Bambi's Thoughts
This post is brief. Just musical. One singer, one voice, but different vocal textures, and languages (Arabic, English, and French). Clearly, Ms. Carla Chamoun is very talented and Bambi likes her a lot. How do you find her in these different performances? Did you enjoy them too? Public comments on this blog, or private communications, are welcome.
Bambi still has about two hours before the end of October 4. Of course, she sent her personalized birthday wishes to her childhood friend as soon as she opened her eyes this morning. Now is the time for a musical post for her before going to sleep. Yes, Happy Birthday Jojo!
Since your share this special day with singer Julien’s Clerc who was born before you, precisely in 1947 (https://shorturl.at/fivGI), Bambi offers you a few of his songs. This may perhaps also remind you of our childhood and teen years in Beirut. Following these songs, Bambi will offer you the “Mabrouk” melody (with a double-meaning this year ❤️ :)!). Last but not least, two songs related to October 4: the first one is about school since this has traditionally been the first day of school when we were classmates in “Le Petit Jardin” and later on. OK, apologies to your late mom (“tante Madame Nicole”, our French teacher) because she may perhaps not approve this choice :). As for the second song, it is about friendship.
Bambi cannot wait to see you very soon after many decades. YAY :)… thanks to Dave!!
Sometimes we have the strangest dreams (or nightmares, depending on the perspective) ever. This is what happened to Bambi early this morning. No clue why. Is it because she toured the online news about the Middle East before going to sleep? This could perhaps explain her bizarre dream.
However, it remains odd to dream about Mr. Nasrallah, the head of the Hezbollah…. in her Canada. How weird indeed. It seems that he came to visit the conference room she was in and she just could not believe her eyes. When she woke up, she smiled happily because she was in bed in “Sweet Little Sackville”, and it was just a dream. Lebanon is not in Canada after all… “Phew”, even if she is saying so with all due respect to everyone.
The funny story above made Bambi wonder about the following: what happens if Canada starts, or sadly continues, to remind her of Lebanon during its sad days of lack of unity and isolating fear among its people? Bambi is not talking about civil war, thank Goodness. She is talking about what we are sadly observing in today’s society of Canadians not tolerating each other’s views and even existence anymore (whether political, ideological, social, intellectual, etc.).
We rush into judging others. We sometimes even put them and seal them into boxes, which we dismiss without shame while forgetting about any shared humanity. We do not listen to them anymore, challenge our thoughts (and let them be challenged by ours). In sum, we stop wanting to learn from each other. Luckily not everyone is into this mindset, but we can still wonder: and then what? What will be the outcome of all this divisiveness? Why are we doing this to ourselves and allowing it to happen to us? What about love? Does it still matter? By love, Bambi means love for all. And when she denounces violence on her blog. It is against all. May love, and diplomacy as needed, always have the final word in Lebanon, Canada, and… around the world.
Life is always beautiful: in happiness, sorrow, and in or despite adversity too. For Bambi, this is an evidence.
However, what makes life beautiful, despite its apparent or real cruelty at times? Is it love? Is it friendship? Is it hope (from faith or from other sources)? Is it our shared humanity and support of one another in adversity or in times of grief?
Or is it nature’s beauty or a happy moment like bumping into adorable babies [for those of us who like them] or cute dogs?
An what about the healing power of music? And arts in general? What about the books we read and how they can change something in us or inspire us?
And the influence of our own mindset and outlook on life (or death)? Here, Bambi is specifically thinking of her late mom’s wise words shared earlier on this post: “replace your dark thoughts with beautiful thoughts and life becomes more beautiful“.
The above is well said, but to what extent do factors like our will or capacity to appreciate simple gestures of humanity or kindness, have a sense of humour, or to indulge in creativity influence life’s beauty, at least in our eyes?
Finally, what about gratitude, health , or money? Do they make our life easier or more beautiful? What about dreams, goals, projects, diligence, or simply mindfulness of the present moment and respect of our own needs and rhythms?
In conclusion, this post raised too many questions. Yet there is uncertainty about any final answer. Who knows? Maybe all of the above, to different degrees, at different times of our life stages. Bambi will stop here, she promises. If you wish, you can comment your own thoughts about life’s beauty. She would be delighted to hear from you, whether publicly or more privately. As for her, she will conclude this post by first sharing a picture, featuring the fall season post-sunset, which she received today from out of the province of Québec. Thank you Louis :). Following this beauty, if you wish, you may listen to a deep song by Mr. Nicola Ciccone entitled “Le survivant” [“The Survivor“]. Its translated English lyrics follow the YouTube video. Thank you Mr. Google Translate for assisting Bambi in sharing the beauty of the French-Canadian lyrics/music with her dear readers.
