Author: Bambi

Thank you, Mr. Bruce Wark, for your very informative article about the latest development concerning Councillor Bruce Phinney.

First and foremost, Bambi’s heart goes to Councillor Phinney. The pain of kidney stones is already tough in itself. When we are physically suffering, the last thing we need in life is the additional pain of a “nasty surprise” like the suspension of our medical benefits, in addition to the absurd, unfair, and anti-democratic suspension of our salary (https://bit.ly/3KUR9vy).

Why is our municipal politics that nasty? Why are people so disconnected from democracy, work ethics, tolerance of different public opinions, analytical thinking, and most importantly of humanity?

Bambi stands in FULL support of Councillor Phinney! Indeed, silencing one of our elected politicians is silencing us all. No one deserves an undemocratic treatment, not even those who have mistreated Mr. Louis Béliveau in the past accusing him of their own vice. For the record, Louis is related to Bambi in a very intimate way and yet she is saying so. So, imagine if this politician is one of the most principled ones Bambi has ever met in her entire life between Lebanon and three Canadian provinces. She is saying so with all due respect to all our other politicians whether Bambi agrees with their policies or not.

To conclude this post, once again, it is only when we come back to standing up for principles that we are truly fair to all and to the fate of democracy in our towns, provinces, and countries. The principle of free expression. The principle of respect for all. The principle of civility. The principle of humanity.

—

Why can’t shameless corrupt politicians, in Beirut, Lebanon, be hit by sanctions instead of principled Councillors, like Bruce Phinney, in Sackville, NB?

Let Councillor Phinney do his job. Do not silence him!

Are Sackville Town staff above criticism?

Bambi refuses to go to bed without expressing her FULL support for Judge Tarek Bitar, the Lead Investigator in the surrealistic Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020.

This judge deserves a Nobel Peace Prize, not political interference… and surely neither lawsuits nor threats!

The latest news in English, thanks to l’Orient Today:

https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1310624/bitar-should-oppose-a-decision-of-the-supreme-council-of-the-judiciary-to-appoint-a-substitute-judge.html

The latest news in French, thanks to L’Orient Le Jour:

https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1310663/cherche-t-on-a-court-circuiter-lenquete-de-tarek-bitar-.html

To conclude this brief post, one song comes to Bambi’s mind. She has posted it in the past. It is by Mr. Jean-Marie Riachi and it is entitled “Beirut, Oummi” [“Beirut, my mom”]. Its lyrics go like this: “Beirut is my mom, Beirut is my dad, Beirut is my sister, Beirut is my brother, Beirut belongs to me. Give it back to me…!” When will Beirutis finally see justice served? Don’t they deserve the truth? Why can’t they have it like in any other respectable country?

The news in La Presse (in French): https://bit.ly/3Rl7uvR

The news in CNN (in English): https://cnn.it/3TM2lyM

Thank you Mr. Jay Lemay for your beautiful interpretation of “Quand les hommes vivront d’amour” [“When men will live for love”] of Mr. Raymond Lévesque , which is subtitled in English. If she may, Bambi would like to dedicate it to all those suffering in Saskatchewan today. Bambi’s heart goes to you ❤️.

She does not know about you, but Bambi loves benches and stairs a lot. Her birth city, Beirut has many famous stairs. During her last two trips back home, in 2019 and lately in 2022, her sister Rania took her to a lovely neighbourhood. In 2019, it was still filled with life despite the start of the financial crisis. In 2022, it was partly still filled with destruction and surely with sad memories of the Beirut blast of August 4, 2020. So many people lost their lives there. You can still feel it in the air or in the eyes of local people, despite their courage and resilience.

However, despite the sad memories mentioned above, there is still the beauty of the preserved or re-built historic architecture. According to Bambi, a significant part of the charm of Beirut is precisely due to its staircases. One is known as “The staircase of Arts” [“Daraj el Fan“] because of an annual artistic festival which takes place there. You can see those stairs in the following picture to the left side.

