Pierre Sarkis, who seems very happy with being an instructor of History and Cultural Studies at the LAU, should start to think of changing his job, because in my opinion he doesn’t know anything about History or Cultural Studies as he claims.
I’m saying that, because this man, who should be a teacher and give his students the best example, wrote an article in the LAU Tribune, the magazine published by the University’s students, in which he fiercly attacked Patriarch Sfeir and the Bishops (Read the Article here), calling the Patriarch to resign, while using some disgraceful words.
I believe very well in freedom of Speech, but I can’t stand to see someone, who claims to be a History teacher, and who is supposed to be a respected personnality, using these kinds of words and forging history that much, since he has chosen to mention what he likes and forgot about many other events, as well as including his own opinion, which is really strange coming from an Academic.
He included his article many accusations, and pointed out at one single side, and he even copied the article and distributed to the students, in a clear and cheap attempt to buy their support, which is a Typical Aouni behaviour.
I’m not gonna argue what he said, eventhough I can clearly find lots of contradictions and lies and misleading in his words, one of them when he blamed the Patriarch of welcoming Michel Murr, while he forgot that his Aoun was allied with Murr for three previous years.
All I can say is that this Pierre Sarkis is a disgrace for the Academic body in Lebanon, and instead of calling for the resign of the Patrirach, I think he should resign himself from teaching, maybe he can find himself another job, or maybe hust cheering Aoun and his allies while receiving ”Clean Money” from them.
cedarvoice
oliver27
clara13
tareq55
I thought you said you believe in freedom of speech.
The guy is free to write whatever he wants. What about charles ayoub, his newspaper should be closed if there is a real government in the country.
you are just afraid of the truth.
By: Fighter11 on May 13, 2009
at 17:12
Regardless if I agree or disagree with cedarvoice article, my first impression is I find this article to be a very decently written article.
BUT to Mr Fighter11 I say this: Freedom of speech has limits and a line has to be drawn that no one should cross or else mayhem will take place. Do you Mr Fighter accept if I tell you FU or MF as freedom of speech. What you said “The guy is free to write whatever he wants” indicates that you gladly accept profanity directed to you which means MF applies to you. Does your mama agree?
By: Peter on May 13, 2009
at 19:10
That article is a real shame, not only for its content but for the choice of words and lack of any arguments…
When I was reading it, I was wondering how a well educated person could write such a shit….then read he was “intructor” and not “professor”, bel 3arabé, m3allem madrassé and not m3allem jem3a…kel wa7ad 3a 7alo…
By: Fuziyad on May 13, 2009
at 22:26
where does the line between liberty and restrictions stand? who put it ? who decide what is right and what is wrong ? Are we supposed to follow the western culture blindly or we have to distinctive ourselves and our culture ?
By: ثائر on May 14, 2009
at 00:04
I have read that shameful article
Did not feel at all like an academic, but a little frustrated orangy spitting his venom at someone who simply does not agree with them
I wonder to what level our academic bodies are reduced to
Pierre Sarkis, go get a life or courses to improve your flimsy writing skills
By: Lili on May 14, 2009
at 01:43
Yes it is shameful, but it is obvious that this sarkis, who is instructor and not professor ad Fuziyad argued, was having a political background in his mind and forgot all about respect and principles.
I don’t know if he finds that describing Bishop Rai as a Clone for the Patriarch as something good and funny. I personally find it unacceptable and disgraceful as cedar said.
So I join you cedar and ask pierre sarkis to resign, better for him and for his students.
By: Tino.M on May 14, 2009
at 08:11
instructor of History and Cultural Studies ?!!!any 10 years old Jehovah’s Witnesses can argue much better .
By: paul on May 14, 2009
at 11:15
It is obvious aounies and their allies are trying to influence the Christian public opinion in many ways, among these ways the universities, lying on some instructors such as this pierre sarkis who looks insane like ghassan sarkis and like aoun himself.
People are mixing between working in politics, and dealing with religions, they should respect our religious figures in their political conflicts.
By: LFer on May 14, 2009
at 11:27
Peter
I understand nothing from ur comment in which you just tried to target me.
Freedom of speech means that I should tell you FU too, how about that? I won’t say it because i’m polite. The guy in the article did not use any bad words such as FU or FM as u mentioned, maybe he was tough but should we crucify him for that? he just gave his opinion.