I spent my entire life
Counting the injuries
Facing troubles
Overcoming the walls
I received contempt
I received insults
I have seen dark days
I’ve had some tough times
Today I spend my life
Pretending to smile
To everyone who told me
That it was better to die
I have a heart that has learned
That stopped suffering
That brought out the evil in it
To make way for the future
I am still alive
Even if life hurt me
I am still alive
Even though the world is unequal
I am still alive
Even if the time is deadly
I still live
I’m holding on, God I’ve come a long way
I spent my entire life
To fight against mountains
To repress my desires
To repress all my anger
I grew up in oblivion
I grew up on drama
I screamed
I shed tears
Today I spend my life
To give me pleasure
Even if all my enemies
Would rather see me moan
I have a heart that has grown
That stopped suffering
That faces life
And that doesn’t want to run away anymore
There are days when I fall
There are days when I do not see the world anymore
There are days when I’m wrong
But I’m moving forward”.
This coming Sunday, October 1st, it will be the 40-day-anniversary of death of Bambi’s mom, her/our dear Robine Fiani Azar. It is a spiritual tradition to pray for late loved ones at this postmortem milestone, so to speak. The religious service will be held in Beirut as you can see below:
Just like maternal love, legendary music and voices, transcend death. Imagine when a great singing voice rocked both your youth/life and the youth/life of your mother, inspiring both (and MANY of us around the world) in so many ways. How could talent die? How could it be forgotten?
Thanks to all the singers, young and older, who are keeping Aznavour’s songs alive through their own beautiful voices. They make people around the world, including Lebanon, happier. They allow them to recall shared memories and to heal too when grieving.
As for you, Mr. Charles Aznavour, thank you for having existed (https://shorturl.at/dzD57) and for having been an integral part of our lives. Your songs, in all their versions (original French, English, German, Spanish, etc.), are uplifting.
To conclude this post on a more personal note, Bambi will join her prayers to those prayers in Beirut for her mom. On Sunday at 6:30 AM Atlantic time, she will light a candle for her mom. She will be emotionally and spiritually connected with her in heaven, with her dear dad and sisters on earth, along with all the beloved caring family and friends. Thanks and blessings to everyone. Mom, may your memory be eternal… Mr. Aznavour, you too 💜 💜.
How can Bambi go to bed before expressing her best wishes to you, Bernadette?
Yes, it is already September 28 in Atlantic Canada [not yet at your end in Montreal :)]. Happy Birthday Bernadette! “Oui, c’est à ton tour de te laisser parler d’amour“, as we beautifully sing in Québec. May today’s joy extend to your entire forthcoming year and the following ones!
Thank you for everything, including your care for Bambi’s family in Beirut and concerns about Lebanon. Last but not least, many thanks for bringing your son to the world and for raising him to be the amazing guy he is. Are you smiling now :)?
In conclusion, for those who missed the tribute to Bernadette as a former ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada, you can find this older post at the end of this one.
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Bambi was 11 years when Mr. Tino Rossi died on September 26, 1983 (https://shorturl.at/gjnyG). She does not know if you know him or like him. Since she does, she will honour him in this brief musical post. Born in Ajaccio (Corsica), Mr. Rossi had an incredible voice. Indeed, his opera-suited voice facilitated his devotion to a career as a tenor in the French cabaret style. He also became an actor, appearing in over 25 movies. Of note, Mr. Rossi recorded over 2000 songs (https://shorturl.at/gjnyG). What a highly impressive legacy. Thank you, Mr. Tino Rossi. May your memory be eternal.
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year. It is about forgiving others and oneself. It is a time to seek forgiveness too. Is there anything more loving and potentially healing in life than forgiveness?
May forgiveness always remember its twin sibling: love. May love remember its double shadow: self-respect as well as respect for others.
With much love, Bambi would like to wish all her readers who would be highlighting Yom Kippur, from now until tomorrow evening, a blessed one. May they feel close to and blessed by G-d. May they forgive themselves while indulging in forgiving others… May they carry the spirit of this day of reparation for a wrong or injury into their entire year.
There is beauty in all four seasons, but for Bambi the fall is surely the most charming period of the year. She will always love it, regardless of her heart’s inner season of grief.
