Category: Sackville’s Memorial park

One thing is sure, Montreal-based Nicola Ciccone is talented in song writing.

One of his latest songs is on the talent for happiness.

Bambi did not find neither the original French lyrics nor its English translation online.

Thus, she took the time to translate those beautiful lyrics before going to sleep late last night. She is eager to share them with you, along with the song, dear readers.

By doing so, she felt instant increased happiness because she recalled her youth when she used to listen to French songs on the radio and rush to transcribe their lyrics for fun.

The original French transcript is preceded by the result of a quick collaboration with her faithful friend, Mr. Google Translate. Bravo for his great job :). Of course, she took the time to revise, editing words here and there.

Mr. Ciccone’s wise insights, along with his personal relationship with happiness, are inspiring. The conclusion of his song, where he decides to work on his happiness, is uplifting. His smile when he sings the chorus ,”you need to be talented at being happy, you need talent for happiness“, reflects the sweetness of his authenticity. Needless to say that this artist spread instant moments of well-being to Bambi’s ears, heart, and sleepy mind after working late.

Thank you, Mr. Nicola Ciccone.

—

“It takes correctness to sing

It takes courage to write

It takes flexibility to dance

Then wisdom to age gracefully

Happiness is more complicated

It’s a more ambitious topic

You need to be talented at being happy

You need talent for happiness

We do everything to fill the void

There are those who live for power

Others who seek to make a fortune

Or, worse, even to touch fame

We all lose ourselves in the end

Happiness is not expensive

You need to be talented at being happy

You need talent for happiness

I never had that talent

Yet you know I looked for it

Although we all have it at our fingertips

Too few manage to touch it

I have so much melancholy inside me

It always comes back to catch me

True happiness cannot be guessed

You have to work for it

All it takes is a kiss to love

All it takes is a silence to say everything

All it takes is a dream to exist

And a thrill to feel

Happiness must be practiced

It’s not for the envious

You need to be talented at being happy

You need talent for happiness

I never had that talent

I never had that talent

Yet you know I looked for it

Although we all have it at our fingertips

Too few manage to touch it

I have so much melancholy inside me

It always comes back to catch me

True happiness cannot be guessed

I’ve traveled the world several times

I’ve made so many dreams come true

I’ve known everything about true love

To the point of accepting its loss

My friends sometimes ask me

You who have seen it all

What are you going to do?

I will work on my happiness (2)”

—

« Ça prend de la justesse pour chanter

Ça prend du courage pour écrire

Ça prend de la souplesse pour danser

Puis de la sagesse pour bien vieillir

Le bonheur c’est plus compliqué

C’est un sujet plus ambitieux

Faut le talent pour être heureux

Faut du talent pour être heureux

On fait tout pour combler le vide

Il y en a qui vivent pour le pouvoir

D’autres qui cherchent à faire fortune

Ou, pire, même à toucher la gloire

On se perd tous au bout du compte

Le bonheur n’a rien d’onéreux

Faut le talent pour être heureux

Faut du talent pour être heureux

Je ne l’ai jamais eu ce talent-là

Pourtant tu sais que je l’ai cherché

Bien qu’on l’ait tous au bout des doigts

Trop peu arrivent à y toucher

J’ai tant de mélancolie en moi

Ça vient toujours me rattraper

Le vrai bonheur (ne) se devine pas

Faut y travailler

Il suffit d’un baiser pour aimer

Il suffit d’un silence pour tout dire

Il suffit d’un rêve pour exister

Et d’un frisson pour ressentir

Le bonheur faut s’y entrainer

Ce n’est pas fait pour les envieux

Faut le talent pour être heureux

Faut du talent pour être heureux

Je ne l’ai jamais eu ce talent-là

Je ne l’ai jamais eu ce talent-là

Pourtant tu sais que je l’ai cherché

Bien qu’on l’ait tous au bout des doigts

Trop peu arrivent à y toucher

J’ai tant de mélancolie en moi

Ça vient toujours me rattraper

Le vrai bonheur (ne) se devine pas

J’ai fait le tour du monde plusieurs fois

J’ai réalisé tant de rêves

J’ai connu tout du grand amour

Jusqu’à accepter de le perdre

Mes amis me demandent parfois

Toi qui a tout vu

Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire?

