Category: Sackville’s Memorial park

Yesterday, Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator of the surrealistic Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020 reassured the victims’ families that “the pressures and threats will not make him back down from the investigation“.

Judge Bitar Says He Won’t Back Down From The Beirut Port File

Today, we learned from France24, that the courageous Judge Tarek Bitar is once again being “forced to suspend probe“. This is not the first suspension. It is actually the third one! Guess how many lawsuits have been filed against this judge by former ministers thus far? Not 1, not 2, not 3… not even 13. The total is now 15, according to judicial sources and as reported by France24 ( https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211104-beirut-blast-investigator-forced-to-suspend-probe-for-3rd-time).

As a reminder, Lebanon refused to resort to an international investigation, as per the TV5 Monde news video below. With all due respect, one must also recall that, despite any good intention, sometimes verdicts of UN international investigations end being rather useless (i.e. Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the case of the assassination of the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, as per some of Bambi’s older posts).

May God protect Judge Tarek Bitar from those threatening him… In the meantime, thanks to him for his courage in standing up against the forces of the mafia-militia duo of his country. Best wishes to the Lebanese judiciary system that is trying to be as independent as possible. Will justice win in the end? The saga will continue and time will tell.

Until then, here is a short news documentary in French by TV5 Monde entitled “Tarek Bitar, le juge libanais qui dérange“. It is followed by a song (in Arabic) for the victims’ families as well as ALL those impacted by this surrealistic tragedy (the injured, the homeless, the survivors, etc.). Thank you Mr. Omar Kamal for the moving interpretation of Feiruz’s Li Beirut. Note that the video below is part of a concert that took place in Bahrain in 2017; that was prior to the current, yet neither the first nor the last, SAD, diplomatic crisis between the Gulf countries and tiny, bankrupt yet always surviving Lebanon.

To conclude this post on a note of hope, may music always have the last word. May peace prevail within all the nations of the world and among them. May love and prosperity return to the historically welcoming (and beautiful) land of Lebanon.

In the USA, as per the older posts below, a former President of the country has been banned by Twitter. So were so-called anti-Kamala Harris “trolls”.

In Canada, in the past, the competent (and compassionate) Dr. Oren Amitay has been permanently banned from Twitter.

Today, in our country, Dr. Amir Attaran (who has been using an awfully racist/hateful language toward Québec and its Prime Minister for ages) has been banned by Twitter. Why? Because he criticized our federal government’s health policies. He seemed to have written that Mr. Trudeau must be “tarred and feathered” for being late in vaccinating children against the coronavirus, as per first the National Post and now all the other mainstream Canadian media (https://nationalpost.com/news/twitter-bans-ottawa-law-professor-amir-attaran-for-saying-trudeau-should-be-tarred-and-featherd).

First, Bambi has always defended Dr. Amir Attaran’s right to freedom of expression (even if this has not been reciprocal when she was the target of cancel culture). She is saying so and she TOTALLY disagrees with his “woke” insults toward Québec. She is saying so, even if she is not too sure if the vaccination of 5-11 year olds is a wise idea (since this is not an at-risk group and everyone can still transmit the virus). Plus, the technique used is new. This means no long-term data about potential side effects in kids are available yet. Plus, most importantly, in her mind parents should have the final say in deciding whether to vaccinate their young kids or not. Of course, they need full informed consent to be able to do so properly.

Second, Bambi is far from being a fan of Mr. Trudeau’s vision for our country on so many levels. However, she does not use the language of Dr. Attaran (especially that English is neither her first, nor second language… She had to google “tarred and feathered “ ?).

Despite this, she still wants to believe we are in Canada and Canada is in North America (neither is in the Middle East, nor in some countries of the Far East). This means traditionally a free country, not a dictatorship. In free countries, and even in not-so-free ones (like Lebanon), people are relatively still able to criticize powerful groups and corrupt leaders (when they are not killed for real, not just symbolically from time to time).

So, Twitter, please restore Dr. Attaran’s account immediately (same for Dr. Oren Amitay, if he wishes to use this company’s unreliable services again in his practice). To conclude on a musical note, Mr. George Moustaki’s beautiful song is dedicated by Bambi to all those involved in this post or reading it. It is about freedom (sub-titled in English). Yes, this most precious value in life that is supposed to be for us all, not just for some and not others (depending on the forces in power).

—

Bambi’s earlier posts of Twitter and censorship:

Did you know that in February 2019, Twitter “suspended anti-Kamala Harris accounts”?

