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.”
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.
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:
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.
Ms. Diana Akilian’s moving words: “I have an Armenian blood. My heart is in Lebanon. My body was born in Koweit. And I will die in Canada!!“
Ms. Diana Akilian and her adorable family in Koweit (check the red outfit!)
Ms. Diana Akilian taking a picture to be shared with her family. Check the nice note on the wall: “Thank you God, Canada, mom“. Bambi feels like adding here: Bless you Diana and welcome to our beautiful Canadian family! Ms. Diana Akilian taking the Canadian citizenship oath!
Thanks to the Honourable Citizenship Judge Joan Mahoney (see Diana’s happy face in the small screen :)!)
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.
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:
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!
A picture taken from Saltwire Network in Truro, NS (June 7, 2020)
A picture taken from Saltwire Network in Charlottetown, PEI (June 7, 2020)
A picture taken by the CBC in St John’s, Newfoundland a few days ago
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!
“Here are the two brightest statements I have heard about racism.
Martin
Luther King: “I dream of the day when children will not be judged by the
color of their skin, but by their character. “
Morgan
Freeman: “The best way to fight racism is to stop talking about it. I
will not tell you that you are a white man, and I will ask you to stop saying
that I am a black man. “
RACE EVERYWHERE
Before, when the virus of political correctness and identity politics had not yet infected people, and when universities encouraged debate instead of protecting “little rabbits” [this is how Mr. Martineau calls/teases the Millennials” in his texts] from “bad thoughts”, anti-racists dreamed of a world where race didn’t matter.
A white man was like a black man and a black man was like a white man.
Today, some anti-racists have elevated race to the rank of a supreme identity marker.
Not only do these activists see race everywhere, but they only see that.
Race, race, race.
For them, race explains everything. It is the be-all and end-all of our identity.
It determines whom we are.
Unlike Martin Luther King, they do not judge people by their character, actions or ideas, but by the colour of their skin.
There would be a black way of thinking. A black way of viewing the world. A black way to vote. A black way of loving [Bambi will allow herself to add her own voice to the text here: as if there was one single group of blacks and they all have to think the same].
It’s funny, that’s exactly what some racists think: that there is a black “essence” that distinguishes blacks from whites.
Unlike the anti-racists of my youth, these new anti-racists do not want to abolish the concept of race. They want to magnify it, celebrate it, sublimate it.
Make it essential. Expand it until it takes up all the space.
I vote for someone because she is black. I listen to another person’s records because he is black, etc.
A TRAITOR TO HER RACE?
This week, on the QUB radio show (called “We don’t have to agree”), Varda said that, for her, the idea that black people should encourage black-owned businesses does not seem like the best way to fight racism.
Result: she was harshly attacked by activists on social media.
As if she were a “traitor to her race”.
As if there was only one way to be black!
As if black people should all think the same, all vote on the same side, etc.!
I’m sure Morgan Freeman would shake his head with sadness when he will hear these anti-racists speak. He would find their speech absurd, ridiculous.
Because Freeman does not consider himself a “good black actor”. But a “good actor, period”.
A HUMAN
George Floyd was killed because he was black. When his killer looked at him, that’s what he saw. Not an individual, but a black.
Now, when we saw Floyd being murdered in the middle of the street, we saw a human being dying before our eyes.
Mr. Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada (+ a couple
of his peers, Federal Ministers who behave more like a Council of junior high
school students sometimes), participated in an “anti-racist” demonstration in
Ottawa this afternoon.
Here is just one of the many media articles about this
story, in addition to Mr. Trudeau’s own official Tweeter account:
The picture above, which will surely soon tour the
world, speaks volume about the self-righteousness of our political elites.
It is also sadly a prelude to the dark years ahead of
us, both as a country and as a world full of radicalism and lack of substance.
Mr. Trudeau is just the symptom of where we are at in Canada
today and in our world.
He was at a demonstration organized by radicalized (not just “racialized”) groups. With his presence and theatre, he is encouraging the radicalization of our youth ☹.
Once again, this is no longer about Mr. George Floyd,
sadly ☹.
Some forces (unclear whom) have been politically using
this tragic story of police lynching to weaken our neighbouring country, Bambi
is afraid.
Mr. Trudeau with his theatre of silence, the other day, and posture today is shamelessly encouraging these forces.
At that demonstration, we can hear in the videos circulating
in the mainstream media people chanting anti-American (i.e. precisely anti-Trump)
slogans. He was there and his presence appeared to endorse.
When he knelt to the ground, was this genuine? Or just
another political drama?
Does he realize the meaning of his words, silences,
and postures?
Does he realize that whatever forces are trying to destabilize the United States to make it fall, Canada will fall with it (+ the Western world)?
We are doomed if he realizes it and does it on
purpose.
We are doomed if he does not realize it.
Mr. Trudeau, during the railway crisis, Bambi posted that, even if she has voted for you the first time (and historically almost always for your party), she thinks that you are perhaps the worst PM of Canada. Well, today, you have proved her wrong.