Mind you, when Bambi took this picture, she tripped as she was walking backward to get the most optimal shot while still being jet lagged. Luckily at the last second she managed to not hit her head on the sidewalk’s pole [Rania, do you still recall this moment : )?]. The second staircase exists in a nearby neighbourhood, which was also very heavily damaged by the surrealistic Beirut port blast. Luckily, it survived (or was it fixed?). Again, Bambi took this picture when she was with Rania and their cousin Laila. Precious memories to keep in their respective minds forever!

Since this past summer, ideas of posts on either benches or stairs have been in the back of Bambi’s mind. For her, benches represent a pause to self-reflect, to rest, or to read. It can also represent a romantic moment or a friendly time with loved ones. As for the stairs, they just make Bambi dream of running them up and reaching her destination whatever it is. They also make her hope/pray not to trip when running them down!

Seriously now, when Bambi saw those stairs in Beirut she wondered if her parents took them to meet each other when they were young and in love; of course, they are older/wiser now… so is their still inspiring love. She should ask them her question one of these days. For now, she just knows that she did ran the first staircase herself under the sounds of heavy shelling at least twice in her teen years during civil war.

Anyhow, stairs may represent so many things to so many of us. Taking the stairs up to meet someone or down to escape something :). Perhaps worrying about ability to take the stairs if we are injured or disabled. Perhaps being confused at a particular moment of one’s life: not sure if we want to go up or down… or where precisely? The top may be love or success or whatever we wish it to be. The bottom could be a more comfortable place or… hell, it depends. Who knows? Unless, you imagine hell (if it exists) to be higher in space. Whatever :)! We may also be intimidated by all the steps needed to complete a project or to survive a journey.

Regardless of all the above, if she may, Bambi will would like to take the opportunity here to cite: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who once said: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase“.

Following this piece of wisdom, you may perhaps wonder now: What is the link of staircases with Mr. Justin Trudeau? Well, while preparing this post, Bambi discovered that our Prime Minister loves stairs too. You can see his own reason further below if you take the time to watch to the video, especially toward its end. This video comes after a few songs featuring stairs that Bambi chose to share with you today.

Well, here are a few words about those staircase-related songs. The first is a famous French-Canadian song by the most talented Mr. Paul Piché entitled L‘Escalier. Its lyrics are deep (you may wish to read the English translation). Bambi likes the part on children:

“After all, children, they are not so bad,
They may hurt or misbehave sometimes,
They may spit, lie, steal:
In essence, they do what we teach them. “

“The Staircase (lyrics taken from: https://bit.ly/3RD9Bew)

“Just before I was about to close the door, I thought I forgot something,
So I reached into my pocket to try and find what was missing,
But it wasn’t my guitar, or medicine
To relieve some pain, or to pass the time.

At the staircase, I went down the steps slowly,
For without any reason I would go up again,
For without any reason I kept going on.
I was confused because something inside of me was missing,
I felt lonely like a river abandoned by children.

And then time was passing, and taking me on the way
Without stopping, without forgetting, without forgetting to drain me.
Not long ago, I was small; now I’m still young, but big enough
To see that we grow old, even in love, even in spring.

So as you can see, I find myself in a strange position,
Pouches under my eyes and with a belly, but beer won’t be the solution.
I would like, however, this song, as it is about my life
To be played one evening at my house, a nice melody on the accordion.

After all, children, they are not so bad,
They may hurt or misbehave sometimes,
They may spit, lie, steal:
In essence, they do what we teach them.

But to end this song in a positive way, I should say what I would have said,
If I did not suddenly change my mind;
Of course, I was going to tell you to escape, how to be independent,
Distanced from the ones you love, to save the world from its problems,

To tell you there is no reason to cry, that the other song I was going to write was wrong,
That love could prevent me from giving my time to those who need it,
To tell you that heroes are not free, they are never wrong, they are unencumbered,
That glory pays for the sacrifices, and power relieves the torments.

Of course, you would have cried along with lyrics,
But in a way it is love, when the ones you love deny your attitude
I shrugged them off, they did not care, I turned my back, they did not move,
I scared myself, I confused myself, then when I understood, I returned.
When I understood, I took a huge detour
To end up alone in a staircase.