Je vais travailler à être heureux (2) »

We do not have to be of Christian faith, or specifically Catholic, to sense the odd yet unkind, and even disgusting, disrespect to Humankind in Mr. Trump’s online AI-generated picture of himself dressed as a Pope (https://shorturl.at/byYqO). May Pope Francis’ memory be eternal (his dead body was still hot only 2 weeks ago).

Now, Mr. Trump, or his colleagues who have defended him, might say that he was “just joking” or that he has been in political disagreement with the Vatican. Regardless of the excuse to justify the online behaviour, it is senseless. Period. There is no point in trying to understand an abusive behaviour. Just like with Canada to whom he keeps repeating “51st State“, either to play games or to truly de-stabilize our country by installing fear (and thus control). Anyhow, this so-called “joke” will likely be followed by an attempt to push the buttons of another target group, or to the Vatican again until a new Pope is elected, maybe to feel (politically or personally) superior. If that is the case, only deeply wounded leaders, or anyone of us, repeatedly resort to such behaviours to elevate themselves.

Please make no mistake dear readers, we do not have to agree with someone to respect him, before his death or postmortem, or to respect what he represents to a large proportion of the population Perhaps the latter includes Mr. Trump’s Vice President or his wife. Who knows?

Indeed, Ms. Melania Trump’s picture at the Pope’s funeral projected respect for the deceased (https://shorturl.at/sLiWn), more cleverly than her spouse right now. Indeed, she attended the service FULLY dressed in black. She even had a veil on her head (which she did not wear when she visited Saudi Arabia during his first presidency). In addition, we could see a cross around her neck. All the details of the image are signs of respect and even compassion, even if it was calculated and not spontaneous.

Of note, even wild deer, and not just human beings, did not agree with all the ideas or, perhaps approaches of late Pope Francis, or his entourage at least, to solve some of the world’s problems. Although her blog posted a couple of older posts where she expressed specific disagreement, Bambi has the utmost respect for Pope Francis and even more so for his institution, despite any historical or potential mistakes, excesses, or fanaticism (like for all religions and all other ideologies, including secular ones).

As for Mr. Trump, without being fatally allergic to him to the same extent as she is to aspirin, she tells herself that he will finish his presidency sooner or later. Until then, despite his personality style, she could even agree with him on some issues yet disagree on others or on the methods (i.e., the ends do not justify the means). At the end of the day, she does not have to endure him, or someone with his personality style, under her own roof (thank God). Thus, she has enough intellectual and emotional distance to be lucid. She can even recognize (when/if she sees it) any good legacy of his second presidency for his country or for the world. Yet, in her mind, she knows when an online behaviour is unacceptable, especially when its author is the US President.

This being said, she feels sad for the United States of America to be where it is right now. Mind you, when Mr. Biden was the US President, she also felt sad, but for different reasons: whenever she sensed what looked like senior abuse, especially in those moments where he showed signs of mental unwellness, her heart went to him.

For her, perhaps unlike for Mr. Trump (at least apparently because she is not a mind reader), what matters the most is the following: she was on the same page as the late Pope Francis when it came to the essence, the values of humanity. To her, this matters more than shared faith/spirituality with him. She is thinking of the values of dignity, along with compassion, for all. Upon learning about the death of this senior man of faith, love, empathy, and humility, she felt a sense of deep loss. She first offered her condolences to a couple of friends who had the honour to have met him in person. With a brief post, she then paid a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis. May his soul rest in peace again.

Good luck to the papal conclave in electing a new Pope. Regardless of his ethnolinguistic background or vision, may the latter be wise. Yes, our deeply troubled world needs wisdom more than ever.

Bambi is grateful for Brittany’s talent and generosity. Thanks to her beloved friend, you can now appreciate the beauty of the fauna in one of Canada’s Maritime provinces. If you are curious about this bird, and if Bambi is not mistaken (she is not a bird expert), it might be the official bird of our beautiful province. It is called black-capped chickadee. Regardless of its real name, isn’t it cute?

Bravo to Ms. Felicia Hershenhorn for her elegantly and sharply written open letter to Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mr. Mark Carney.

First, “Mabrouk” to Mr. Carney.

Second, will he listen to this clever Toronto-based entrepreneur (and former lawyer)?

Third, and if he will genuinely take her letter seriously, what concrete actions will he and his cabinet take to make our fellow Canadians of Jewish ancestry finally safe again?

It is about time.

Of note, Ms. Hershenhorn’s open letter appears on her own Instagram platform and one of Bambi’s dear friends kindly emailed it to her. In turn, she is both happy and honoured to share with you, dear readers.

