Is climate change the new religion of globalism? You may wish to watch the video produced (funded?) by Dubai, published in the Guardian, to make up your own mind.
For Bambi, especially after watching this video, climate change seems like the new religion of the world, at least as featured in this production.
Like a religion, it has truth (along with absurdity), good/inspiring deeds combined to hypocrisy, cute kids, “armies” of Saints/Angels, and an expanding educational form of fanaticism, which is instrumentalizing innocent children in the name of a noble faith… with accreditation by the UN (watch until the end).
First, here is Dalida and Alain Delon’s famous song entitled “Paroles, paroles, paroles” (“words, words, words). Bambi was able to find a remix with English sub-titles. It has been on her mind for two weeks now, since the beginning of this crisis. It is about empty love words.
Second, here is Mr. Jonathan Trudeau’s article (Journal de Québec, February 22, 2020). A French text entitled “Trudeau and empty words” [Trudeau et les paroles creuses]:
Now, here is the English translation of this article:
“Justin Trudeau has only himself to blame
for the gravity of the current situation.
It was he who led the country into a
crisis with as many and dramatic repercussions. Politically, economically,
socially. It’s his fault.
I mention that I usually hesitate to
personalize my words excessively during political crises or tragedies. Having
worked in this environment for years, I can testify to the burden that falls on
women and men who direct the destinies of our society.
I normally prefer to talk about the
institution, the government or the function.
But in this case, the responsibility of
the one who is supposed to rule our country is so convincing that one cannot
help but name the obvious.
Justin Trudeau is weak. Disorganized.
He has no leadership and his judgment is flawed.
Signals
Across the country for the past two weeks, voices have been heard denouncing the soft attitude of the government and its leader.
Had to hear from the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon. From empty sentences to empty sentences, he tried to be firm but never succeeded in formulating a clear and convincing message.
At one point, he mentioned that from the start, he feared that government action would worsen the situation and make it even more explosive.
Yet that’s exactly what he did. By being unable to show firmness while fostering dialogue, establishing clear boundaries while demonstrating flexibility, he effectively made the situation worse.
So much so that the whole country holds its breath. A country that is already suffering the consequences of incompetence whilst wondering when and how to end this crisis.
This country that will remember that its head of state dropped the ball. Across the board.”
In the article above (Journal de Montréal, February 21st), we can read the following (and watch an amusing video :)):
“Exasperated
by the rail blockade that continues in Canada, the mayor of Louiseville, Mr. Yvon
Deshaies, blocked a railroad in order to protest against JustinTrudeau’s lack
of leadership.
Mr. Deshaies installed himself on a railway line that crosses the municipality of Mauricie with a sign. On the latter, the mayor asked the First Nations if they could “adopt him into their family” so that he could advance his own claims at the federal level.
With this coup, the mayor wanted above all to show the demonstrators how to follow the laws when the authorities ask for the lifting of the barricades.
“Right now, from coast to coast, people are suffering,” he says. It doesn’t make sense what we’re going through. I can’t believe there’s nothing moving.”
His demonstration lasted about an hour, after which the Sûreté du Québec asked Mr. Deshaies – who was acting as a citizen – to settle next to the railway. The mayor packed up and left afterwards, he who had meetings at the town hall in the afternoon.”
The sign of this “illuminated” young man who has been blocking the CN railways in Saint-Lambert on the South shore of Montreal reads as: “Strike for the climate” in Swedish.
Not surprising as Greta Thunberg (or the entity or person managing her twitter) supported this movement twice within the past two weeks (Bambi checked that account for fun over the past few days). Anyhow, even without this recent public endorsement, years of “indoctrination” by this movement have already brain-washed our brains and the brains of our youth.
It is one thing to be conscious of environmental problems or to want justice for all, and especially to our First Nations people, but it is another thing to be blinded by the climate change cause to the point of blocking busy railways/intersections in the middle of a freezing -20 degrees Celsius ?. One must be really too passionate to do so.
One must also be too naive in order not to wonder which external force (or country or entity) would be benefiting from the self-destruction of our energy sector in the longer-term.
