To what extent is Lebanon the microcosm of the world?

Today, Bambi read the words of a religious and wise man in Beirut in An Nahar (https://www.annahar.com/arabic/). His name is Metropolitan Bishop Elias Audi of the Beirut Greek Orthodox Church). He said: “The government must be the mother and the shelter, not the tyrant“.

A picture taken from An Nahar

Of course, Metropolitan Audi was talking about those governing his own country.

However, Bambi could not help not to wonder to which extent his words filled with truth and wisdom do not apply to each country of our world, including us in Canada?

Bambi is thinking of the consequences of all the following observations: ruling governments too disconnected from their own people, politicians too much into ideologies and less into practical, citizen-based governance, and/or leaders who seem either unwilling or incapable of assembling their people and ultimately of uniting their country, etc.

What can other countries, including ours, learn from tiny bankrupt and corrupt Lebanon? The latter is sadly systemically corrupt at all levels: Morally, military, financially, and economically. Yet, its people still believe in democracy through elections. They want a change. They want to live!

Is there a place for principles and patriotism still in the Lebanese government and in all governments?

Do we still cherish patriotism, as a genuine love for one’s country, without anyone calling it racism or supremacy of any sort or colour.

Patriotism is all about love.

Pure love at any time and perhaps more so at the evening of Saint Valentine’s day :).

Why aren’t we allowed to love and respect ourselves anymore in order to truly love our country? And be loved in return?

Why should we risk being censored (or cancelled) for expressing this love and/or for demanding whatever legitimate demands, without being vilified.

Why are only causes approved by our governments allowed and others systemically dismissed or repressed?

So many whys… Bambi will stop here, but her reflection will continue.

How refreshing to see our Canadian flag honoured in France while it is still at half-mast in Canada for months!

For those outside Canada who do not know, flags at federal institutions are still at half-mast for months now. Here are two articles that explain the context: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rex-murphy-on-flags-and-climate-trudeau-rules-by-fiat; https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/30/canada-trudeau-orders-flags-lowered-for-indigenous-children).

Beirut: Friends of Elias (15 year old), one of the youngest victims of the surrealistic port explosion sent a letter to Mr. Emmanuel Macron

A moving picture taken from 961 showing Elias’ friends demanding justice for him at the French Embassy in Beirut

As reported by 961, “their letter pleads for President Macron to push for justice and accountability for those responsible for the Beirut Port Explosion, as it has been over a year and a half without accountability“.

Bambi’s heart was moved by the words (in English) of Elias’ mother (LCBI Instagram in the 961). My God know how to comfort her soul… As she said once in an earlier interview, she is alive (she survived her injury) yet she is dead inside (she lost her son two weeks after the blast. He suffered from severe head injuries).

A picture taken from 961. This woman is carrying a sign that reads as follows: “We raised them with the tears of our eyes [a Lebanese expression of love, commitment, and devotion] and you exploded them and they are gone“.

Bambi also learned from this 961 and the National (https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/the-lyrical-legacy-of-elias-el-khoury-teen-beirut-blast-victim-remembered-through-his-music-1.1226332) that Elias’ dream was to become a rapper. Wow!

Indeed, Bambi was able to find an earlier 961 article, two older tweets by Mr. Elias Fayad, and most importantly the published music of Elias postmortem, thanks to Anghami!

Now, to borrow the words of the 961 journalists informing us of what is taking place in Beirut, Bambi will cut and past parts of the article above here for you:

Just yesterday, on Thursday, families of the victims conducted yet another protest, demanding an effective investigation.

They threatened to escalate their movements in the street if those in charge will continue to allow deliberate obstruction and delay of the investigation. They eventually broke into the Justice Palace.

These protests by the families, friends, and activists have been ongoing since August 8th, 2020, a day in which the people unleashed their anger at the negligence of the ruling body, after 4 days of mourning.

They were met with violence and oppression by the military ordered to squash their protest.

The Beirut Blast was historically catastrophic at all levels. Hundreds were killed, thousands were injured, some of whom have been maimed for life, and the destruction was massive in the capital.