It is nothing new here, when I say we’re nothing without love.
To help the world, we must be able to be loved.
Without love, we are nothing“.

The second English song is “So Long, Farewell” from one of Bambi’s favourite movies, “The Sound of Music“, which she has watched more times than her age :)!

The third Arabic song is by Fairuz and it is about the staircase of roses or “Daraj el Ward“, which is a new discovery for Bambi.

The fourth and last song is simply for fun. It is for kids, in English, and entitled “The Stairs to Anywhere“.

Before ending with Mr. Justin Trudeau unique staircase-related TV moment at 2:27 minutes from the start of the following video until its end, Bambi will pause to say the following: Thank God because Mr. Trudeau did not have a brain concussion while doing his TV trick (he only hurt his wrist a little bit).

This being said, if you are curious now, you may watch Mr. Trudeau pretending to fall the staircase; a trick he learned from his dad, as he said in French. Bravo for his acting talent that can entertain TV watchers, hotel guests, and his wife, as he reported.

Well, who knows? After watching the video, you may perhaps think: Oh, how clever and lovely too. You may also think: Even if he is highly skilled in fake stairs falls, Mr. Trudeau is not as talented in his role as Canada’s leader :). You may even have both contradictory thoughts at the same time, of course with all due respect for him/his position. Regardless of your thoughts about your personal meaning of stairs or about our Prime Minister’s political performance, Bambi hopes you will enjoy the staircase-related songs as well as Mr. Trudeau’s impressive talent with stairs!

This post is simply a follow-up to the earlier one, shown further below.

First, you can find an English translation, taken from the internet, of the moving song written by Mr. Girac to his daughter, Eva, who was born a couple of days ago! Second, you can listen to the song if you wish.

In your eyes, I see the world differently
In your eyes, Eva, all my love big
In your eyes, I see like I haven’t seen before
Your gaze, my child, is the most beautiful present

[Chorus]
You made me a daddy
I can’t even come back
Eva
You made me a daddy
Daddy, ah, ah
Eva (dad)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, Eva (daddy)
Mmh, Eva (dad)

Eva, Eva

[Verse 2]
Give your heart, Eva, I’ll put down my luggage
And wherever I am, I’ll always be your age
Because as soon as I close my eyes, I see your face
Your smile, my child, is the most beautiful present

[Chorus]
You made me a daddy
I can’t even believe it (mmh, Eva)
You made me a daddy
Daddy, ah, ah
Eva (dad)

Ooh, ooh, ooh, Eva (mmh, daddy)
Mm, Eva (dad)
Eva, Eva

[Bridge]
Parara pa, parara para pa
Parararara, para pa
Parara pa, parara para pa

[Chorus]
You made me a daddy
I can’t even come back
Eva
You made me a daddy (daddy, mmh)

Daddy, ah, ah
Eva (dad)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, Eva (ooh)
Mmm, Eva (mmm, daddy)
Your smile, my child, is the most beautiful present

[Over]
Eva (Eva)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, Eva
Mmm, Eva
Mmm, Eva
Mmm, Eva, Eva

—

Long live Corsica: Thank you Mr. Kendji Girac and L’Avvinta for having joined your musical forces in “Catena”!

Corsica is a piece of heaven on earth, which Bambi had the chance to visit with her family about 10-12 years ago. Well, yesterday night before sleep, she discovered a great song that made all her wonderful memories of this trip come to her mind.

To begin with, bravo to Mr. Kendji Girac for singing in the Corsican language with the amazing group L’Avvinta, as shown in the Youtube video below (in which it is sweet to see Mr. Patrick Fiori as well)!

For those of you who do not know it, “Catena” [The Chain] is a Corsican adaptation of a Catalan song entitled “L’Estaca“, which was composed by Mr. Lluis Llach in 1968 during the reign of Franco in Spain. It is a call for unity to achieve freedom (https://lyricstranslate.com/en/catena-chain.html). Of note, the original Corsican song has inspired many versions in several languages, including French, Polish, Basque, Yiddish, Arabic, and Hebrew.

