Dr. Pierre Sarkis of LAU pays the price of Freedom!

[vegojimbo]

Originally Posted by ElieCedar

Talking about freedom of speech... a simple suggestion of relocating an Shiite officer (in actuality a Spy for Hizbullah) at the Beirut airport caused a full invasion of the Capital and all the ugliness that followed (while you were clapping). Now, you come talk to us about a teacher losing his contract at LAU for insulting our Batrak ??? you lost your common sense a long time ago!! Allah ysa@edkoun malla sha@eb!
Elie

Just the fact that you're justifying this unethical unlawful decision strips you from any moral stand point in preaching about freedom of speech. In this case, you forfeited your right to condemn May 7 by applauding for such a heinous move. That is regardless how mind boggling it is how you managed to link both incidents, since freedom of speech had little to do with what transpired on that day, unlike here with the professor which is the very core of the matter.

So... come again about common sense!?!?!?

[Aoune]

Having been a professor in my lifetime under the Syrian occupation I think students should boycott classes until this estemeed instructor returns and teaches rightfully so.

Even under the Syrian occupation and believe me I criticized the Syrians in my classes I was not punished by the administration. I cannot say which adminsiatration out of courtesy. I have to say they respected us.

I remember writing an article in the university journal attacking the Syrian occupation and I called it occupation and was not told by the administration one thing. For that I'm thankful. Because had they said something I would have resigned.

Shame on LAU and its president for having fired a professor for his opinion.In the US that is cause for a legal lawsuit in the millions of dollars.

The least we can do considering that this brother of mine as every professor whether he agrees with me or not becomes a brother in the profession is to stand up with him.

I hope that teachers / professors will not teach as well. I know I would have stopped my class and let them fire me.

This professor should be interviewed on OTV. Moreover , how ironic would it be if he becomes the Minister of Culture I think GMA should bestow on him that Ministry if we get it.

[Ataraxia]

I think every word he said is just great. Firing him just proved what kind of disgusting country we have, the same country he described in the article especially in the beginning of it. Also, a secterian system like this as a whole needs to be obliterated and the Patriarch should have his mouth shut right now. Moreover, is it me or was Dr.Pierre Sarkis just very wary of the words he used ? He clearly avoided any word or phrasing that might be misconstrued as an insult. He should have flat-out attacked this whole bunch of mafia.

[sanfour]

"The apostles of Christ were stoned to death in order to revive in you the Holy Spirit, but the monks and the priests are killing that spirit in you so they may live on your pitiful bounty. What persuades you to live such a life in this universe, full of misery and oppression? What prompts you to kneel before that horrible idol which has been erected upon the bones of your fathers? What treasure are you reserving for your posterity ?

Your souls are in the grip of the priests, and your bodies are in the closing jaws of the rulers. What thing in life can you point at and say 'this is mine!' My fellowmen, do you know the priest you fear? He is a traitor who uses the Gospel as a threat to ransom your money . . . a hypocrite wearing a cross and using it as a sword to cut your veins . . .

a wolf disguised in lamb-skin . . . a glutton who respects the tables more than the altars . . . a gold-hungry creature who follows the Dinar to the farthest land . . . a cheat pilfering from widows and orphans. He is a queer being, with an eagle's beak, a tiger's clutches, a hyena's teeth and a viper's clothes."

*Gibran Khalil Gibran-Spirits Rebellious

[Libnene Qu7]

Originally Posted by Aoune

Having been a professor in my lifetime under the Syrian occupation I think students should boycott classes until this estemeed instructor returns and teaches rightfully so.

Even under the Syrian occupation and believe me I criticized the Syrians in my classes I was not punished by the administration. I cannot say which adminsiatration out of courtesy. I have to say they respected us.

I remember writing an article in the university journal attacking the Syrian occupation and I called it occupation and was not told by the administration one thing. For that I'm thankful. Because had they said something I would have resigned.

Shame on LAU and its president for having fired a professor for his opinion.In the US that is cause for a legal lawsuit in the millions of dollars.

The least we can do considering that this brother of mine as every professor whether he agrees with me or not becomes a brother in the profession is to stand up with him.

I hope that teachers / professors will not teach as well. I know I would have stopped my class and let them fire me.

This professor should be interviewed on OTV. Moreover , how ironic would it be if he becomes the Minister of Culture I think GMA should bestow on him that Ministry if we get it.

I agree with everything you said.

Wouldn't it be ironic if he was given the Ministry of Education? He can then fire those who fired him.

This man is a brave patriot and deserves to be supported by our media.

[Saladin]

Originally Posted by Youchka

Although I condemn prosecuting anyone for his opinion, and although firing Dr Sarkis is totally unacceptable, I also must say that I think at times like this, in a country like ours, with students like we have, we should not mix politics with teaching. I mean everyday we have a fight a universities, students are fired up khelka, instructors need to actually maintain an environment where they take students out of this mess we have, which is politics (as much as possible I must say) and not actually put oil on fire.

I respect Dr. Sarkis opinion but I do not agree that he should have expressed it this way in a university publication.

Maybe that's the reason they fired him.

[roch10452]

I agree with Pierre Sarkis only on one matter:
If opposition wins the election, its a decision of the lebanese people

as for the rest, i completly disagree

one particular note to the people here who are defending his freedom of speech:
1- where is Sfeir's freedom of speech?
2- as a teacher, your freedom of speech stops the moment your class starts
you teach objectively without influence directly your students

If they are influenced by you indirectly, its your obligation to offer them the opposite version of who you are. I didnt see Pierre Sarkis discussing the loyalist point of view during his class!

[Orangeblood]

Originally Posted by roch10452

I agree with Pierre Sarkis only on one matter:
If opposition wins the election, its a decision of the lebanese people

as for the rest, i completly disagree

one particular note to the people here who are defending his freedom of speech:
1- where is Sfeir's freedom of speech?
2- as a teacher, your freedom of speech stops the moment your class starts
you teach objectively without influence directly your students

If they are influenced by you indirectly, its your obligation to offer them the opposite version of who you are. I didnt see Pierre Sarkis discussing the loyalist point of view during his class!

Sfeir has the right to say whatever he wants but at the same time he HAS to accept criticism. if he can't bear someone talking against him then he has 2 choices:
1) shut up
2) go to his native house.

If Pierre is not discussing loyalist's point of view, it is coz he does not see anything fruitfull to Lebanon with the loyalist, and then it is his right to discuss his own beleives.

[Quasimodooo]

Originally Posted by roch10452

1- where is Sfeir's freedom of speech?

it is there, it goes up and down with the stock market.
so he keeps his divine silence when the market is down, and start making blessed one sided political speech when Harriri makes a "loaded" visit.

[Libnene Qu7]

Originally Posted by roch10452

I agree with Pierre Sarkis only on one matter:
If opposition wins the election, its a decision of the lebanese people

as for the rest, i completly disagree

one particular note to the people here who are defending his freedom of speech:
1- where is Sfeir's freedom of speech?
2- as a teacher, your freedom of speech stops the moment your class starts
you teach objectively without influence directly your students

If they are influenced by you indirectly, its your obligation to offer them the opposite version of who you are. I didnt see Pierre Sarkis discussing the loyalist point of view during his class!

Sfeir wants to have his freedom of speech without criticism. That is unacceptable.

Pierre Sarkis is a professor, not a judge, and if I'm not mistaken he was open for class debates. Maybe OP can confirm as he was one of his many students.

Your understanding of freedom of speech is the same as Ghazi Kanaan's. Hopefully on June 8th, this philosophy will follow Ghazi to the grave.