That is to add to what resulted of severe mental illness, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder many are currently suffering from in Lebanon. “

Finally, to conclude this post, Bambi will say the following:

(1) She would like to refer you to an older post honouring Elias (shown further below). May justice be finally served for him and for his bereaved family and friends. Bambi sends them her heart and continuous solidarity;

(2) As far as Mr. Macron is concerned, Bambi has an old post about his humanity (shown below). She remains grateful to him personally and to France, like Beirutis and the Lebanese people. As a reminder, he travelled to Beirut and hugged Tamara (who lost her mom) and many traumatized people on the streets (not a single Lebanese politician talked to them!). This being said, Bambi now hopes that President Macron and his peers (i.e., The Bidens, the European Union, and all the elites of the world who follow each other, including our own Mr. Trudeau, even if Canada is a small international player… ) will not forget tiny Lebanon before finalizing any nuclear deal with Iran; and

(3) As a last final musical note, Bambi will re-post this very MOVING Sintineddi song by Ms. Pascale Ojeil and Mr. Jean Charles Papi, dedicating it to Elias as well as all the other 200+ victims who lost their lives …. of course, without forgetting about the 5000+ injured (some still undergoing treatment— hi Maya?!), and the 4.5 traumatized residents. Indeed, as journalist Roula Douglas tweeted on August 7, 2020: “this explosion felt like the 15 years of civil war condensed in a few seconds“.

Which politician makes more sense to you: Mr. Bernier or Mr. Trudeau?

Which politician makes more sense to you?

First, here is a message from Mr. Maxime Bernier to Mr. Trudeau in both official languages.

Second, you can read Mr. Trudeau’s state of mind.

Bambi has her own opinion and it is not impressed by Mr. Trudeau.

In English…

In French…

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-severe-consequences-demonstrators-1.6348661

Beirut: Did any judge or lawyer support families of the victims of the port blast who are demanding a decision in the appeal against Judge Tarek Bitar?

Enough is enough!

From the Twitter account of Mr. Paul Naggear, father of the three year-old Alexandra who died in the surrealistic Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, we can read the following in Arabic below, followed by a French translation taken from l’Orient Le Jour (https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1290354/des-parents-de-victimes-font-irruption-dans-le-palais-de-justice.html), and finally by a quick English translation:

فتنا على قلب قصر العدل طالبين ببت طلب الرد يلي موقفته القاضية المصري. ما في قضاء. ما في شرفاء. ما في عدالة. و ما في محامي أو قاضي نزل يوقف معنا. والله عيب كأن عم نطلب العدالة من المريخ pic.twitter.com/dHpmjyNkLi

— Paul Naggear (@naggearp) February 10, 2022

“Nous avons pénétré dans le palais de Justice pour réclamer que le recours (contre le juge) soit tranché. Mais il n’y a pas de justice”, a twitté Paul Naggear, père d’Alexandra, une fillette âgée de trois ans et décédée à cause de la double explosion, depuis l’intérieur du palais de Justice. “Il n’y a pas de juges, pas de personnes honorables, ni d’avocats qui soient venus nous épauler. C’est honteux. Comme si nous réclamions que la justice nous soit rendue depuis la planète Mars”, s’est indigné ce père endeuillé“.

“We entered the courthouse to demand that the appeal (against the judge) be decided. But there is no justice,” Paul Naggear, father of three-year-old Alexandra, who died in the double explosion, tweeted from inside the courthouse. Not a single judge, honourable person, or lawyer came to support us. It is shameful. As if we were demanding that justice be done to us from planet Mars”.

Beirut courthouse: A picture tweeted today by Mr. Paul Naggear.

When will impunity finally end in Lebanon!?

Once again, thank you Judge Tarek Bitar for being Beirut’s hero of peace!

May God protect Judge Tarek Bitar…

To conclude this post on a musical note, here is moving English song, called Shout, composed by Alexandra’s grand-father and her mom’s best friend (posted by Bambi in an earlier post shown below).

Inspired by our Canadian truckers and farmers, and even if US deer are infected by Omicron, Bambi refuses vaccine mandates to them… and her.