Another question that begs itself: Which energy company will dare to invest in our economy after all this circus? One wonders if this is not the real purpose, instrumentalizing “natives” whilst doing so?
Bambi’s mother-in-law is a smart lady who can be sarcastically funny sometimes. About 30 years ago, a group of ecological young activists were loudly demonstrating in Montreal in front of McDonald’s. Why? They were calling for the boycott of meat products. Sounds noble to you and quite contemporary? Well wait to hear the end of the story. Bambi’s mother-in-law approached one young girl and took her jacket between her fingers gently whilst asking her” “Nice outfit. Is this made of leather”? The young girl naively said: “Yes, thanks”. The sarcastic yet accurate answer back to her was: “Do you know from what leather is made of? Silence followed the latter question. “From cows”, said Bambi’s mother-in-law. Oups ?.
Today, we have a group of activists who are “illegally” preventing our trains from moving. In their overzealous social justice/ecological activism, they did not stop to think about all our first nations people (i.e., Wet’suwet’en in BC) who could benefit from this project by becoming richer, and thus, perhaps even more independent from the government. They also forgot about the rest of us (including first nations), taken hostage by all this Canadian drama. An economic blockade does not distinguish between people. We are all in the same boat, as we cannot be in the same train yet.
Today, Bambi learned that there is a company in this Wet’suwet’en community of BC that would have been doing business with the natural gas Canadian company in question. Our activists who walked out of university campuses (e.g., McGill University in Montreal and perhaps Toronto as well) forgot about this reality, just like the young lady in the 30-year-old story above.
Pushed to the extreme, we can even argue that their “anti-colonial” activism is now falling into a new form of colonialism, to use the words of journalist Richard Martineau (today’s article): the one that is keeping our first nations people (and in a few years, keeping us with them, Bambi is adding) stuck in an economically under-developed place (to save our planet). Plus, in their particular case, some seem to be fantasizing about keeping them in a certain romanticized stereotype. Regardless of all this, how sad when we, voluntarily or not, forget about diversity in groups (there are so many different native communities, including the Cree Nation who just 3 days ago signed a 30-year-economic deal with Québec!). In addition, it is a shame when we do not politically address governance issues for real, not just in empty words.
Another example of a contradiction in activism came from the Middle East today (i.e., Lebanon). It seems that Mr. Nasrallah, the Chief of the Hezbollah, called for the boycott of US products. However, he forgot that in one of the public pictures, his own son is seen wearing a T-shirt made in the United States. Lebanese people went on social media to mock this contradiction ?.
Even worst than that, in the name of justice for the Palestinian people (in relation to the “deal of shame” of Mr. Trump in the Middle East), Hezbollah’s supporters produced a video, as part of a large movement of so called BUP (“Boycott US products” by Muslim countries, like Pakistan, etc.).
Needless to add that the video is disturbing to Bambi for two reasons: (1) It seems (even if that was not the purpose) anti-semitic, mocking (Orthodox) Jews. Mind you, Bambi does not use this term lightly as she finds that people jump on this word too fast whenever someone criticizes Israel (and she is one of the first people to do so). Anyhow, to come back to these people who are disguised as so-called Jews in the video, the producers of the video were probably thinking of Israelis or observant Jewish-Israelis (the idea is to “boycott American products so these folks do not come to you”). However, the men in the video may have been Canadians from Montréal’s Avenue du Parc or Van Horne Street. They may have been Jews who also fight for the same cause, who knows? They could have been the owners of Saint-Viateur’s, the delicious bagel place in Montreal? Or closer to Beirut, they could have been perhaps Jewish-Lebanese (if they still exist in any significant number?) or Jewish tourists/guests or international journalists and (2) In all the three languages used in the ads (Bambi can understand two of the three), they are shaming people for using US products. We can see the reactions of the drivers: “Who are those freaks?”, they seem to be silently thinking. Perhaps they were on their way to their banks to spend a few hours to get US$150 for this week in the middle of Lebanon’s financial crisis? Or maybe they were eager to go home to use their iPhones and maybe WhatsApp, now owned by Facebook? Or to watch their Netflix or wash their Jeans? Aren’t all these US products?
