Bambi's Thoughts
For this post, Bambi does not have words.
She only had tears in her eyes when she saw pictures and watched videos from abroad.
May the first hours of this ceasefire turn into full days, weeks, and years.
Life is too short to waste it on absurd yet cruel armed conflicts.
Instead, may healing, forgiveness, humanity, peace, love, and prosperity prevail.
If there is one thing that Bambi learned from growing up during civil war, it is to read all media of all sides to build her own opinions. This is what she keeps doing, in our collectively insane times, whether in peace or in war. For instance, and to keep learning, she reads those whom she may not necessarily agree with on a topic, even before those she may share their opinion on this or that topic.
Bearing the above in mind, and in the spirit of continuous open-mindedness (or to gather evidence at the source), this is what she she did from day 1 of the tragic October 7th 2023, for ALL the innocent people of the Middle East, including her own birth country (since a doomed October 8 when the Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into this destructive war). Thus, her sources of information are diverse, ranging from L’Orient Le Jour [or Orient Today], to all the other Lebanese media, to the Times of Israel (as well as other Israeli media in English), to the Tehran times (and if in English, other Iranian sources) to Arabic media, including a Palestinian newsletter, etc.
Today, she wants to focus on an article she read in the Tehran Times entitled “Iranian students ask Hezbollah chief to hold Nasrallah’s funeral in Iran” (https://shorturl.at/AcguE).
As an example, even if clumsy, imagine that like in today’s Iran (at least as per the article cited above), five student unions of the UK or France, or even the States, would have asked to have the 1937 funeral of Brother (or Saint André too, since he was canonized by the Catholic Church) held in the respective countries. Would this have made any sense to French-Canadians or Québécois, especially those from Montreal or Mont Saint-Grégoire where he was born?
Of course, we cannot compare apples and oranges, even if deep inside they are both fruits and they taste good to those who enjoy their taste. Bambi is trying to say here that the late Brother André and the late Said Hassan Nassrallah are both men of faith and conviction. The first keeps dragging tourists to the Saint Joseph Oratory (https://shorturl.at/oAcvY) while the other kept dragging his country into wars.
Whether you are a fan or not, does it make sense to you that Iranian student unions, or the Iranian government in their name, is asking Hezbollah (which it founded and funded) to hold Mr. Nasrallah’s funeral in Iran?
There have been hopeful news coming out of Bambi’s birth country recently, going in the direction of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Today, there is an additional piece of promising news, related to the investigation concerning the Beirut port surreal explosion: Judge Tarek Bitar resumed work after two years (https://shorturl.at/v0lvQ; https://shorturl.at/x7f1H).
In several posts, over the past 4-5 years, Bambi paid tribute to the courageous Judge Tarek Bitar. As a reminder, she even argued that he deserves a Peace Noble Prize for having resisted both impunity and corruption.
Indeed, despite threats to his personal safety, along with legal obstacles to prevent his work, he kept his inspiring courage as an impartial judge. Today, he resumed his investigation. Thanks to him and bravo!
May justice be finally served in Beirut so the families of the victims can grieve in peace. They deserve to be able to believe in truth and justice.
Bambi sends her continuous full solidarity and gratitude to Judge Bitar. She sends her heart again and again to all the victims, along with love to Beirut, which deserves brighter days filled with hope, healing, and justice… for a change.
To conclude this post on a musical note as usual, Mr. Ghassan Saliba’s lyrics remain timely, today more than ever… once again, here is a quick English translation by Bambi for your convenience, if you are interested:
“Is it possible to go back in time and forget what happened
In the city inhabited by sadness and destruction?
Is it possible, one of these days, to extinguish the fire
In the hearts they have burned and made them collapse?
Is it possible, one of these days, to resume writing poems
about the beautiful city we fell in love with and keep waiting and waiting for?
Is it possible, one of these days, to be able to erase what happened to this sad city
So the journey can begin?
The bewildered population of this country when it has no decision-making
It begs for justice from any place and any forum of decision-making
Is it possible, one of these days, to do something for the many who have survived
Reach the end of the story and put an end to the defeat?