To conclude this post on a joyful note, Mr. Kendji Girac became a father to a baby daughter called Eva! Welcome to the latter on our planet and congratulations to her mom and dad! Who knows, maybe Mr. Girac’s new moving song, entitled Eva (https://bit.ly/3KJGp3i), would be posted by Bambi on this blog one of these days :)?

This morning, upon waking up, Bambi read a funny (i.e., sarcastic) article of Mr. Richard Matineau published in the Journal de Montréal (https://bit.ly/3cDtkvD) about the latest news out of Ottawa likely about the name of this new action plan (https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/free-to-be-me/federal-2slgbtqi-plus-action-plan.html). Here is a quick translation for you, thanks to Mr. Google Translate. Oh by the way, before you keep reading this post, if your sense of humour and critical thinking have not been surgically removed, it would be safe to continue reading. If not, there are many other alternative activities you can chose to do to protect yourself from something called intellectual diversity. You have been warned :).

“This weekend, the Trudeau government made a big decision that will permanently and fundamentally change the country.

But because of the Québec election campaign, this news — what am I saying, this bomb! — went completely unnoticed.

A COURAGEOUS GOVERNMENT!

Imagine that the Trudeau government changed the acronym for sexual diversity in order to highlight Indigenous communities.

Before, it was LGBTQI+2E.

L for Lesbian, G for Gay, B for Bisexual, T for Transgender, Q for Queer, I for Intersex, and + for everyone else i.e. asexual, pansexual, agender, the one who is content with masturbation, “et tutti quanti” [and everyone].

Not to mention the 2E which means “Two Spirits” or “Two Spirit”, an important term in certain indigenous cultures, which designates a person with a female spirit and a male spirit living in the same body.

The problem, the scandal, the shame, is that the “2E” was located AFTER the LGBTQI+.

Yes, sir — sorry: yes, an individual with a penis!

As if Indigenous bi come AFTER non-Indigenous bi!

But now, thanks to the courage, determination and composure of our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who stops at nothing, and when I say nothing, it means nothing, to improve the fate of the people of Canada and expand our horizons, the 2nd will come BEFORE the LGBTQI+!

It will no longer be LGBTQI+2E, but 2ELGBTQI+!

Do you see the difference?

WE TACKLE THE REAL PROBLEMS!

Apparently on Sunday, on the reserves, the members of First Nations were crying so much they were relieved.

“Finally! We have adopted an acronym that treats us with respect!”

In some reserves, they were so happy with Justin Trudeau’s announcement that they interrupted the walk they have to do every day to get drinking water to celebrate!

This is Canada!

We don’t just talk through our hats here. We tackle the real problems!

Justin Trudeau does not pretend to be interested in the fate of Indigenous people! He is not content to be photographed with feathers on his head!

He acts! He comes running! He takes the bull by the horns and shows the rest of the world the way forward!

A COMPLICATED ACRONYM

You will understand that I am being ironic…

Aren’t there other more pressing problems currently plaguing Indigenous communities?

I don’t know… Poverty? Drug addiction? Lack of drinking water? The mysterious disappearance of hundreds of women? Criminality?

No.

For Justin, the important thing is where the “2E” will be placed in the acronym used to refer to members of sexual minorities.

Here is a man of action! Who has the priorities in the right place!

By the way, speaking of that acronym…

Can we just say “sexual minorities”?

It seems to me that it would be less confusing. And that would include everyone. Those who have sex, those who don’t have sex, those who just have sex on Saturday nights when there’s no hockey…

Because at the rate we are discovering new sexual minorities, soon we will call it the ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890+.

We will have to add letters to the alphabet.”

Believe it or not, in a county about to completely collapse under its multiple crises, Lebanese Caretaker Energy Minister, Mr. Walid Fayyad, and Social Affairs Minister, Mr. Hector Hajjar have nothing to do with their time, but throw stones across the border toward Israel.

Do they think they are kids and they are playing a game? Do they think they are in Gaza? What thought is on their mind while they are throwing the stone in the air, Bambi cannot help not to wonder?