By: Fighter11 on May 14, 2009
at 11:35
I am an LAU Alumni and was taught by Mr. Sarkis nearly a decade ago. Many of us owe Mr. Sarkis for instilling within the youth of that time a sense of PRIDE AND BRAVERY in the face of the syrian occupation. He always was outspoken and now that it doenst suit some people they have opted to shut him up.
Ingrates is not a strong enough word to describe those that have decided to shut him up although he is repsonsible for instilling a sense of conviction in a generation of today’s men and women.
Shame on you ofr posting such an opnion of him. and shame on this failure of an institution for letting him go. TFEH!
By: LAU alumni on May 14, 2009
at 23:48
Where is freedom of speech ? He is saying what the majority is thinking.
Shame on LAU for not respecting Freedom Of Speech
By: georges on May 15, 2009
at 00:16
In an Editorial page, authors can say whatever they want, as long as it is labeled to be an Editorial and not a research or factual article.
An Editorial is a personal interpretation of the facts as opposed to a description.
As such, this author is allowed to voice whatever opinion he has.
By: Sami on May 15, 2009
at 00:32
Did any of you condemning the author request the resignation of Paul Shaoul when he did not give his opinion as this author here did, but actually literally cursed Michel Aoun and who he considers his political opponents in Moustakbal newspaper? Please if you guys did, post it here so we can see it and congratulate you for your unbiased spirit. If you haven’t, then you have no right to prosecute the guy just because he wrote things you do not approve of (politically).
More than 60% of Christians approve of what this person wrote and if they’d have a chance, they would say it bluntly as he did. Let’s say the coming elections prove once again that the madman of Rabieh has the majority of the Christian votes, what would you suggest then, fire them all, those Christians who voted for him?
By: Dreamy on May 15, 2009
at 02:47
Does none of you realize that your comments are less than useless?
Instead of responding to the message, you’re attacking the messenger with your pretentious airs of grandeur.
Let this be an intellectual challenge. Please point out the factual mistakes in Sarkis’ article.
By: Meh on May 15, 2009
at 07:27
For all the friends who criticized me, especially the new ones who wrote here for the first time, I wanna say thank you for all your opinions, even though I disagree with you, and I want to apologize for being late in approving your comments, since they were mostly written late at night.
Now, I have to explain some points:
First of all, I didn’t attack this man on political background, but because I said it and I will say it again, we should respect our religious figures as all other religions do, we should keep them far from our political divisions, without choosing what we like. Who ever accusing me of being politically attacking mr. Sarkis, don’t you think that hsi opinion was based on a political background? so when you want to talk in politics, you have to accept replies based on poltitics also.
Second, some of you said that mr. Sarkis spoke on behalf of 60% of christians. Who can decide that and who said that 60% of christians think like that or at least accept that the Patriarch can be attacked in that indecent way?
As for asking me to talk about other issues to show that I’m not biased, well I say that I’m free to choose what I want to speak about. Also it is a matter of knowing about things, and I have to say that I’m biased for the truth and for my own principles.
Last but not least. I really enjoyed all the comments, which is something we need to reach a good understanding about the Lebanon we want.
By: cedarvoice on May 15, 2009
at 11:06
Professor Sarkis, my advice to you, go back to the school that gave your degree, and ask for your money back!
By: Elie Aoun on May 15, 2009
at 20:19
You use freedom of speech when it suits you. When a guy publishes an insulting sketch about Mohammad achrafieh burns , that’s fredom of speech! But when an educated guy writes his opinion that’s unbearable….
By: Eve on May 16, 2009
at 20:35
Allow me to say , in every university professors, instructors and students have the right and duty to write in academic journals. I was a professor and I did write in academic journals.
Second, Dr Sarkis has the right to criticize the Patriarch even the Pope has asked him to resign and he has not yet. Thousands of Lebanese would love for him to resign and spare us his politics.
Third, you say he forges History allow me to ask you where and how ? Please be detailed oriented. Don’t tell me Murr. We heard that one. Now he is on February 14th let us see has he suddenly become less Pro Syrian and more Pro Lebanese. Explain to me.
Sorry your lack of respect first the Aouni is called in English ” Aounist” second he is an FPMer. We are a movement. I’d rather have a professor give students a photocopied paper of an artcile rather than a bazooka like what other instructors used to do.