According to Global News, an Omicron variant has been discovered in white-tailed deer of New York. The species includes about 30 million deer in the United States (https://globalnews.ca/news/8605309/covid-omicron-new-york-deer/).

“Emiliana”, French & Arabic Remix: Blynk, of Lebanese ancestry, was born in Montreal. His talent is promising!

Bambi discovered this singer on her internet radio from LA to which he gave a very nice interview. She was happy to discover a young talent from Montreal, Québec, Canada!

Blynk (artistic name) is a passionate musician/singer and a full-time student. He is young (18 if she got it right). She particularly liked his concluding remarks of encouragement to young people to follow their passion of composing and/or performing music. Not to be afraid, to follow their hearts, especially that it can be done even with a simple equipment.

Thank you Blynk. Bravo for your talent and entrepreneurship. Please keep up your creativity!

Since a judge banned honking in downtown Ottawa, Bambi will virtually honk in solidarity with our truckers and farmers who are requesting an end to vaccine mandates and saying enough of job losses

Fully vaccinated (even boosted!), AND grateful to our government for the access to vaccines, Bambi is against vaccine mandates. Indeed, she prefers education to coercion in life. She also values the full access to transparent information so people can make informed decisions about their health and the health of their children. Indeed, in her mind, it is up to parents to decide to vaccinate their children or not against Covid-19 (most of the kids are not at a particular risk, without medical complexity or any known risk factor). Because she believes in the scientific method, she distrusts politicians who tell us that their political decisions are based on science, without room for any debate.

The above being said, of course Bambi had a thought for Ottawa residents who have migraines or those who may be disturbed by the sound until 6 PM. The sound is meant to attract the attention of parliamentarians, from what Bambi understood. Is this the ideal way? Probably not, but are we in normal times? Surely not.

Canada, why the authoritarian mindset? Today more than ever, Bambi says NO to Bill C-36!

Bambi has several posts on Bill C-36, as shown further below.

Today, more than ever, she says no to the so-called “AntiHate” Bill C-36!

https://globalnews.ca/news/8595683/anti-hate-bill-c-36-liberals/

Instead of listening to its population (working-class Canadians on the streets across the country and engaging in a meaningful conversation with them to solve the crisis), our ruling politicians are in a rush to revive their online censorship bill.

Since when increased authoritarianism is a wise and unifying strategy in a national crisis like that? Since when will it ensure a long-term brighter future for a country?

Our government in power has the most beautiful name in the world: Liberal? Why are they becoming that controlling (i.e., illiberal) in their governance and rapport with the citizens they serve?

We already have criminal laws in our country? Why is this not enough anymore all of a sudden?

Indeed, in an earlier post, Bambi expressed the following:

As a reminder, under Bill 36 (if the Senate passes it), citizens can be fined up $50,000 and eventually silenced. Who would be defining hate and deciding on it? Our federal bureaucrats? Wouldn’t that be arbitrary? How fair is that? How logical? How liberal?

Even Lebanon’s Hezbollah did not come up with such bills (yet) to crack down on “online collaboration with the (Israeli) enemy“… Let’s hope our government will not give them such ideas.

Bambi believes that a (truly) liberal approach remains the healthiest approach when it comes to (online) freedom of expression. Let people remain free to express themselves, except for calling for violence or defamation.

Luckily, we already have laws to address the above as well as all the other criminal activities stated to justify this new legal framework on “online hate speech” (i.e., child sexual exploitation, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, incitement to violence, and terrorism).

Mr. Trudeau et al., Bambi is against your proposed Bill 36 as well as your proposed plan to regulate or monitor social-media content. She is saying so, even if she is not on social media herself. She thinks so, even if she has been the target of an online censorship campaign because of her blog”.

To conclude this post now, the same song comes to Bambi’s mind to say no to Bill C-36 and, thus, a big NO to citizens’ (and deer’s) online censorship in Canada. Yes, this melody is again Ms. Nana Mouskouri’s song for liberty. Perhaps it is worth listening to, once again, as a reminder of the value of liberty, which seems to be in danger in our beautiful Canada… How sad!

Some of Bambi’s earlier posts on the topic: