Category: Sackville’s Memorial park

First, here the Global News article in question:

Who is Jessica Mulroney? A timeline of the media personality’s fall from grace

Bambi lives on a different planet sometimes… She has never heard of this Ms. Jessica Mulroney until reading the news today, even if like her, she also originally comes from Montreal.

Of course, after reading her story, she understands she is the spouse of Mr. Ben Mulroney, son of Mr. Mulroney (a former PM).

Maybe Ms. Jessica Mulroney is privileged because she is married to the son of a former PM or was born into a wealthy family (who must have worked hard to be successful), not because she is “white”?

Maybe Ms. Sasha Exter is privileged too with her beauty ?, even if she sounds fake in her video (see the link above).

In addition to her beauty and “blackness” to use her own logic, for Bambi, she looks more Lebanese than anything else given her cleavage ? (TV stars dress like that in her birth country).

Seriously, it is odd how she tells us, between two “apparently fake” tears, that she is a single mom, raising a “black daughter”? Who calls her daughter like that in real life?  

Bambi does not have kids but she would have never said “I am raising a deer daughter” (just HER DEAR daughter!), white or yellow or green/blue or black daughter… or a Christian or Jewish or Muslim daughter, or Canadian or Lebanese daughter, etc.

She would be “raising her daughter”. Period.

For Bambi, the truth of this story got out at the 2:55 minutes of the video when we understand what it is all about: Ms. Mulroney seems to have been “invited” to take part in a campaign of a certain movement… and she probably said no.

It seems that some people do not know how to take no for an answer.

Ms. Mulroney should have not apologized (as per the text at the end of the article above), according to Bambi, even if the company she works with (credit card one) is dumping her over this story.

From civil war past experiences, Bambi knows that we should not apologize to the mob in life.

We should know ourselves/our values well in life, keep standing up for them and keep the freedom of saying no to any project, personal or professional.

Ms. Mulroney did not do anything wrong. Why is she apologizing to her apparent bully?

By the way, if we speak the language of this new age anti-racist activists, are Jews (or Arabs) “white”? Bambi thought they have been victims of a holocaust because they were not “white” enough according to the Nazis.

Yesterday, we learned from our local media (Warktimes) that a friend in Bambi’s town called herself “a person of colour” (sounds funny as a label, one must say, but it is not white then… both Ms. Mulroney and this younger friend are semitic, mind you ?).

Oh… one more thing, Ms. Mulroney should be thankful for not having Ms. Meghan Markle as her friend anymore… A friend who does not stand by you when you need her the most in life does not seem to be the most loyal friend on earth.

Who needs unauthentic “friends” in life?

The following article by Mr. Mario Dumont, published today in the Journal de Montréal, is a thoughtful piece. In Bambi’s mind, this sad story about the author of Ms. J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter, is yet another example of the collective craziness of our times.

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/06/13/le-culte-de-la-victime

What Mr. Dumont is describing in his article Bambi has always called it since her younger years “une victimite aiguë”. In English, “acute victimitis” (a sort of an inflammatory victimhood response, if you want): I am a victim therefore I am.  Poor me, I am a victim. I am more of a victim than you are, etc.

A cult and a competition of victimhood among “victimized” groups. “Yalla” (= Come on in Arabic), who is going to earn a higher grade of victimhood as people, as a “group”, as a cause, etc.?

Please make no mistake, Bambi is saying this with all due respect to all causes in life. Yet, she denounces this unhealthy mindset for herself, to begin with, that is in her personal life. This would apply to her personal life and to any group she may be part of/perceived as being part of.

Yes, sometimes we are truly a victim of our times, of situation, of a tragedy, of part of history, or of a geopolitical reality for a given country.

For instance, we do not choose our birth country, as Bambi’s wise mom once said. It is what it is. We live with it (she was talking about Lebanon with its serious issues).

However, Bambi has always refused to see herself as a victim in life. When we fall into this trap, we remove our personal responsibility (role) from our misery. We have a brain and we can make decisions in life on how to avoid risky situations or how to cope (before, during, and after misery).

Of course, it is tough at times. Thankfully, people can rely on family and social support.   

In other terms, there is something called dignity and resilience in life. We can all ultimately find or re-connect with our inner strength to transform ourselves and our lives. This is how we see people around us turning challenges (or even tragedies) into something positive for them or for humanity. They grow though adversity. They refuse to remain stuck in it. One example could be to tell oneself: Never again to me and to others. So, we treat others with the same respect we would like them to treat us with, as persons and as groups.

Plus, when we are in the mindset of “I am a poor victim”, we are in the same game or dance of power abuse. Without wanting to, we can at times become the abuser/bullies in the future. Yes, narcissism can breed narcissism. Violence can surely breed violence. No one is immune in life.

Ask anyone who went through adversity like growing up in domestic violence or in a civil war, he/she would know about the danger of such a mindset (not just Bambi). Even deer can fall into this “acute victimhood” mindset, not just humans.

No group is holy, so to speak, but ALL groups (of deer or human beings) deserve RESPECT.  

Who hasn’t been a (true) victim throughout history or in one situation in a personal lifetime? Who isn’t a victim somewhere (nearby or as far as the Middle or even Far East) right now, as we speak? It is called power relations in life. The best antidote to it is a simple ingredient, that is free-of-charge, thankfully: Self-respect/respect of others.

Anyhow, the story of Ms. J.K. Rowling, which is the focus of Mr. Dumont’s article is just one example of a dangerous and ridiculous (both) societal phenomenon we have been observing for a few years now (in the UK, here as well, and elsewhere in our world).

Is this what a radical left look like? If so, it is no longer the left that Bambi grew up knowing, respecting, embracing, and once even voting for (that centre left, this social-democratic left that is genuinely concerned about workers, about people, a left that has wanted to build a better world, no to destroy it and destroying its symbols like all those monuments, etc. Is this still the Western’s world or are we in Afghanistan destroying monuments?). She does not recognize herself in this so-called “left” anymore, although she is still herself and with the same values. Is it because she is older (hopefully wiser ?) or because this is too radical or too dumb? Perhaps both.

Enough of Bambi’s blahblahblah and here is a translation of Mr. Dumont’s article:

“J.K. Rowling is an admirable woman. Penniless, at a time when life seemed to give her little chance, she bravely got down to writing. She invented characters, including Harry Potter, and a wonderful story. Today, we compare its wealth with that of the Queen of England.

She didn’t steal anything. Her miracle of literature and cinema comes from her imagination and the determination of her fingers. Pure success. Without the contacts in politics and high finance, just the success of the person who makes a great offer and finds so many takers.

The week she has just spent reveals a lot about our time. Ms. Rowling found herself at the centre of worldwide controversy.

If you’ve only read the headlines, you may think that she attacked transgender people and is guilty of shameful discrimination.

The indictment

All this is a hoax. Her crime consists in having commented on a text which said “people who are menstruating”. She made a joke that maybe you could call it a “woman.”

She didn’t attack anyone or disparage anyone. It would have departed from the linguistic diktats of the left and it is paying the price. She sinned and would have made “victims”. She must atone for her fault.

The most interesting thing is the angle she chose to defend herself. In the midst of the storm, J.K. Rowling reveals that she was the victim of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Well. I used to find the decision to publicly disclose such a tragedy about her privacy to be courageous. Many have done so to free themselves, to change things, to do justice.

But how do you react to a person’s decision to expose the abuse they suffered to the public in order to get out of another controversy? Discomfort? Uncomfortable?

In 2020

It sounds like we hear her PR specialists say, “The world is so crazy in 2020, you can’t get out of it. The only way out would be for you to be a victim yourself. You should present yourself as the victim of something even bigger. “

And we imagine her revealing with fragility the sad elements of her personal life to these image pros. And we can still imagine them saying: “Yes, yes, yes, it’s perfect! Victim of domestic violence, victim of sexual assault! Great modern causes! With that, you get through! “I invent, but…

I have respect for all the suffering that must find listening and comfort. I have respect for defending the causes that generate this suffering. I’m sorry, but I give up in front of one-upmanship [surenchère in French] of the notion of victim.

The J.K. Rowling episode is pathetic. Get out of a false controversy by placing yourself in the position of the biggest victim yet. This heightening of the notion of victim ends up trivializing the causes.”

Why are these Hollywood stars self-flagellating like that, even if they may be well-meaning?

Why the dramatic virtue signalling? What is its educational purpose?

Plus, since when lynching or torture is equivalent to a joke?

Perhaps they should focus on their professional career only… They are MUCH more talented with it.

Most importantly, this would help improve the society through movies to educate people about respect, tolerance, and peace in life.

They can perhaps show us some productions about themes like humanity, unity, respect, and love.

They can also complete projects to simply entertain people in a pandemic.

Artistic entertainment makes everyone relax, forgetting about “systemic racism”, the coronavirus, and economic hardship.

Entertainment makes people dream of a better world, with beautiful values, human encounters, touch, travels, normalcy, etc.

As artists, they are well suited to know that arts can help inspire and lift people up.

In the following Globe & Mail article, we learn that Dr. Nogla, the physician in Restigouche likely responsible for the latest cluster of new cases in our province is requesting apologies from our Premier.

He is also asking to resume his services.

We also read in the article the following:  “During the week of May 10, he drove to the Montreal suburb of Longueuil to pick up his daughter after her mother had to leave the country for a family emergency. There, he said he limited his contacts to the 4-year-old and his brother, who had been caring for her.On his way back, he stopped in the city of Trois-Rivières to meet with two fellow physicians for a discussion about the pandemic and possible future work in Quebec. A private investigator hired by Mr. Ngola’s lawyer said the meeting took place in a local clinic for about 20 minutes.”

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-new-brunswick-doctor-feels-destroyed-by-racist-abuse-and-threats/

Now we know why he did not self-isolate. Likely because he did not want his colleagues to know that he had a job interview. Could it be? This is a rather normal behaviour in normal times… but not during a pandemic. Sorry.

In Bambi’s mind, no Mr. Higgs, there is absolutely no need to apologize to Dr. Ngola.

You are a polite and pragmatic man Mr. Higgs. You have been a great Premier thus far and your covid-19 committee members (with all our political parties) have done a wonderful job, as much as realistically possible (despite any confusion, excess, or contradiction).

Please dot not accept to be pushed around in public.

Whether Dr. Ngola returns to his practice in NB or elsewhere, whether he is charged or not for medical negligence, the reality is the following:

He took a risk and he was unlucky (sorry for him… BUT sorry for Restigouche and NB too!).

Without wanting it for sure, he seems to have brought the virus back to his community.

Even if the recent cluster was not because of him, the reality is that he did not act wisely.

This has nothing to with his skin colour or country of birth. In all honesty, Bambi does not care about any of the latter!

This being said, his behaviour may have been related to his culture rather, with all due respect to the fantastic professionals from similar ethnic backgrounds.

Bambi comes from a culture where sometimes people behave like Dr. Ngola (they are known to be less rule abiding than Western cultures, especially English Canadian ones).

Of course, from physicians we should expect higher standards.

Physicians should know how to behave better, whether they are locals or not, immigrants or not, locum doctors or tenured ones.

Mr. Ouellette lost his life, as a result of the latest outbreak. Yet his son was the most dignified person Bambi has ever heard on TV. He did not blame Dr. Ngola, and he has all the right to be upset. Actually, Bambi was a bit upset to see how we have denied him this voice of anger (part of grief, as an emotion) because of all the political correctness and crazy “fascist” times we live in.

If this physician has received threats, his best bet would be to contact the police. Did he do so?

All what Mr. Higgs said was that the person (or Dr.)’s behaviour was irresponsible. He did not even name him (and Bambi has wondered why in an earlier post, see further below).

Mr. Higgs is right. This behaviour was irresponsible, even if unintentional and despite Dr. Ngola’s compassion as a physician.

When Bambi listened to the interview Dr. Nogla gave to the French CBC (on his initiative, one must say), she thought to herself the following: He is desperate. Who can blame him when he must be sad to be suspended ☹? And she also imagined how sad he must feel now in a small place where everyone knows everything about everyone.