Now regarding your second post , once a religious figure enters the political realm he becomes a political figure and can be attacked. Had Patriarch Sfeir not been biased and a disgrace to the Christian community and more importantly had he been at an equal distance he would not be attacked by any of the Christians.
He should stay silent and allow the Christians to vote. Instead we know he welcomed the Syrains in 1990 as he blessed Taef. I will not go into details . You might be too young to remember his words back then.
As for 60 percent of the Christians , well my friend you know the last elections we won 70 percent of the Christians in 2005. I know you cant swollow it that GMA and our movement has eclipsed Kataeb, and LF combined but this is Lebanon . The Christians have spoken .
In 2008 Camille Khoury ran and he won against Amine who was the president of Lebanon and whose son had been killed. He ran as the father of the martyr against an unknown except in the FPM circle. With this I say 20 days and the Tsunami will come to get between 30 – 40 deputies.
Glad you enjoy our comments and if I were you the beauty of learning is to listen to different sides . By silencing a man like Sarkis you are following in the path of your masters the Wahabis and the Syrians who are dictators and would never allow a contrarian perspective.
Is that the kind of education that you want in Lebanon? If so I am ashamed to have been a professor in Lebanon. What a shame for LAU lost total credibility in my eyes. Had this happened at AUB or NDU the university would close down.
By: jimmy on May 17, 2009
at 09:12
Dear professor Jimmy,
I thank you for taking all that time to write here and show your opinion, which is something I appreciate, eventhough we disagree.
But allow me to blame you for losing grid in your last paragraphs by starting to use some offending language such as your masters the wahabis, which something I prefer you didn’t use, just to preserve your good image as a former professor as you said.
Anyway, I won’t stop here, in fact I’ll be more than delighted to fulfill all your requests.
1- You’re right, everyone has the right to write in academic journals, and I didn’t disagree with that, I only criticied what he wrote, and I think it’s my right to do so.
2- I said he forged history for the following reasons: First of all why he didn’t criticize aoun for allying with murr? second in accusing the church of corruption and nepotism and in categorizing people as believers and others. This can’t be said about the current church. we all have reservations, but to describe the church of being similar to the dark agesd church is wrong and considered as forging history.
Third, he blamed the patriarch for sitting with the people who were dealing with thesyrians, while aoun went and visit the syrians themselves, and of course without any good outcome, also he was meeting with them all that time.
fourth, in the events of 1990, he wrote his opinion and not the truth, I say aoun is the first responsible for what happened that time, he initiated all the wars he couldn’t finish, and then run away while balming others for his misery and leaving his soldiers to die. can you read history??
since you said you’re old and I’m the youngh who doesn’t remember, do you still remember Raymond Edde, so now Carlos does not represent anything, or Ghanem El Bonn? whre was aoun before him in Kesrwan? this is the culture of cancelling everybody, u’re good at it.
Away from Christians public opinion?? where was this public opinion when some thugs went to Bkirki and attacked the Patriarch, where is that public opinion everytime the Patriarch being the religious figure, is attacked by others, or by Christians like this frangieh. and why you asked the Patriarch to work in politics whenever you want or you like?
3- I don’t support and don’t like Murr, and never liked him, so you don’t have to address me here, and I criticize march 14 for allying with him, this is my stance.
4- I think I know well that there is no Aounist word in English, and there is no aouni also, so i have the right to choose. Who gave the Bazooka, you friend Nasrallah??
5- here you strat to lose it my friedn, since you seemed like ur colleague sarkis, u started to attack the patriarch considering that he disgraced the Christian community, and at the end you accepted fr the Patriarch to be attacked because he took one side. Being criticized it’s ok, but why attacked? where is the respect? shou ta2 shilsh el 7aya??
6- I’m not young and I remember so well, I could even be older than you and I lived every moment back then and I simply disagree with you but also don’t want to go into details.
7- I agree with you that Aoun have won by 70% in 2005, but for the wrong reasons, and we should all recognize he lost that percentage, we’re still waiting to see how much he lost, or let me say how many Christians opened well their eyes.