Mmm, had Mr. Jack Dorsey (Twitter) silenced Ms. Hillary Clinton four years ago after the election results, would you have accepted it? If your answer is no, perhaps you should re-consider your support of the current censorship

Since Twitter is acting like a self-appointed referee cancelling Presidents despite their last tweets calling for peace, why doesn’t it be fair and cancel a new Vice-President’s divisive yet pinned tweet?

In democracies, it it normal to: 1. see the American and almost all Canadian media going into one direction about the US Elections? & 2. have a private company, like Twitter, watching each tweet of its own President (up until January 20th) and adding their own comments?

Thank you Mr. Mario Dumont for your beautiful article that Bambi is honoured to quickly translate into English and post (OK with acknowledgements to her faithful friend, Mr. Google Translate!).

First, here is Mr. Dumont’s article in French: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/11/03/relevez-ce-drapeau, published today in the Journal de Montréal. Second, its translation below:

“I specify that I do not have a Canadian flag on my field. And if I had a mast, I would hoist the fleurdelysé [this is Québec’s beautiful flag] on it straight away. However, I have the utmost respect for what a flag means to a country.

I respect even more what the flag symbolizes for those who courageously served under this flag in the Armed Forces. Pride, duty, sense of country, the flag brings up several feelings.

On the eve of Remembrance Day 2021, Canada finds itself in a curious position. Canadian flags may not be half-masted on November 11 as a sign of respect for Canadians killed in action. Why ? For the simple reason that the flags have been at half mast since the end of May.

Residential schools

Since the horrific discovery of the remains of over 200 children on the grounds of an Aboriginal residential school in Kamloops, the Canadian government has maintained this symbol. The question arose on July 1, Canada Day. The Trudeau government kept the flags at half mast and made this holiday more modest.

This permanent half-masting is a dead end. Yes, the flags had to be lowered at the time to underline the collective sadness and indignation at the horrors of the past. But putting them at half mast permanently ends up going unnoticed and prevents other tragedies from being highlighted [even Canadian deer said so, as per the two earlier posts further below].

This is not to downplay the seriousness of the residential school mess. Children’s lives have been taken. We will remember a stain in Canadian history.

The millions of citizens of Canada want reconciliation, of course. They agree that their government will take steps to ensure reconciliation. But the citizens of Canada do not live in constant shame. Their country is more than this inhuman episode.

Remembrance Day

Six months later, we realize the problem. Once the government makes the half-mast permanent, how do you get out of it? Indigenous representatives now interpret a flag raising not as a return to normalcy, but as an insult.

The Remembrance Day case speaks volumes. Veterans are absolutely right to want to hoist the flags so that they can be lowered at half mast during ceremonies. One tragedy in our history cannot erase another. It would be unacceptable not to be able to make the annual symbolic gesture of half-masting the flag because the flag is permanently kept halfway up.

The Legion of Honor of Canada seeks compromise solutions to commemorate Remembrance Day with dignity. One of the options would be to hoist the flag momentarily and then lower it … permanently.

The history of Canada, like that of all countries, is made up of beautiful and less beautiful chapters. The flag raised means that the people are still standing, not that they are erasing their past.“

—

Bambi’s earlier posts on this topic:

Royal Canadian Legion: Why can’t we honour both our veterans/flag and the memory of Indigenous children at the same time?

Mr. Trudeau, despite the sorrow in our hearts, can we now raise our Canadian flag again… just like in the Mohawk territory?

Lebanon’s residents, 60+ are now receiving their third (booster) dose of Pfizer vaccine after receiving an automated message to register for an appointment (https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/d/news-bulletin-reports/614688/people-aged-60-and-above-to-receive-third-dose-of/en; https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1280090/le-liban-ouvre-la-voie-a-la-troisieme-dose.html). The vaccination registration rate for the first two doses has been of 52.8% (of which 34,1% already got their first dose and 30.1% their second one).

Vaccination is highly encouraged in Lebanon through education. However, it is not mandatory. Bambi is relieved to know that her parents will receive their booster dose tomorrow (as they just turned 60… OK this is meant to make them smile if they are ever reading this post :)).

Sadly for them (and for Bambi), and as shown further below in older posts, they lost many close ones because of the coronavirus. Some of their friends were not as lucky as them. They lost their lives before the development of the vaccines :(. Another loved one chose not to be vaccinated even if he was in a risky age group. Sadly, he died. However, no one ever shamed his family or blamed him for his death, like we sadly are doing in our supposedly more civilized countries. Everyone mourned with his family and keeps asking about his wife who was luckier than him (may she get well soon). May the memory of those who left us/their loved ones be eternal.