May calm, reason, kindness, gratitude, open-mindedness, shared humanity, and love find their ways again in our hearts. Our beautiful Canada deserves and can do better.

“Dear Prime Minister Carney,

Congratulations on your election victory. You assume office at a moment when Canada’s foundational promises of fairness, dignity and belonging are openly challenged.

I write as a Jewish Canadian and as the granddaughter of a man who staked everything on those promises.

On December 22, 1935, my grandfather stepped onto Canadian soil at Pier 21 in Halifax, fleeing rising antisemitism in Poland aboard the Ausonia. He arrived penniless, without English or certainty, carrying only a belief that in this great country if you built something of worth you could claim your place.

He did. My father did too, founding a small business, employing Canadians and realising the dream his father had chased across an ocean. Because of them I walked through doors once locked to our family, graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School. Their courage became my inheritance.

Our family’s story mirrors the wider story of Jewish Canadians: a history not of complaint but of relentless contribution.

When legal barriers excluded Jews from full participation, Jewish Canadians didn’t merely break through; they transformed Canada’s legal landscape. Bora Laskin, initially denied an articling position due to his faith, rose to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and embedded individual rights into Canadian constitutional law, laying the crucial groundwork for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Justice Rosalie Abella, born to Holocaust survivors in a displaced persons camp, introduced employment equity, reshaping Canadian fairness for women, minorities and persons with disabilities.

When apartheid demanded moral clarity it was Irwin Cotler, a Jewish Canadian, who defended Nelson Mandela, challenged racial injustice internationally and placed human rights at the centre of Canada’s global identity.

When restrictive covenants barred Jews, Blacks and Asians from owning homes, Jewish Canadians confronted this legal segregation. In the landmark Supreme Court case Noble and Wolf v. Alley (1951), Jewish Canadians helped overturn these covenants, paving the way for modern anti-discrimination protections.

When Canada criminalised abortion, it was Dr Henry Morgentaler, a Holocaust survivor, who endured relentless prosecution until the Supreme Court, in R v. Morgentaler (1988), struck down Canada’s abortion laws, significantly expanding the Charter’s guarantee of security of the person for all Canadians.

Jewish Canadians have also profoundly shaped Canada’s economic strength and security. Barry Sherman, through Apotex, delivered affordable life-saving medications to millions globally. Sam Steinberg provided Canadian families reliable access to affordable food, while Murray Koffler transformed healthcare accessibility nationwide through Shoppers Drug Mart.

On Bay Street, Jewish Canadians fundamentally reshaped Canada’s financial landscape. Ned Goodman, founder of Dundee Corporation and DundeeWealth, transformed Canada’s investment and wealth management sectors. Gerry Schwartz, founder of Onex Corporation, secured financial growth and stability for countless Canadians through strategic partnerships with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, enhancing retirement security for millions.

Jewish Canadians have also defined Canada culturally, artistically and intellectually. Jack Rabinovitch founded the Giller Prize, Canada’s most prestigious literary award. Barbara Frum became one of Canada’s most trusted journalists, shaping how the nation understood itself. Leonard Cohen’s poetry and music spoke profoundly to the world. Mordecai Richler’s incisive novels captured Canadian wit and conscience, and Lorne Michaels elevated Canadian comedy globally through Saturday Night Live.

In science and medicine, Jewish Canadians changed global health. Dr Mark Wainberg advanced HIV/AIDS research, dramatically improving treatments and transforming millions of lives.

In contemporary popular culture, Drake, a proud Jewish Canadian artist, has placed Canada at the heart of global music, reshaping cultural conversations worldwide.

These achievements are not isolated; they form a unified narrative. Jewish Canadians did not merely integrate into Canada, we actively shaped it, elevating its ideals and extending its opportunities to everyone.

Yet today our community feels increasingly vulnerable. Although Jews represent just over one percent of Canada’s population, we are targets of more than 75% of all religiously motivated hate crimes. Our synagogues require armed guards. Our schools hide their entrances. Our children are told to conceal their Jewish stars for their own safety.

You have spoken about enhancing protections for places of worship. But vandalism, harassment and hatred are already crimes under Canadian law. What is lacking is not new legislation but political resolve and moral clarity.