She thought to herself: This is why he is playing the racism card.

Even if we have to be severe now in pandemics, perhaps we can forgive him later, Bambi hoped.

However, now after reading this article in the Globe & Mail, she has changed her opinion. She thinks that Dr. Ngola does not deserve our Premier’s apologies. Our Premier deserves his apologies rather for asking about the latter in the mainstream media.

By the way, had Bambi been living in his community, and even if he returns to his medical position tomorrow morning, she would not take her own parents to him, as new patients, especially in a future pandemic… Perhaps she would in non-pandemic times.

Goodbye/Au revoir Monsieur Daniel Ouellette

Outbreak of the coronavirus in Restigouche: Why aren’t we revealing the physician’s name to protect the population?

The Canadian federal government implemented virtual ceremonies for those whose ceremonies have been postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Well, thanks to our government (and to technology in life ?), Ms. Diana Akilian, an inspiring entrepreneur (garage owner AND car dealer) residing in Amherst, Nova Scotia (NS), was among the happy new Canadians!

In addition to being a businesswoman and an alumnus who speaks several languages (e.g., English, Armenian, Arabic… and even Turkish), she is currently completing a Mount Allison University’s business degree in Sackville, New Brunswick.

Diana is a good friend of Bambi and her spouse. Like all her friends, especially those from the Lebanese diaspora of the Maritimes, they are thrilled for her!

Actually, Bambi’s spouse made plans to attend her ceremony, which was supposed to take place in Halifax (NS) on March 18, 2020. Thanks to his good friend, Mr. Internet, he can share Diana’s joy and pride.

 “Mabrouk” Diana (this means “Congrats”, “Félicitations” in Arabic).

“Մաբրուք”! Hoping the latter means the same in Armenian and not a bad word found online ?.

For Canadians who are immigrants (basically everyone at different times throughout history!), taking the oath is a VERY moving moment in an immigration journey.

When Bambi took her own oath of citizenship, the older text was as follows:

“I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.”

Yesterday, Diana recited the following text:

“I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.”

The Oath of Citizenship is usually recited at a citizenship ceremony. The latter is the final legal step to becoming a Canadian citizen:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2019/05/the-oath-of-citizenship.html

Each newcomer is unique.

Each story is different.

Each experience is uniquely lived.

Ms. Diana Akilian is also a uniquely talented citizen… now legally a Canadian citizen, enriching our economy and social fabric with her skills, great values, and personality. As she is humble despite her skills, she may be perhaps blushing now whilst reading Bambi’s words ?.

Now, taking the oath virtually is surely a NEW experience that Bambi has never imagined to hear about during her 30 years in Canada.

It is a virtual ceremony yet it is CONCRETE. It is legal. It is final… even if it is lacking family/friends’ physical (or virtual) presence and camera flashes.

To eternize this great moment, Bambi has asked her friend if she accepts to be interviewed for this post and to share pictures. Guess what? We are lucky because Ms. Diana Akilian generously accepted to share with us her feelings and experience just a few moments following her virtual oath ceremony.

In addition, Ms. Kate Walker from CTV News interviewed her and shared Ms. Diana Akilian’s happy story with all of us on TV this evening. Wow!

Here is a video link, followed by Diana’s own words, as answers to Bambi’s questions, and by pictures of this memorable day!  

Before we begin our interview, Bambi will say: Thank you both Diana and CTV news for enriching Bambi’s post. Bravo to Canada for moving forward with these ceremonies in the middle of this pandemic.

Bambi: Bravo Diana! How are you feeling now that you have finally officially become a Canadian citizen?

Diana: I don’t know where to begin with, but the feelings are too strong, in a good way. I feel like I’m dreaming and I’m physically numb, also in a good way. This is the happiest moment I have felt in a very long time.

Bambi: What can you tell us about your immigration journey leading to this great day?

Diana: There have been many exciting moments as well as rough moments from the day I landed in Canada to the day I became a Canadian citizen. It has been very rough for me, as a student coming to a new environment and culture. It has even been more difficult for me to get through this journey without the presence of my family.

When I first met people from the Maritimes, they were very welcoming, and that did comfort me. However, deep down I still felt sad and at times alone, because I lacked the presence of the physical support and love of my family.

You don’t have the option to choose where and when you want to be born, but I chose Canada to be my home and the day I became a citizen will be celebrated every year as “my birth date” because it is the date that I was newly born into this country.

Bambi: Do you have any particular message, or advice tip, to someone dreaming of immigrating to Canada?

Diana: First and for all, Canada is such an amazing and safe country. My advice for anyone who wishes to immigrate to Canada is to be strong and willing to survive through the rough times, because nothing comes in easy, you have to work hard to achieve any goal. In other words, you have to have the motive and the will toward anything you want to achieve. From my experience, it is definitely worth the hard work, because this country has a lot of good things to offer.

Bambi: How did you experience the virtual aspect of taking the oath (compared to physical ceremonies you have attended in the past when your friends became Canadian citizens)?

Diana: It was definitely not what I expected, I have been waiting for 12 years to walk up the stage and receive my citizenship physically. It was disappointing that the ceremony was cancelled just four days prior the date. But I believe that everything happens for a reason, and that reason is the following: I was able to share this beautiful and special moment with my family virtually as well with the world.

Becoming a citizen when you’re a minority is such a big deal, and having a physical ceremony is even a bigger deal because it is a moment where we all can gather together and celebrate it. But again, it is a new experience to have this type of ceremony virtually.

Bambi: Would you like to add anything else? Congratulations again!

Diana: I would like to thank every single person who helped me throughout my journey and who was a special part of me becoming a Canadian citizen. I want to thank you personally for giving me the opportunity to share my story.

Mr. Trudeau is right on this file, it is not his problem if his MP Mr. Marwan Tabbara is charged with criminal acts (what looks like domestic violence?).

It is neither our PM’s fault nor the Liberal Party of Canada’s fault if one MP has been criminally charged. It is something that Mr. Tabbara is responsible for.

Of course, when we are accused of anything, we may be truly guilty or not.

If he is truly guilty, what he seems to have done is BAD for sure and domestic violence is surely criminal.

If he is wrongly accused (sometimes it happens in life, even to those so-called criminals), this is not good but we may never know the truth.

Lately, there has been a story in the media of a truly racist Canadian woman at a Park in NY. Well, this woman is not just racist lacking any moral standards, she is also sexist. Men can be wrongly accused at times but this we rarely hear about it.

Mr. Tabbara seems to be of Lebanese origins like Bambi but she has never heard of him before in her life.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/marwan-tabbara-trudeau-arrest-1.5604757

Today, Bambi received the following tragicomic joke (see below). She laughed a lot, even if the situation is very sad. It is reassuring to see that the people of Lebanon still have their sense of humour.

Here is a translation of the joke: “Only in Lebanon… From Monday to Friday, a coronavirus lockdown, on Saturday civil war and on Sunday beach & Mishwee grills”.  

To begin with, although not explicitly mentioned in the joke, as a result of its financial/economic crisis, followed by the covid-19 pandemic, there is hyperinflation. Although the Lebanese Lira (or pound) is said to be pegged to American dollar at about 1,500, a US dollar is worth around 4,000 Lebanese Lira. Many people, among those who still have jobs, earn about US$200-250 per month. Can you imagine?!

The joke sadly refers to what happened last Saturday:

http://bambisafkar.ca/index.php/2020/06/06/a-sad-day-in-lebanonwhat-can-we-learn-from-it-in-canada/

To conclude this post on a lighter note, the joke also refers to the following pictures. Mmm, no need for words here!

The picture above was taken in Ottawa last Friday at an “anti-racist” demonstration in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic in which our PM has been talking to us daily from out of his residence.

One must recall that our Prime Minister and another opposition leader (NDP, if Bambi is not mistaken) considered that it is too risky to operate Parliament in the pandemic. However, the packed streets of Ottawa seemed OK now when Trudeau et al. wanted to signal their virtue.

When we read the mainstream media (funded by our government for a large extent) and we take a look at the picture above again, we cannot help not to be surprised at the contrast between this new narrative about Canada and the following message from her Majesty the Queen’s to us on January 1st, 2017 (just three years ago :)), taken from the Ottawa Citizen (https://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/trudeau-wishes-canadians-happy-new-year-queen-sends-message-to-welcoming-canada):

“I am delighted to offer all Canadians my best wishes and congratulations on the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Countries throughout the Commonwealth and, indeed, around the world, rejoice with you as you embark on this special year.

“Throughout the years, particularly since your Centennial year, I have watched Canada develop into a remarkable nation. You have earned a reputation as a welcoming, respectful and compassionate country.

“Fifty years ago, on the eve of the Centennial, I encouraged Canadians to continue to embody the values of equality, freedom and inclusion.”

End of the message of her Majesty the Queen.

After this form of public self-flagellation followed by some federal ministers sharing personal stories of “racism”, even within our institutions, one can wonder what Mr. Trudeau is up to, now that he has “politically used” the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd (in another country, one must say)? Bambi is asking this question, even if deep inside, he may be genuinely outraged like all of us? In other terms, what do they want us to swallow, as politics or ideas, besides the idea that we are systematically racist and unconsciously biased?

Once again, do our political leaders realize that they are creating “holy” or special groups or brigades of radicals. From an educational point of view, this is not a healthy way to approach “the values of equality, freedom, and inclusion“, to use our Queen’s own words.

On the contrary, this may backfire, one day. Indeed, from Bambi’s own experiences in another place that suffered from civil war, she can recognize the seeds that could turn into ingredients preceding dangerous times. Therefore, she is concerned that what is unfolding in front of our eyes may be a failed recipe where, without wanting to, we may encourage those who claim to be “oppressed” to become (more) radical. Some of the latter may consider that they are above any criticism or any rule of law. Some of these groups may push for extreme ideas that, even if they can appear appealing to some, they cannot be applied in real life (e.g., abolishing borders, police, prisons, governments, etc.). Some of these groups may be funded by organizations or folks who surely do not have our best interests at heart.

In life, extremists usually keep pushing and sometimes use “terrorizing” methods, if there is no common sense or no firmness pushing back, the end result can be ugly (an example that comes to mind easily would be the mindset and behaviour of Islamist groups that can take people, governments, or whole countries hostage).

If there is too much political correctness (and fear), this phenomenon can happen even faster. If no push back is happening, eventually we may see extremism [of opposite side(s)] occurring. Then, any push back would have to be even stronger. If both/all sides push back and forth strongly, we may easily become a large Lebanon… but at least in Lebanon there is true political and intellectual diversity. Perhaps this is what is allowing this tiny country in serious trouble to keep holding on?

Anyhow to come back to our beloved Canada, Bambi will conclude this post with one question: Is our approach to anti-racism still in the spirit of what our Queen referred to in her beautiful message cited above?

When our federal government invited Maritimers to welcome Syrian refugees. They immediately listened with such a beautiful welcoming preparation that took over a year around here in Sackville, NB, and in some nearby villages in NS. Arabic lessons were taught. People learned words that even Bambi did not know or forgot about ?. They were just amazing before welcoming our newcomers. So imagine after. Bless them!

Now, our government, media, and international organizations are telling them that they are systematically racist and unconsciously biased. Here they are walking in Yarmouth, Amherst, Truro (NS), in Charlottetown (PEI) and of course earlier in Moncton, Sackville, Fredericton, Saint John (NB), and St John’s (Newfoundland). You can see some pictures below.

Well for a bunch of racists, Canadians are just sweet!

Bambi just read the following tweet by her own sister, journalist/author Roula Douglas. She was deeply sad to read her beautiful yet highly disturbing comment about Lebanon. Why? Because Ms. Azar-Douglas is usually an optimistic person in life, like her…

Ms. Douglas’s quote literally means: “As far as I am concerned, I am not Sisyphus (or Sisyphos). And the Lebanon Phoenix, I do not believe in it anymore”.

In the Greek mythology, if Bambi recalls her lessons from high school well, Sisyphus was the king of Corinth (formerly Ephyra?). His punishment was to be forced to roll a huge boulder up a hill… then this boulder had to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating the action, over and over, that is for eternity.    