As for Lebanon, it is surely a land of contradictions. One one hand, the government is unable to protect its people from ammonium nitrates or from regional forces taking this country in one direction or the other. On the other hand, even without a functional government and without public funds, Lebanese people do receive their vaccines in a timely manner, perhaps even ahead of other wealthier counties. Bravo to all those making this happen. Bravo to the Ministry of Public Health that seems to be operating on its own in its country. Bravo to its good collaboration with all healthcare centres, public and private; all this in awful living conditions (lack of gas, power, etc.).

To conclude this post, it is Bambi’s hope that her birth country will know how to protect its people from large diplomatic crises (especially the current dispute with Gulf countries), not just from tiny viruses.

—

Bambi’s earlier posts:

Dearest Khalil Smeira, beloved friend & Professor of French Literature: “Ce n’est qu’un au revoir cher ami de Bambi, ami de son papa… et papa de ses quatre amis”!

Mr. Raymond Tabet, an inspiration to all those who crossed paths with him, including Bambi and her family

Thank you Judge Tarek Bitar…

Our world elites, many of whom flirt with wokeism, are currently meeting at COP26 in Glasgow in the UK.

As a reminder, wokeism is a modern form of sectarianism, which pretends to hold a monopoly on morality. It is like a movement of neo-puritanism that speaks in the name of minorities (including disabled people). It cancels people or censors books, movies, or events when they question its orthodoxies (even by simply bringing some nuances, etc.). It becomes racist and discriminatory, of course in the name of anti-racism and justice.

Now, COP26 is the hub where the world’s elites are meeting to save our planet… yet they are not even able to welcome the Israeli Energy Minister, Ms. Karine Elharra, who is in a wheelchair (https://nationalpost.com/pmn/environment-pmn/cop26-was-inaccessible-for-israeli-minister-in-wheelchair).

How can they pretend to be those who will efficiently solve climate change, if they are not even able to simply ensure a prompt access to a minister to their venue to join her voice to others’ in order to find collective solutions to the problem?

All what this minister wanted was to take part, like her peers, in the joint effort to advance solutions to climate change? Indeed, to use her own words, “I came to COP26 to meet my counterparts in the world and advance our joint struggle against the climate crisis… It’s sad that the United Nations, which promotes accessibility for people with disabilities, in 2021 doesn’t worry about accessibility at its own events.”

According to the National Post article above (based on Reuters), “the British ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, apologized for the mishap“. Nice of him to do so. Let’s hope lessons will be learned for future editions of this UN summit or others, especially when they brag about the so-called “diversity and equity” (https://www.2050.scot/events-listings/equity-and-diversity-at-cop26).

To conclude this post, it is Bambi’s hope that trendy yet empty slogans (like diversity, equity, inclusion or whatever else that may replace this one in the future) will be genuine, that is concrete. Not just empty slogans… or not just “blahblahblah“, to use the words of a famous COP26 participant, Ms. Greta Thunberg :).

Well in Canada, when posing for a picture, even outdoors, they are masked.

However, when they are abroad in a room filled with people from all over the planet, all of them responsibly masked, our Prime Minister and his colleague, Mr. Steven Guilbeault, are the only ones non-masked.

Plus, in Canada, in some municipalities and some provinces, masks are mandatory by law for public servants (https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mandatory-masks-1.5615728).

However, it seems that this health-measure works only for those public servants who are not at the top of the hierarchy.

Of course, Mr. Trudeau is always more important than laws, ethical rules, and us the little people.

At least, his is true to himself… His attitude/behaviour has a name: elitism (and no it is not much better than populism).

This beautiful song has stood the test of time.

Indeed, it still sadly VERY relevant for all the world, that is not just for Lebanon and for the powerful forces of the Middle East and beyond.

If Bambi is not mistaken, the music of this old song was composed by Mr. Ziad Rahbani for his mother Fairouz during the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990), precisely in 1981. The lyrics are the wise words of Mr. Gibran Khalil Gibran (thanks Mary for the clarification).

The lyrics are in standard Arabic with sub-titles in English.

Thank you Fairouz for your powerful message of peace. Is anyone listening and reflecting?