Jewish Canadians are not asking for charity. We ask whether the country we helped build with our labour, courage, ingenuity and commitment still fully includes us in its promises? We fought for rights we ourselves lacked and secured them not just for our community but for every Canadian.

We did not come to Canada simply to be tolerated. We came to help build the true north strong and free. And we succeeded.

But those who built Canada’s firehouses should never be left to burn inside them. We do not seek condolences after tragedy strikes but genuine leadership and courage. Right now, before it is too late, we ask your government for a clear commitment and concrete plan to combat antisemitism.

Respectfully,

Felicia Hershenhorn“

Bambi just took a little break from her work task and Mr. Rudy Ayoub made her laugh a lot. She hopes you will smile to this humour. Rudy, his dad, and the “local” French Parisian (all characters played by the same talented Rudy) are so lucky to be in the beautiful Paris!

Did you know that today is the “National Honesty Day” (https://shorturl.at/4uMNC)? Bambi has no clue who declared the latter. Once again, some declared days are valuable because they raise awareness about a health condition or a historic event. Others may seem funny or very odd. One thing is sure, honesty is a meaningful value, which relates to concepts such as authenticity, lucidity, and maybe even courage.

Yes, it takes courage to be truthful with oneself, to begin with, and with others, especially in tough circumstances or if we live according to the expectations of others. After all, there is a reason for Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882; https://shorturl.at/Mr1jA)’s beautiful saying: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”.

Indeed, being authentic or truthful is all about having the courage to be genuine or true to oneself. It is both a way of being and a way of acting in alignment with our values, thoughts, or words.

To be authentic or sincere, with both oneself and with others, one must know his or her own core values (respect, compassion, love, etc.) and maybe also priorities (e.g., personal development, family, service to community, vocation, living according to one’s faith, etc.).

The beauty of authenticity is that, by being honest or genuine, we deepen and strengthen our meaningful relationships with others. Indeed, authenticity fosters mutual understanding and contributes to building trust.

Of note, in times of conflicts or disagreements, authenticity can drive honest communication. The latter is necessary to address the root of disagreements or issues. As a result, authenticity has the potential to serve both inner peace and peace with others. Indeed, authenticity is a key ingredient of happiness and harmony with others.

Bearing all the above in mind, to what extent are you honest with yourself and about yourself in your meaningful relationships? And what about yourself in society in general or on social media (where Bambi does not exist :)?

Regardless of your answer and thankfully, there is room for learning when it comes to authenticity. Yes, even when truthfulness has been lacking, perhaps due to insecurities or other factors, it can be nurtured through the practice of self-awareness. In turn, seeing ourselves clearly would help us in having more agency and thus confidence. For instance, it can improve our decision-making, both personal and professionally (https://shorturl.at/dzIMg).

To conclude this post, who needs masks when we can enjoy being connected to our own uniqueness? Who needs lies when one’s self-image is positive and the connections with both oneself and others are healthy? Happy Honesty Day to you dear readers!

Bambi thanks Aline, her dear friend, for sharing this powerful song.

From YouTube, you can read the following about the much talented singer: “Tiken Jah Fakoly is a renowned Ivorian reggae singer, known for his powerful and inspiring lyrics that denounce social, political, and economic injustices in Africa while delivering messages of peace and rebellion. “Plus rien ne m’étonne” [Nothing Surprises Me Anymore] is a song that highlights how politicians have divided Africa and the world to seize their lands and resources, presenting a sad reflection of today’s realities”.

Of note, you can read the lyrics of this beautiful song in both English and French.

Thank you Dr. Joseph Facal for your clever column in the Journal de Montréal (https://shorturl.at/XBiOU). Food for thought for Bambi and maybe for those of you who would be voting tomorrow, regardless of your voting choice or of the outcome of the campaign that BBC just called “historic” (https://shorturl.at/gDJ9g).

Without becoming cynical, how could anything be historic when the polls seem to predict the same old once again? Bambi is saying the latter with all due respect to everyone and with much detachment from politics in general. Indeed, many politicians are competent across parties, including the Liberal Party. She salutes their service and thanks them all.

She expressed her gratitude above while personally dreaming of a real change in Ottawa because, in her non-expert mind, any political party serving for too long would be at risk of excesses, potential abuses, or simply of repetition of the same mistakes. The latter is human if lessons are not learned or if egos are too big to admit the mistakes in question or to take responsibility for bad outcomes, as needed.