This being said, the Lebanese capital of Beirut has been destroyed and rebuilt seven times. In other terms, it has been rebuilt from the ashes seven times in its history. This is why it is associated with the phoenix bird in mythology.

Ms. Douglas’ comment refers to the sad day of riots and of street fights in Beirut and beyond, it seems (with stones, insults… and heavy gunfire).

This happened today in two nearby neighbourhoods of the capital where citizens used to get into fights, especially at the beginning of civil war in 1975. Seeing fights there today must have been emotionally tough on many, including Bambi’s family.

As per the title of the article below from Naharnet, Bambi learned that it was about a silly religious insult. Bambi wrote “silly”, with all due respect to all involved. Luckily both religious and political leaders called for the utmost restraint!

This occurred on a day that was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration (the revolt is back on the streets). As a reminder, this “thawra” or “intifada” (revolt in English) began on October 17, 2019 to denounce political corruption.

Today, there has also been riots (just like what happened in the United States and in Berlin, it seems). Yes, thugs sometimes infiltrate demonstrations to provoke chaos ☹.

In the United States, it was perhaps easier to uncover those who may have been behind the riots. Bambi heard sad stories of people whose shops were destroyed. She heard this on the Mount Lebanon in Los Angeles internet music radio she listens to whilst working.

The American federal administration took the needed action to help states or cities who suffered from the destruction. Of course, if their federation works like ours, those cities or states would have asked for the help from the federal government in order for the latter to send extra armed forces.

In Lebanon, things are more complicated and the risk of unrest, or even civil war, can be more imminent. Thank Goodness, the Lebanese Army managed to control the situation fast, at least for today… but until when?

This is why Bambi finds ideas like abolishing (or defunding?) police forces not only odd but also unrealistically dangerous:

We should reform and always aim to improve our police forces, for sure.

We can perhaps aim to improve screening whilst recruiting new members. We can assess interventions or tape them. We can use tasers sometimes, if it is better, etc.

Even if most of our police officers are amazing people who just want to protect citizens, some could perhaps have psychopathic traits, who knows? A bit like people with pedophile tendencies who get into scouts or churches in order to have access to kids precisely whilst being in a position of trust. Thus, in a context of a protected abuse.

Bambi is of course for reforms, as needed and for best practices, etc. However, Bambi is also for allowing our police officers to do their job and to be proud of their good job.

Yes, we need more education and prevention… but at the end of the day, we need police officers to stop criminals and to protect people, neighbourhoods, and populations.

Sadly, police blunder will always exist. Here, Bambi is not talking about the story of police lynching in Minneapolis. She is talking about mistakes that are bound to happen sometimes, despite the good intentions. Sadly, sometimes these mistakes result in the death of innocent citizens :(.

Whether we live in Lebanon, in Canada or anywhere else, the alternative to an absence of police would be chaos. Bambi prefers police forces to chaos, tribes, gangs, or militias. Today, she thanks the Lebanese army for having stopped those fighting on the streets.

Bambi is of course for the education and prevention of disruptive behaviours, criminality, and/or strife.

However, we cannot always prevent in life. Serious problems happen.

A sovereign country needs to have its security forces and tools to protect itself (an army, no illegal arms, demarcated borders with its neighbours, etc.). Sadly, Lebanon does not have this luxury because some entities, or neighbours, do not want to see it truly sovereign.

When there is no strong police or army, tribes or militias usually take over or fight each other.

No to violence. No to chaos. No to destroying people’s stores, as they did in downtown Beirut today and in many cities in the United States lately.

People are already going through rough economic times. People are also in the middle of a pandemic. They do not need to lose their shops or businesses.

To those external forces who may be trying to provoke unrest, or even a civil war, to push their agendas forward, Bambi wants to say: hands off Lebanon!

To those “protesters” and “counter-protesters” who have been insulted by whatever words about their holy symbols or holy persons (insults to the Prophet’s wife, as per the article below), Bambi feels like saying the following: No one likes to hear someone they like, or believe in, being verbally insulted, we get it. However, please learn to have a thick skin in life, for God’s sake… or rather for your country’s sake!