Whether in Canada or in Lebanon, human beings are full of contradictions, Bambi cannot help not to think to herself. Deer too for sure, make no mistake ?… but on the topic of imposed train blockades, Bambi clearly thinks that this should stop, regardless of the protesters, including those with noble causes. As for boycotts, Bambi is of course for free self-boycott (eat what you want or listen to the music you like!) but, for God’s sake, do not impose it on the rest of us and do not shame us if we are not interested in embarking… OR if we think that you are being stupid, despite your (so-called) noble intentions.
With all due respect to all the college student
councils of the world, our country currently seems to be led by a college student
council, instead of a government that is governing it (i.e., likely well-meaning
yet idealistic teenagers).
Yes, believe it or not, already two weeks into a small
crisis that could have been solved in a couple of days, to use the words of Mr.
Mario Dumont.
Here is an open letter by the Canadian Federation of
Independent Business that expresses the concerns of these small businesses over
the rail blockades:
Usually, the more we wait to act in an assertive way
(with leadership), the more our belated response would have to be larger than
what it would have been in the early hours or days. Of course, there is also
the risk of chaos when situations drag on endlessly, like in some other places.
From what it seems today, the provinces seem to be asking
Mr. Trudeau to show leadership by fixing a clear deadline to end this crisis. If
not, they will have to do what needs to be done themselves:
“Justin
Trudeau has revised his image for his second term. His beard is part of the new
style.
Weakened in
the October election by an image that was too light or even at times disguised.
His image broke with the previous one. The beard is part of the new character:
serious, poised, capable of making courageous decisions and imposing his
authority.
Unfortunately, events are showing us that this is just a mirage. Behind this new image of a stronger leader hides exactly the same politician, with the same flaws. His inability to assume leadership worthy of the name in the face of the rail service blockade reminds us of how bad he still is in a crisis.
His calls for reconciliation and his calls for patience ring hollow in the absence of a game plan. His speech yesterday sounded more like the prayer of an overwhelmed prime minister. No announcement, no solution. Besides, how dare his government still speak of the “rapid settlement” of a situation that has already lasted two weeks? A small crisis [i.e., “crisette”] that should have been dealt with within two days.
Sterile speech … or worse
His speech to the nation yesterday was useless. Justin Trudeau said it to sound like he was doing something. You could even call it counterproductive. What better way to dramatize the issue than to see the head of government interrupt the regular proceedings of the House to make a solemn address?
Two results are likely. The demonstrators see the incredible impact of their action despite their small number: in full what it takes to encourage them. The international press will become even more interested in the matter: exactly what makes it difficult for the Government of Canada.
To explain the anger of the natives, Justin Trudeau recalled yesterday that certain communities are not adequately supplied with drinking water. True, but irrelevant in this crisis. First, the Tyendinaga Mohawks, who block the railroad, received $42 million from the federal government last July to address their water supply problems.
Second, most communities with real water problems are not at all involved in the blockade. And finally, after almost five years in power, the Prime Minister arrives at the moment when he whines about a problem said to be of high priority, we want to answer: “What are you doing? Fix it! “
Extremism encouraged
The government’s attitude risks encouraging radicalism among First Nations. Need we recall that the pipeline project that caused the unrest is located in British Columbia, a province governed by a coalition of the NDP and the Green Party? The most pro-native government imaginable.
Some still found a way to use extreme pressure tactics. If these radicals succeed by blocking the train, what will the others understand?”
Global News: Mr. Justin Trudeau and Mr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister
It is unclear why Mr. Trudeau went out of his way in the behaviour described above at the Munich Security meeting.
Ironically, he
began by behaving well domestically when it became clear that the airplane was
downed. Mr. Trudeau did what he does well. He comforted those families with good
words. He even did regular press releases. He was articulate and genuine. He visited
the families and even cried with them.
But what happened
now abroad with our PM? He surprised Bambi. He may have perhaps even surprised Mr.
Champagne who seemed professional, as usual.
Is it because,
as he said, he has promised the families of the victims to have answers?
Is it because
he was too focused on that UN seat or taken by his global views of the world
that he completely forgot about Canada, for 20 seconds?