Is it possible, one of these days, that the generations that do not chose their destiny
will get rid of this injustice and change the course of history?
One day will come when all the secrets will be uncovered
And this stubborn land will be crowned with glory…“
Bambi misses her awesome dad and looks forward to seeing him again as soon as realistically possible… hopefully in 2025 ❤️!
Same for her adorable four relatives and family friend, in Beirut and Montreal, who are also celebrating their name day ❤️❤️❤️❤️!
May Saint-Anthony, or “Mar” Anthonios the great, protect them all :)!
May Saint Anthony also protect Mary and her family; today more than ever…. and may their/our beloved Mounir’s memory be eternal, both in heaven and in our hearts ❤️.
Bearing the above in mind, it is time for music now to celebrate love, family gatherings, baba/papy Antonio (+ all the dad’s of the world), and… Saint Anthony, with his own Byzantine prayer, chanted by the Choir of Beirut in Arabic.
Due to a heavy workload filled with several deadlines, Bambi had no choice but to remain silent for about four days. She missed her daily writing, and most importantly, she felt that something very meaningful was missing day after day (or night after night, she must say): YOU, dear readers. Yes, she missed you, even if she had the opportunity to communicate with some of you about older posts. Thank you for your continuous interest in visiting her blog and for sharing your opinions, mostly publicly and at times privately.
This being said, Bambi hesitated among several more serious topics. She finally decided to make this post about lightness.
Yes, the topic is related to the lightness of the heart when we are in love or in harmony with a friend, especially during summer times (but not only!). Consider it also as a post about being in love with life, especially when our wings are made of hope.
If she may, she now dedicates this Egyptian-Arabic song, in both adult’s and kids’ versions to all of you, and especially to two readers who have shared that they liked this song, as per an older post shown below :).
We all have our reasons to like this or that song (or to dislike this or that melody). Bambi has always liked the “3 dakat” song because its melody is joyfully light, calling for dancing. Even the kids’ version was a joy to listen to.
She does not know about you, but Bambi started this working day on a light note. She remained filled with inner happiness, despite imminent deadlines. She considers herself to be blessed in life in genral in so many ways, especially on a beautiful day, like this one.
May your forthcoming days be filled with rest if you have worked hard, lightness if you had deep worries, increased healing if you have been sick or are grieving, and with continuous happiness, if you feel happy.
—
Those who know Bambi well might recall how much she loves Haiti. Indeed, she honours this country not only in her heart (or some house decoration), but also in her posts.
Hours before January 12, she pauses with Haiti and Canada (fellow citizens of Haitian heritage; Canada’s army, air force and navy staff who rushed to help) to remember the devastating 2010 earthquake. The latter affected about three million people, namely almost one-third of the country’s total population (https://shorturl.at/o8MU6)! Tragically, about 300,000 lost their lives, according to official count (https://shorturl.at/o8MU6). May everyone’s memory be eternal.
On a personal note, Bambi is thinking of her friends in Toronto, Montreal, and the Maritimes who are of Haitian origins or who like Haiti. More specifically, she is praying for you Smith and Jean (et al.), along with your beloved angel in heaven 💜. May your loving hearts keep being filled with faith, inner peace, and hope (“espérance” “en piles en piles“).
This post cannot be concluded without a fond thought for Michael, along with his peers, for the inspiring generosity, if he happens to be reading. Two additional thoughts go to: (1) all the kind cab drivers Bambi had encountered while living in Montreal; and (2) the inspiring Canadian artists she appreciates (some are prematurely in heaven like the uniquely talented Ms. Mélanie Reynauld, shown below).
May Haiti see brighter days. Enough of disaster after disaster, and not just naturally.
Bambi’s birth country finally has a President and he seems very promising (https://shorturl.at/VoNLK). Lots of work ahead. “Mabrouk” and all the best!
Bambi had been very busy lately and has been silent for a few days. She missed both writing and communicating with you, dear readers.