As readers, some of you may be sadly tending to your own grief, after losing a loved one to death. Who knows? Maybe you have just ended a meaningful relationship? Or, more joyfully, you may be expecting or have welcomed a cute newborn. You could also be simply celebrating continuous love. Indeed, Happy Wedding Anniversary sweetest Khello and Zeina (or Zeinzoun!)! The “Mabrouk” [Congrats] song below is for you then 💚!
In addition to the Lebanese-Arabic Congrats song, there is nothing like the voice of the late, yet eternally charming, Mr. Joe Dassin to remind us of the beauty of the fall. His song is a musical treat not just in French, but also in its English and German versions.
To conclude this brief post, if where you are, in terms of the season of your life, is not the most comfortable place, please keep in mind the following: this season shall pass. Yes, brighter days are ahead, even when they may be colder!
1. Hello Louis. Can you tell us what is your understanding of the Worldwide Rally For Freedom?
I don’t know the details behind the Rally, but I’m in favour of the concept of freedom generally, so I’m interested in going. Apparently, being in favour of freedom isn’t a given in our society these days. That’s what this is about, to me.
2. Why does it matter to you to attend this event?
We live in an era where freedom is under attack, mostly by far-left elites. Unfortunately, most people are too scared to object in public, because of economic consequences: being fired, having their professional qualifications withdrawn, losing access to government funds, etc. This unfortunately leads to a situation where only those already on the fringe dare to be seen to object to these attacks on freedom. On account of this, I think that it’s extremely important for “normal” people to show up and be heard. This will encourage more of the same, and make the large number of people who are too afraid to say what they think in public become less afraid to make their voices heard. The very reason why the far-left attacks people who speak out so badly is to isolate the masses from realizing that they’re not at all alone in their opinions. Opinions which I’ll point out were in many cases completely uncontroversial even 10 years ago.
3. Bambi has the utmost respect for your courage because it does take guts to express one’s opinion, even in a clever town like ours. If there is anyone who grasps the danger of modern identity politics in Sackville, it is Lebanon-born immigrants like her. For her, this movement insists on seeing all of us not as individuals but as an extension only of our colour, gender, ethnicity, etc. We are defined and trapped by our identity and we define and trap others by it too. Of course, dividing people in such ways is not new. However, history teaches us it can be dangerous (especially when politicians play with the fire of identity politics). In your opinion, is there a risk of this radical left movement calling for a radical right movement (a real one, not the alt-right Bambi has been accused of among other absurdities, just to try to censor her)? If so, how can we prevent it?
If anyone’s courage should be respected here, it’s Bambi’s.
As for this town, it’s not clever. What you have is a dominant ideology of blind followers. It actually increasingly resembles a cult, complete with love-bombing, chanting and shunning.
There is absolutely the possibility of a radical right movement coming into existence as a response to the insanity of our times. At present, I can’t say that I’m concerned about extremes on the right. They exist, but they’re inconsequential. In future years, they may be a real concern, however.
What we’re actually seeing now is an increasingly powerful elitist authoritarian smug far-left that has taken over much of universities, government, the court system and even made huge inroads into large corporations. It’s not necessarily economically far-left, in that it’s happy to cooperate (and co-opt) the corporate sector, but it’s definitely authoritarian, and increasingly radical. Huge sectors of our society are in constant fear of them and of being their target, if that doesn’t say enough.
4. Had you had children, would you have been worried about their education and future? Why/Why not?
Absolutely. There’s no way I’d want my kids going to today’s schools, as a start.
As for the future in general, if we continue in this way, in another 5 years or so, we’re in the position that Argentina is in now. Another 10-15, we could be Venezuela. Hopefully we come to our senses before then. I’m far from sure that we will, however. The people who push (or go along) with today’s trendy ideologies have no idea what world they’ll be leaving their children. Or possibly, their desire to “fit in” is so strong that it keeps them from thinking about it. It’s quite sickening, really.
5. Will it get better after the above scenario, in your opinion? Just to end on an optimistic note…
Collective insanity and revolutionary zeal eventually burn themselves out, in the same manner that other organizational structures decay: those in power start to care more about protecting their positions than about the stated goals of what they’re doing, and over time, become less and less efficient, and more and more ridiculous. The late days of the Soviet Union come to mind. But that’s the very long term, and there were many decades of true horrors under Stalin before that. It’s much better to avoid going down that road in the first place. People don’t realize what they have until they lose it, and that’s a big part of what’s wrong with today’s society. Freedom is taken for granted. It’s all a game to the far-left radicals. But it won’t be a game forever. It can get deadly serious–literally.
Thank you for your time, Louis. Best wishes.