Or maybe he was too jet-lagged and did not behave wisely?
Or perhaps he had a conscious moment of passive-aggressiveness toward Mr. Trump or the United States? Could it be?
Or he so much wanted to prove to himself and to that Iranian politician that he is Canadian, not American (so he is softer or kinder?).
Unless he has a secret admiration for totalitarian regimes? Could it be?
Anyhow, below
is a translation of Mr. Martineau’s article on the topic (Journal de Montréal, February 18, 2020):
“The video,
shot at the Munich security meeting last Friday, is about 20 seconds long.
Justin Trudeau is seen warmly shaking the hand of Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
When I say
“warmly”, it’s “warmly”.
A broad
smile like that in the face, holding the minister’s hand between his two hands,
and tilting his head as a sign of respect.
As if he had
met the Dalai Lama.
GIVES ME SHIVERS
However, Mohammad Javad Zarif is not a spiritual leader.
He is a senior minister in a country who deliberately and coldly shot down a commercial aircraft that transported 176 innocent people, including 57 Canadians.
The video only lasts about 20 seconds, but it makes your back cold.
Besides, who made it public?
The Iranian government itself.
Not surprising…
Can you imagine the gift that Justin Trudeau gave them?
President Hassan Rohani probably still cannot believe it.
We imagine him rubbing his hands: “Look, even the Prime Minister of a country who lost 57 people in this incident does not hold it against us! He is happy to shake hands with our Minister of Foreign Affairs! “
As for the families of the Canadian victims, they are absolutely furious.
The Canadian Prime Minister who bows his head in respect to a senior minister of a government who killed 57 of his compatriots!!!
THE PRICE OF DIPLOMACY?
“I made a promise to these families that they would get their questions answered,” said Justin Trudeau to justify his behaviour.
In other words: this is the price of diplomacy, you have to be courteous to move a file forward, you don’t gain anything by clashing with heads of state.
We understand, we are not idiots.
Diplomacy rhymes with hypocrisy, everyone knows that.
But there is a difference between shaking the hand of a politician in a “diplomatic” way, while remaining a bit reserved (because it is the tradition and one does not want to poison the relationship between the two countries)… and posing in an exaggerated reverence!
Taking the guy’s two hands in his, multiplying the smiles, tilting his head to show his esteem…
How about a friendly pat on the back, whilst you are at it?
‘A little gin and tonic, my Mohammad?’
ALL ON THE SURFACE
I am sure that even those who voted for Justin Trudeau have questions now.
Could it be that he is not up to the task and does not have the required skills to be a PM?
My answer: “Duh! “
Look at the speed of his response in the following files: the railway blockade and the Canadian prisoners of the “Diamond Princess”!
Justin Trudeau is all on the surface, and the surface is cracking everywhere.
The election of Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada was nothing more than a vast public relations operation intended to make the choices of Stéphane Dion and Michael Ignatieff at the head of the party forgotten.
A bit like the Planters company that got rid of Mr. Peanut.”
Music is international and it must remain above politics.
By remaining a free expression, music can contribute
to keeping the channels of communication open, to foster peaceful moments, and hopefully
to encourage justice.
Celine’s songs are about love. Love is for all.
Céline Dion has fans around the world, including
Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, North Korea, etc.
Céline has friends who may be Palestinians, Arab-Israelis,
or Israelis. They may be tourists too. Who knows?
Some fans may be Arabs or Muslims and they would be attending
her concert in Israel. Who knows?
Why is Dr. Amir Khadir, former MLA (or “député” from Québec Solidaire), being a bully to Céline Dion, circulating a petition to force her to boycott Israel?
Who is he to tell her how to live her life and her
career?
She was supposed to sing in Beirut this summer, but she
sadly has cancelled her tour due to the circumstances there.
Imagine if one day things change and a certain lobby in Canada decides to call for the boycott of events in Lebanon because its current (or future?) governments are backed by the Hezbollah, closed to Iran (Dr. Khadir himself is of Iranian origins; he can imagine why Bambi is saying this, if he ever reads her post ?).
Would it be OK to resort to boycott then?
