Lebanese library burned, loses more than 50,000 books

[crich70]

Tens of thousands of books were lost to fire when a library in Lebanon was set ablaze.

Officials said unknown arsonists torched Tripoli's Saeh Library, or Traveler's Library, Friday after claims that its founder, Father Ibrahim Sarouja, a Greek Orthodox priest, had written an anti-Islamic online article and that anti-Islamic materials had been found in the library.

A source told Agence France-Presse that the reports were unfounded; a protest against the priest had been planned and called off -- and then the fire followed.

click

[Ravensknight]

I wonder how many of these were one of a kind books/scrolls/manuscripts?

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

I wonder how many of these were one of a kind books/scrolls/manuscripts?

A good question. And of course it's a crime against not only the library but against the patrons of the library who now won't have access to those materials any longer.

[Ravensknight]

Originally Posted by crich70

A good question. And of course it's a crime against not only the library but against the patrons of the library who now won't have access to those materials any longer.

If unique items were destroyed, then I consider it a crime against humanity. Because while we seem to be very slowly moving toward globilization, we certainly can't forget from what a divided past we came from.

And the more unique things that are destroyed, the less the future will have to remember the past. (of course, if Britney Spears' music and Stephanie Myer's books all are lost, you won't find me crying about THAT!)

[Ken Maltby]

It is perhaps ironic the way Hollywood likes to portray the Crusaders and the West as the barbarians and Islam as a refined culture. I would think that even the moderators might object to the burning of libraries for religious reasons.

Luck;
Ken

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It is perhaps ironic the way Hollywood likes to portray the Crusaders and the West as the barbarians and Islam as a refined culture. I would think that even the moderators might object to the burning of libraries for religious reasons.

Luck;
Ken

Yep. Especially since that is how we lost the library at Alexandria I understand. Someone (no one knows who) apparently decided it needed to be burned down. Who knows how much human knowledge went up when that happened. People don't seem to learn from history.

[xg4bx]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

If unique items were destroyed, then I consider it a crime against humanity. Because while we seem to be very slowly moving toward globilization, we certainly can't forget from what a divided past we came from.

And the more unique things that are destroyed, the less the future will have to remember the past. (of course, if Britney Spears' music and Stephanie Myer's books all are lost, you won't find me crying about THAT!)

I agree, I'd consider the burning of a library, historical monument or historical documents a crime against humanity as well.

[alanHd]

Its a sad day when intolerance of other peoples views leads to books being burnt. some people do write a load of crap but it should be challenged not burnt.

[Graham]

Here's an evocative insight into the library and its curator:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/cult...y-burned.html#

The Saeh library is the world of Father Sarrouj, or as some youth call him “al-Abouna Sarrouj.” Sarrouj says that he always carries the Bible in one pocket and the Quran in another. You cannot tell if this statement is serious or not. Sarrouj is close to everyone, with his genuine smile and lean body and face. He wears a hat and a gray or dark blue cloak in winter, often without any religious symbol.

Graham

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It is perhaps ironic the way Hollywood likes to portray the Crusaders and the West as the barbarians and Islam as a refined culture.

I haven't seen that movie.

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It is perhaps ironic the way Hollywood likes to portray the Crusaders and the West as the barbarians and Islam as a refined culture. I would think that even the moderators might object to the burning of libraries for religious reasons.

Luck;
Ken

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I haven't seen that movie.

(OtterBooks)Me neither .....

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by crich70

Yep. Especially since that is how we lost the library at Alexandria I understand. Someone (no one knows who) apparently decided it needed to be burned down. Who knows how much human knowledge went up when that happened. People don't seem to learn from history.

Yep, however the original libraries of Alexandria were destroyed, and by whomever's hands (and perhaps mother time also played a part) it is a relief to know that some of the contents had already been moved as this article from Wiki describes:

Although the various component parts of the physical library were destroyed, in fact the centres of academic excellence had already moved to various capital cities.

Furthermore, it is possible that most of the material from the Library of Alexandria actually survived, by way of the Imperial Library of Constantinople, the Academy of Gondishapur, and the House of Wisdom.

This material may then have been preserved by the Reconquista, which led to the formation of European Universities and the recompilation of ancient texts from formerly scattered fragments.

Let's hope that the Tripoli Library had digital copies of all it's content, and that there was an off site storage facility.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It is perhaps ironic the way Hollywood likes to portray the Crusaders and the West as the barbarians and Islam as a refined culture. I would think that even the moderators might object to the burning of libraries for religious reasons.

Luck;
Ken

Weird, weird comment. What does this event have to do with the Crusaders, who were invaders btw? This single event says very little about Islamic or Western culture.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It is perhaps ironic the way Hollywood likes to portray the Crusaders and the West as the barbarians and Islam as a refined culture. I would think that even the moderators might object to the burning of libraries for religious reasons.

Luck;
Ken

Haven't seen that movie either, but in any event, the world is a different place than it used to be. According to the history books I have read, the Crusaders WERE barbaric and uncultured, in comparison to what was then the center of of civilization -- the Islamic world.

And things have changed. Now it's the other way around.

Which somewhat parallels the Jewish condition. Back in the day, the Muslims were very tolerant of the Jews, while the Crusaders tried to kill as many Jews as possible.

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by Rizla

What does this event have to do with the Crusaders, who were invaders btw?

The Muslims were invaders in this area as well. They conquered this area from the Byzantines in the 600s.

This single event says very little about Islamic or Western culture.

I think it part of the pattern of intolerance of some Muslim individuals. Look at what happened a couple of years ago with the Danish cartoons of Muhammad.