8- Arguing about Camille Khoury is wrong, first of all Khoury was running in the name of aoun, so the latter was the one people voted for, also Murr was still backing him, so you can’t take it as a criteria, and the 30-40 deputies, I’m sorry but u’ll never get them. and if oyu look better, u’ll see that uinitially tjose 30 or 40 are not urs, many came from ur allies.
9- I listen to all the sides, believe me I spend my day in listening, in fact this is my job, and you have to withdraw describing me a follower to wahabis and syrians, you make me laugh here.
10- Last but not least, you said u’re ahsamed to have been a professor in Lebanon, I don’t know about you, but after knowing that people like you and pierre sarkis are teaching our generations of tudents these days, I can perfectly understand now why our educational system is deteriorating.
By: cedarvoice on May 17, 2009
at 11:39
To me the main issue is the following: Could the Professor, who belongs to the opposition, have told his truths to the leader of the opposition and survive?
He’s talking the Patriarch living in the Dark Ages but pray tell us in what age Iranians live under the Iranian Revolution?
The leader of the opposition also happens to be a religious leader who is more involved in politics than the Patriarch can ever be.
By: James on May 17, 2009
at 21:12
I think that you 14 march mother f**ers will be burned after the elections
Have a nice day
By: Tony on May 19, 2009
at 13:05
Dear cedarvoice,
I commend you. You are a very fine eloquent speaker. Even when you are offended you can still keep calm and you address the offender in a gentle manner . This is a unique quality you got, but the sad fact it is rare in our Lebanese society which is getting poisoned by hatred and self-righteousness.
I would like to be optimistic about our homeland future but reality is Lebanon keeps on bleeding and there is no sign for possible healing.
Kind regards to you.
By: Peter on May 19, 2009
at 17:26
Dear Peter,
Thank you very much for your last comment, I really appreciate what u’ve said, and this patience I get from people like you, people we need a lot in Lebanon.
Our problem in Lebanon is not that we differ, but we don’t know how to manage our differences, so we find ourselves turning to violence, whether in language or in our actions.
Believe me when I started this blog I knew I will face such situations, so I’ve trained myself to act the way I expct others to do, in addition I’m peaceful and calm by nature.
Finally I would like to welcome you to participate more in this blog and in other posts, because we need a person like you to keep the level of this blog as high as we all are looking for.
Thank you
By: cedarvoice on May 19, 2009
at 19:29
I would like to provide some info about myself.
I was born and raised in Lebanon, left when I was in my mid twenties and have been living in California for a number of years now.
One statement in the “About” introduction on this Blog struck me as something I always say and go by in life “don’t believe in politicians, only believe in principles and actions”.
I am an independent and that’s how I live my life and make my decisions. Even in the US I am not a republican nor a democrat, and I only vote to whom I believe bring good to the country; and back in Lebanon I did not belong to any specific party because as Cedarvoice stated I believe that following and supporting a party or a movement blindly is not wise.
If I feel what Michel Aoun is saying and doing is for the good of Lebanon then I will vote for him, but at this time he is not, so he does not get my vote.
Sometimes Walid Jumblat talks nonsense rubbish and that does not sit well with me, so I do not vote for him.
The little sleiman frangie is the worse of the worse, he is even worse than pierre sarkis. This little guy is bad news for the Maronites and for the country.
In general I sympathize with the 14 of March movement to a certain degree as long as I see them in line with the good of the country.
I love Lebanon and the US equally, and I hope that one day in Lebanon we can learn how to manage our differences in a civil and proper manners (as Cedarvoice mentioned) and not to resort to vicious verbal attacks and violence.
On a lighter note, I think the healing (if possible) and the discipline of our general population in Lebanon may need to start by showing respect to each other in the simple daily life activities like being courteous when standing in line in a bank or in store, or while driving on the road as it has been the way in the US, people should be equal and treat each other with a good level of respect. In the US no one can cut in front of anyone in a store or in a bank even if he is a known politician or even if he is the richest person in the world.
As of now in Lebanon some tough people think they have more power and are more important than others so they grant themselves the privilege and the authority to cut in front of other people in banks, stores, and on the road…
I am talking about improving the way of life in Lebanon but at the same time I do not claim that I am perfect nor am always treating others with the proper respect but at least I acknowledge that I have to improve the way I treat my fellow human being in the same way I want him to treat me.
- Treat others the way you want to be treated.
By: Peter on May 21, 2009
at 20:43