During her silence, many major events took place, both domestically and worldwide.
As she is sleepy right now, she will not dive into any serious event, especially that she has nothing to say about any of them.
This being said, and if she may, she will share a beautiful international French love song, which was performed a week ago in Lebanon (i.e., Casino du Liban). Bravo to Ms. Jana Salameh, Ms. Manel Mallat, Mr. Bruno Tabbal, and Mr. Marc Reaidy Baz. Same for Ms. Yasmina Sabbah (Conductor), Mr. Eddy Jazra (Mixing and Mastering), Mr. Marc Achkouty (Costume), and all the musicians. Finally, thanks to the “Takreem Foundation” by Mr. Ricardo Karam for its most recent event, which was entitled Shining Stars of Hope (https://shorturl.at/U8oxC).
As it is already January 9 at her end, Bambi will conclude this post by offering the song to her dear cousin and cousin-in-law, Tony and Rania ❤️ while wishing Tony a wonderful birthday! Long live love with all its hymns. Long live hope. Long live beloved cousins :)!
Today, Québec, Canada, and the world lost a GREAT actor.
CTV News- Montreal reminded us that he appeared in about 100 movies (https://shorturl.at/7IZOJ). Of course, his most famous role was that of the funny Elvis Gratton in “Elvis Gratton”, which was directed by the highly talented (and late) Mr. Pierre Falardeau.
Bambi appreciated Mr. Poulin’s talent when she used to watch TV (the last time was over 3 or 4 years ago). In an older post honouring New Brunswick’s late yet great Ms. Viola Léger (shown below), she introduced her readers to the hilarious Elvis Gratton.
Here he is again as her way of paying tribute to Mr. Julien Poulin. The YouTube scene below lasts only 0.45 minute. In it, the cute Elvis Gratton tries to explain what is a “Canadian français” or a “Québécois” to a European tourist on an airplane. It is very complicated :).
Bambi sends her heart to your family, Mr. Poulin. As for you, she will say: “Merci Mounsieur pour votre oeuvre“! Yes, many thanks for your impressive career AND immense talent! Québec (+ Canada) would have surely not been the same without you…
—
On the doomed August 4, 2020, 2,500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded in the port of Beirut, capital of Bambi’s birth country.
As a reminder, this largest non-nuclear blast in history (https://shorturl.at/E9X1u) resulted in 220+ deaths, 7500 injuries (some of whom are still in the coma, imagine), 800 regular floor admissions as well as 130 intensive care unit admissions, 300, 000 homeless people at once, 150+ permanent disabilities, over 3/4 of massive destruction of Lebanon’s capital, total destruction of 4 hospitals, and US$15, 000, 000, 000 worth of damage. To all this, one must add the collective trauma followed by migration to countries around the world, including Canada.
Thank Goodness, Bambi’s parents survived miraculously, despite the heavy destruction in their apartment and store. Her childhood friend was badly injured and now finally healed (thank God). Her brother-in-law and her niece were also injured. Sadly, as shared above, many residents of Beirut were not as lucky. Some of them were firefighters (the very first victims), police or internal forces, healthcare providers, patients, seniors, mothers, fathers, young adults, teenagers, and toddlers or infants. May their memory be eternal.
Unsurprisingly, there is still no justice for the Beirut port surreal explosion, despite the heroic courage of Judge Tarek Bitar. Of note, Bambi honoured him in a few older posts. She did the same with regard to the legendary tenacity of the families of the victims.
Bearing the above in mind, Bambi keeps on standing in full solidarity with these families. She thanks An Nahar for sharing pictures of their monthly silent, and likely smaller, demonstration in front of the Lebanese Emigrant statue (https://shorturl.at/pb4CR). She selected one of these pictures to share it with you, dear readers. It is her way of supporting these families while sending her love to the Lebanese capital at the start of 2025.
May the beautiful yet tired Beirut FINALLY see brighter days filled with increased safety, a sense of justice, peace of mind, love, and prosperity for all.