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Koweit all expelled the Lebanese Ambassadors from their respective countries (as partly explained in the earlier post further below). They even recalled their own Ambassadors there. Some have even asked their own citizens to avoid flying to this country (or to leave it?). Yet, the Saudi foreign minister “denies a diplomatic crisis“, as per this CNBC brief news interview.

As one dear journalist told Bambi this morning, this new saga is the same old “arm wrestling” between the powers of the region (i.e., Saudi Arabia-Iran historic conflict). Sadly, it is once again the innocent (and exhausted!) Lebanese families that could pay a huge price for this so-called “none” diplomatic crisis, if it is not solved soon.

Indeed, MANY Lebanese families have loved ones working in these Arab countries. They cannot afford a potential escalation of this serious latest crisis, may God forbid. They need their loved ones to be working in peace in those welcoming countries to keep earning a living. Yes, they do need their financial support because life has been increasingly unbearable in tiny, bankrupt and now more polarized Lebanon.

So please everyone, be wise and be diplomatic. Be human. Just be kind to the people of Lebanon. Forget who is in charge or who is not. Forget who said what. Persons inside Lebanon be wise now more than ever. Bambi is saying so with all due respect to all the countries involved in this “none” diplomatic crisis, including her birth country with its DEEP problems and with any effort to begin solving them. It does not need further polarization. It just needs solutions to its multiple crises because its population cannot take it anymore… Does anyone care or still care for them?

—

Bambi’s earlier post on this topic:

Lebanon: Isn’t it sad to see it, once again, in the crossfire between Iran and Saudi Arabia?

Canada has lowered its flag in a sign of deep sorrow, after the discovery of the first sets of unmarked graves (of Indigenous children) over 5 months ago. The flags have been lowered ever since.

Why is our Royal Canadian Legion planning “to raise the flag at the National War Memorial in Ottawa before the Remembrance Day ceremony — and then lower it again to half-mast” (https://www.nelsonstar.com/news/legion-to-hoist-flag-at-national-war-memorial-on-remembrance-day-then-lower-it/)?

Is it because it is Mr. Trudeau’s wish not to raise it ahead of November 11 (for the poppy campaign)? Or is it out of much political correctness in our country? Or out of a related fear of censorship or any concern about defunding (https://www.legion.ca/who-we-are/how-we-operate/funding-model), deplatforming, or even simply unpopularity in the public opinion? Or is Bambi completely wrong in raising any of these questions?

The plan to raise then lower the Canadian flag, or rather some of our flags, seems absurd to her, if not childish. She regrets to say that it does not seem to respectful, despite the good intentions.

She is saying this and she recognizes the good will and sensitivity of all Canadians, including those decision-makers.

Bambi is saying so with the utmost respect for our legion that she keeps supporting as well as Remembrance Day that she will forever keep honouring.

She is saying it also with her still heavy heart for all the Indigenous children, her compassion toward their families and loved ones, and her sadness about the cultural genocide.

These children could have been hers (the ones she did not have). These children may have been yours or… are perhaps literally yours. These are Canada’s children.

Thus, we are all sad and we have all paid tribute. There is no need for increased overbid of virtue signalling (with our flag).

We have rightly lowered our beautiful Canadian flag as well as aching hearts. However, it is time now for our hearts to keep going on and flags to be treated with more respect.

Yes, life goes on even when grieving… Sadly, life continues with the same hypocritical politicians who impose excessive,and thus meaningless, symbols on all of us. All means including Indigenous Canadians who love their country, just like Bambi. They do so while denying further justice to Indigenous children (https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2021-10-29/enfants-autochtones/ottawa-interjette-appel-sur-les-indemnites-a-verser.php). How can we take them seriously then?

Why don’t we simply return to our legion’s meaningful traditions?

If we forgot those traditions, here is a reminder. It is about the Vimy Ridge Day of April 9, 2017 in which the flag is lowered by the legion that joins the federal, provincial and municipal institutions in this gesture of respect (https://www.legion.ca/news/2017/03/30/all-legion-flags-at-half-mast-for-vimy-ridge-day-on-april-9-2017).

To conclude this post, enough of contradictions Canada/Mr. Trudeau et al… please. Plus, you as well as Canadians can hold normal as well as common contradictory, simultaneous, grief feelings: of pride with sorrow, of sadness yet patriotic love (or vice versa), and of respect for our veterans/flag with aspirations for more fairness.

Thank you.

—

Bambi’s older post on the topic:

Mr. Trudeau, despite the sorrow in our hearts, can we now raise our Canadian flag again… just like in the Mohawk territory?