Why now and why not then?
Why then and why not now?
What if someone decides to boycott another entity
because of another cause he/she thinks is morally superior?
Why are we getting into this totalitarian logic and imposing
our own views or values on others?
Why are we getting into silencing artists? Arts is above
boundaries and political conflicts.
Bambi is writing this and she has the UTMOST respect
for the Palestinian cause that she has defended in many ways over her lifetime,
and especially in her youth.
She was born in Lebanon, which was dragged into civil
war in big part following this historical injustice in the neighbourhood of her
birth country.
Bambi knows Israel way too well. No, she has never
visited (she cannot) and she is not interested anyways. Israel came to her
rather, without asking her permission. It has occupied her country for 20 years
and invaded her Beirut when she was 10 years old. Israel has also bombarded her
country many times since then (thank you Hezbollah/Iran for putting Lebanon at increased
risk of Israeli wrath ☹).
Yet, Bambi is against boycotting Israel.
Against boycotting Iran (controlling Lebanon now).
Against boycotting Syria (another former occupier of
Lebanon).
Against boycotting Saudi Arabia (would have perhaps
dreamed to be in charge of Lebanon now, instead of Iran).
She is against boycotting energy companies, especially
when the latter are Canadian ones. She also has other logical reasons not to
endorse the latter.
In sum, Bambi is with music, arts, free thinking, free
trade (which is currently blocked in our country because of radical protesters),
and free expression of feelings and thoughts.
Ms. Céline Dion, you are free to sing on the moon if you wish or on “Planet B that does not exist”, as Greta Thunberg would have said.
Bambi is a fan, even if she has never been to one of
your concerts (yet?).
Bambi respects your free will. Just be safe… and
please keep on singing, as the world (and especially the bloody Middle East!)
needs your voice… and your humanity!
Ironically, the latest slogan of Trudeau’s federal campaign
in the Fall of 2019 was “Choose Forward” (OR “Choisir d’avancer”).
Canadians voted for the Liberals again (a minority government this time). Perhaps they were hoping to see their country moving forward, that is in a direct horizontal line. As things are now, the train hasn’t left the station for over a week.
More seriously, here are thoughtful insights for a deep long-term solution, of course after addressing this crying crisis we are in: Interview with the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould (Global News, February 16, 2020):
Sadly, our First Nations people remind Bambi of Lebanon, which finds itself always at the mercy of the manipulation by external forces. Some instrumentalize it. Some speak in its name. We also have people who are surely well-meaning but too illuminated to remain lucid (by either this cause or by the climate change cause or whatever other cause in the future).
Last Canada Day, our town did not celebrate July 1st and we did not see any of our beautiful flags on our streets. This did not prevent Bambi from celebrating elsewhere (nearby towns) or googling as she does every year Oh Canada in both languages and searching for the most beautiful performance, according to her non-expert ears, just for fun. She even once accepted a challenge by her spouse and invented an Arabic version of our beautiful anthem ?.
Anyhow, this is how she searched for messages of
politicians (when she was able to find them, in preference to silence or lectures
about morality). Anyhow, she came across the Honourable Elizabeth May’s message
(Green Party), a joyful one… up until its end. Indeed, in her recorded message,
she invited Canadians to have fun, to wear red, to celebrate Canada (nice up
until now) and ended it with something like “let’s remember to thank our First
Nations for ‘hosting’ us on their land”. With that sentence, she lost Bambi. The
word “hosting” was a bit too odd for her ears, especially on this day of pride
and celebration.
Even Ms. Jody Wilson-Raybould does not use such words? Indeed, she talked in the video above about the importance of a newer model for self-governance for First Nations People (reform of the current Indian Act that is the legacy of colonialism) within a “strong Canada”, with a more modern federalism, to use her own words.
Why does Ms. May (whom Bambi likes a lot), and along her SO many of the 37 million Canadians, need to outbid this form of collective guilt and/or political correctness to the point of dismissing themselves, their country, their heritage, their culture, and… their pride as Canadians?
Couldn’t we achieve reconciliation with our First Nations People without having to resort to self-flagellation or to kill our economy, and punish our railways?
