotions expressed, by talented artists and children, to send her solidarity to Beirut; especially to the victims’ families and to the courageous Judge Tarek Bitar. As a reminder, the latter is the second judge appointed to investigate this case. Without any shame, the political class has been continuously meddling to stop his investigation.

Do you recall when Bambi wrote, perhaps in two posts shown at this end of this one, that there is an international day for everything, whether it is something you like or not? Sometimes even a single day of the year has been declared to be devoted to two or more events, or objects, at once; by we do not know by whom.

Indeed, in addition to being the National Bird Day, today is the “National Whipped Cream Day”, imagine (https://bit.ly/3CqRWkN). Who came up with this odd idea, Bambi could not help not to wonder to herself!

With all due respect and love of whipped cream on top of her deserts or fruits, and if she may, Bambi will honour the “Ashta” instead today :).

What is Ashta? It is a Middle East clotted cream, which is mainly made of coagulated milk and rose water. It is yummy! You can find it in pastries we eat in feasts like the Saint Barbara (the Lebanese or Middle-Eastern version of Halloween) or Epiphany’s eve like tonight or like el Eid, which celebrates the end of Ramadan! All feasts, religious or not, are a golden opportunity to come together and… eat! Of course, sweet is always on the table, if not in everyone’s belly (unless the person has any type of diabetes).

Well, if you are curious more about Ashta that we put in the Katayef traditionally eaten tonight and tomorrow to highlight the Epiphany:

From Mama’s Lebanese Kitchen website, Bambi re-learned the following (https://bit.ly/3ZcClPJ): ” If you’re familiar with Arabic and Lebanese sweets, you would know that “Ashta” is a major ingredient and is considered as the king of fillers. Ashta is a slang word for “Kashta” in classical Arabic, which refers to clotted cream prepared with rose water and orange blossom water. Ashta is used as a filler in desserts such as Knefeh (kunafa), Znood el Sit, Atayif (Katayif) and in many others Ashta Lebanese Desserts. It is also served on top of fruit cocktails. So, here we are with the Original Lebanese Ashta Recipe – A clotted Cream With Rose Water”.

To end this brief post, Bambi would like to post a Lebanese famous song related to birds by the late Mr. Samy Clark, a clever English video, by Ms. Susanne Husseini, on how to make homemade Ashta, and wish everyone celebrating Epiphany, a good one! Same for those celebrating Christmas this evening/tomorrow [hello Diana and family :)!]. Mind you, some may be celebrating Christmas the following day or even around it.

This being said, whether we highlight any of the above or not, “Sahteen” as they say in Lebanon, which means “Bon Appétit” or literally the following: Twice I wish you health, not just once! One may take it as being a wish for well-being for both the physical and the spiritual aspects of health. And if we love food so much, like Bambi, we may take it as follows: Please help yourself with another treat :)!

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National Hard Candy Day: Long live the “Stoptou”!

Do you love violin?

Bambi would like to thank her relative from Ontario who informed us of a True North article with the following shocking, yet not that surprising, title: “Jordan Peterson faces censure by Ontario College of Psychologists over Trudeau tweets” (https://bit.ly/3CqCd5l).

Are we in the former Soviet Union or still in Canada? Is Mr. Trudeau or anyone replacing him, from his own party or another one, a modern czar? Why can’t we criticize his policies now? And if we criticize any of our politicians, including our Prime Minister, does it necessarily mean we do not appreciate other good policies or statements or actions?

For Bambi, and likely for many of you reading this post, what is absolutely unacceptable is the continuous use of academia, unions, medical or psychological professional bodies, private enterprises even as tools to perpetuate censorship.

You may not know how to appreciate Dr. Peterson’s high intelligence (and humanity!). You may or may not agree with him on any topic. You may hate him to death even. Yes, your mind and heart may to too blinded by ignorance and hate to be rejoicing for him now maybe… and forgetting his clever title of his interview of Bambi about her saga… “You’re next“.