It is easy for Canada to blame Mr. Trump, or its version of the USA. for all our issues, just like the smaller Lebanon has traditionally blamed its harsh neighbours, Israel and Syria, for occupations and excesses. However, at one point one must look within, first, in an honest and courageous way. Then standing up for oneself in the complex, and at times abusive, relationships with others would bring a much needed “historic” change.

Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, in the end, rulers come and go. Countries stay, thank goodness. Long live Canada and a big thank you to Mr. Google Translate for his prompt assistance. Now is the time for Dr. Facal’s remarkable lucidity.

“I vote for the Bloc out of sovereignist conviction. I won’t let Trump shake up my values. However, the polls predict a Liberal victory. I draw the following conclusions:

—

1. Fear Remains, by Far, the Most Powerful Motive for Explaining Human Behaviour

Let’s not kid ourselves about the wonderful social projects we can build together. The surest way to get someone to do something is to scare them, even if the frightened person will invent all sorts of justifications.

Everything else comes second to this vital need for reassurance. True yesterday, true today, true tomorrow. Voters therefore seem to be leaning toward the old Liberal jalopy with a new driver.

—

2. In Québec, Fear Is No Less Than It Used To Be. Unfortunately

Québecers have a long tradition of fear campaigns to get them to vote “on the right side”: the Brink’s scandal in 1970, the “Lévesque cash grab,” Paul Martin’s loss of a million jobs, old-age pensions, the partition of the territory, etc.

I thought we had matured, that we were more immune. Not at all.

New voters don’t know the past, and old voters often forget it.

—

3. We Underestimate How Much Fear Can Cloud Judgment.

Re-vote for Trudeau’s party, his ideology, and his team, ignoring his disastrous record? Wow!

Throw yourself into the arms of a man you know nothing about, who wants to spend even more than Trudeau, who uses tax havens, and who has a lot of smelly skeletons in his closet? Wow again!

Even sovereignists have completely lost it.

—

4. Objectivity, a Distant Memory

It’s perfectly normal for a columnist to express a subjective opinion, even if it may be more or less well-argued.

But who’s going to deny that the pro-Liberal stance was grossly overstated among a majority of supposedly objective analysts, particularly those in the orbit of Radio-Canada [CBC in English], which has been supporting the Liberal Party for decades?

I find it delightful to hear these ethical lecturers rail against the otherwise fully acknowledged lack of objectivity of Rebel News and the like.

One can claim to be objective and, for example, bias media coverage by exaggerating or ignoring an issue, or by always attacking the same side.

—

5. Pure Luck Often Plays a Crucial Role in Politics

Who could have predicted that Trump would unleash this absurd trade war? Even worse for liberals, as we entered the final stretch, opposition parties had to compete with hockey fever and the death of the Pope to make themselves heard.

Media space is limited. Anything devoted to one topic means less space for another.

All of this, you might say, is very depressing. Indeed.

The people are preparing, it seems, to be the architects of their own future misfortune.

Afterward, they’ll complain. As always”.

Bambi migrated to Canada almost 35 years ago. Thus, she does not understand who is whom when it comes to her birth country’s former or current politicians.

Regardless, she salutes the courage and diligence of Judge Tarek Bitar. The latter got many lawsuits and even threats. Yet he remained dignified, resisting the latter with the utmost professionalism. What an inspiring Judge. Today, he questioned former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and, recently, the Ex-Interior Minister called Mr. Nouhad El Machnouk (https://shorturl.at/cOSbc; https://shorturl.at/rHiEQ; https://shorturl.at/ok0JW).

Please keep up the great work Judge Bitar… and May God keep protecting you!

The English translated lyrics, appearing at the end of this brief post, were made possible thanks to the quick assistance of Mr. Google Translate.

The original French lyrics were composed by Mr. Pierre Delanoe and Mr. Enrico Macias (Musixmatch).

Thank you, Mr. Macias for your meaningful song.

May love finally know how to unite us all in our deeply troubled world.

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER

One night in my dream I saw

Moses, Ishmael, and Jesus

On a road in Galilee

Which I never left

They went from house to house

They sang the same song.

Chorus

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

Love one another

It was Jesus writing

Moses improvising

It was Ishmael’s voice

Which rose straight up to heaven

The whole universe was dragging

Without knowing where it came from. Chorus

The three prophets disappeared

And I found my street again

The street of reality

The cobblestones of truth

Everywhere the machines rumbled

But for me the city sang

Chorus (x2)”.