{"id":5543,"date":"2020-07-24T21:12:39","date_gmt":"2020-07-25T00:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/?p=5543"},"modified":"2020-07-24T23:10:10","modified_gmt":"2020-07-25T02:10:10","slug":"mr-boris-vian-would-have-been-proud-inspired-by-the-deserter-mr-georges-abu-arajs-wrote-moving-verses-about-lebanon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/07\/24\/mr-boris-vian-would-have-been-proud-inspired-by-the-deserter-mr-georges-abu-arajs-wrote-moving-verses-about-lebanon\/","title":{"rendered":"Mr. Boris Vian would have been proud: Inspired by \u201cThe deserter\u201d, Mr. Georges Abu Araj wrote moving verses about Lebanon!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

First, who is Mr. Georges Abu Araj? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is simply a good friend of Bambi whom she loves dearly, beyond words. Below you can read his story and appreciate his talent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Abu Araj is an integral part of Bambi\u2019s childhood memories in Beirut (Lebanon). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each time she visits her parents in Beirut, and literally as soon as she steps out of the car (after a 10-minute ride from the airport), she stops quickly at his \u201cL\u2019Objet\u201d<\/em> store to to ask about him or to wave at him through the glass window ?. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

L\u2019Objet<\/em> is not just a store where we find the most beautiful purses https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lobjetlebanon\/<\/a>!)!  L\u2019Objet<\/em> is literally a monument of this residential neighbourhood that was established in 1967 (the father of Bambi established his store a few miles away, around that time in 1961, imagine! One day, Bambi will write about her dad\u2019s inspiring story, as entrepreneur).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To come back to L\u2019Objet<\/em>, Bambi has beautiful childhood\nmemories of this store, of playing in front of it, of walking by it, or simply\nof daily seeing it from her parents\u2019 balcony ?.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One memory is literally like a miracle to her. L\u2019Objet<\/em> (or was it God through L\u2019Objet<\/em>?) saved Bambi\u2019s life, so to speak\u2026 and, most importantly to her then, it saved her cousin\u2019s life (she was under her responsibility). Indeed, Val\u00e9rie (cousin) was sleeping over. It was Roula\u2019s birthday (sister). Bambi (14 or 15 then?) was determined to offer her sister a book. Val\u00e9rie and her went to a bookstore, just one street away. As soon as they arrived, Bambi felt the urge to leave the place, telling her cousin: \u201cLet\u2019s go purchase something from L\u2019Objet!<\/em>\u201d They waked to L\u2019Objet<\/em> (a 0.5-minute walk). Upon their arrival, a HUGE explosion took place, just across from that bookstore! Bambi will never forget the scene of her mom screaming her name from the balcony. She could not walk to her balcony as her knees were shaking (fear). It is Mr. Abu Araj who kindly run outside to reassure Bambi\u2019s mom. Bless his kindness. The explosion killed two kids whilst injuring citizens. The siblings\u2019 names were \u00c9lie and Suzanne. Even in middle age, Bambi keeps praying for them in her heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorry for this graphic story about war\u2026 To come back to Mr. Abu Araj, he lived in Lebanon throughout civil war, like Bambi\u2019s family. Like them, he also immigrated to Qu\u00e9bec (Canada). Like Bambi\u2019s family he returned back to his birth country (at the end of war) when Lebanon’s days were brighter than today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, like her own family, Mr. Abu Araja is\nattached to both Lebanon and Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To use his own words, \u201cEven if Lebanon is my homeland,\nCanada competes with it because between Canada and myself, there is a\ncontinuous love story<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Abu Araj\u2019s words take their full meaning when we know how genuine he is. No wonder he remains grateful and faithful to his love of Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to being a skilled merchant, he is a cultivated\nman who loves literature and arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, like many Lebanese citizens (especially those of his age), he is deeply sad to see his country diving into hell like that. The covid-19 pandemic finished Lebanon, literally pushing it into famine\u2026 but make no mistake. This is not the fault of a tiny deadly mean virus. This is rather due to the metastases of decades of systemic corruption by Lebanon\u2019s political leaders. It may also be due to mismanagement, regardless of the intentions \u2639. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspired by Mr. Boris Vian\u2019s poem entitled The Deserter<\/em>\n(https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Boris_Vian<\/a>),\nMr. Abu Araj wrote verses about\nLebanon\u2019s sad reality. Bambi is eager to share her friend\u2019s talent below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To borrow Mr. Abu Araj\u2019s own words again, \u201cMr. Vian conceived his poem, called the Deserter, in suffering and in the revolt against a war he did not conceive. This may be the same feeling that made me scream my pain and desperation of seeing what is happening to a unique country in the world. I knowingly say the latter without wanting to denigrate or hurt anyone\u201d.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before concluding this post with Mr. Abu-Araj\u2019s poem that moved Bambi\u2019s heart today, she will start by sharing the original poem (turned into a song). Second, you will see a link with the English lyrics. Third, you can read a screenshot of Bambi\u2019s phone with Mr. Abu Araj\u2019s verses (in French). Finally, Bambi will provide a quick English translation of those moving verses. She will do so, urging Dearest Georges to forgive her as she will surely not succeed in keeping the beauty of his words and their rhyme intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May this dark cloud over Lebanon know how to move away.\nMay the sun rise again. May a new Lebanon finally see the light\u2026 Until then, as\nwe say in French, \u201cbon courage\u201d. Please hang on, Mr. Abu Araj! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last but not least, many thanks for sharing your talent, honouring Bambi with your trust!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n