The War Stories of Three Nations:
Israel Is Fighting For Its Survival, America Is Fighting Terrorism, And Iran Is Fighting Tyranny
"Some people say that America is going to go to war with Iran. But before they do, they better listen to a story. A story that begins in a desert. Long ago, Hussain, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, was cut to pieces by soldiers of the cruel tyrant Yazid. For Shia Muslims, Hussain became a martyr, the master of martyrs, sacrificing in the eternal struggle of free men against oppression. For centuries, the Shia people of Iran have been taught to see the world in terms of this battle, an ancient story that still shapes the way Iranians react to threats from outside. And if America does attack Iran, the story of Hussain might well shape the lives of all of us." - From the 2007 documentary by Britain's Channel 4 called, "Once Upon A Time In Iran."The stories we tell ourselves as a culture and as a civilization define our destiny. It does not matter if the stories are not true and factual. Their power comes from the telling and re-telling by the leaders of a society.
"The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Husain and his companions were the rigid believers of God. They illustrated that numerical superiority does not count when it comes to truth and falsehood. The victory of Husain despite his minority marvels me." - Thomas Carlyle.
"I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of the violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda. It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted as I speak. This is no idle danger; no hypothetical threat." - President Barack Obama, from his speech on Afghanistan in December 2009.
"Finally, we must draw on the strength of our values – for the challenges that we face may have changed, but the things that we believe in must not. That is why we must promote our values by living them at home – which is why I have prohibited torture and will close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. And we must make it clear to every man, woman and child around the world who lives under the dark cloud of tyranny that America will speak out on behalf of their human rights, and tend to the light of freedom, and justice, and opportunity, and respect for the dignity of all peoples. That is who we are. That is the moral source of America’s authority." - President Barack Obama, December 2009.
"This threat cannot be ignored or appeased. Civilization itself - the civilization we share - is threatened. History will record our response - and judge or justify every nation in this hall.
The civilized world is now responding. We act to defend ourselves and deliver our children from a future of fear. We choose the dignity of life over a culture of death. We choose lawful change and civil disagreement over coercion, subversion, and chaos. These commitments - hope and order, law and life - unite people across cultures and continents. Upon these commitments depend all peace and progress. For these commitments, we are determined to fight." - Former President George W. Bush, from his speech at the United Nations on November 10, 2001.
"We must speak the truth about terror. Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September 11th - malicious lies that attempt to shift blame away from the terrorists themselves, away from the guilty." - Former President George W. Bush, November 10, 2001.
"Who used the mysterious September 11 incident as a pretext to attack Afghanistan and Iraq, killing, injuring, and displacing millions in two countries with the ultimate goal of bringing into its domination the Middle East and its oil resources?
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They tolerate no question or criticism, and instead of presenting a reason for their violations, they always put themselves in the position of a claimant.By using their imperialistic media network which is under the influence of colonialism they threaten anyone who questions the Holocaust and the September 11 event with sanctions and military action.
Last year, when the need to form a fact-finding team to undertake a thorough investigation concerning the hidden elements involved in September 11 incident was brought up; an idea also endorsed by all independent governments and nations as well as by the majority in the United States, my country and myself came under pressure and threat by the government of the United States. Instead of assigning a fact-finding team, they killed the main perpetrator and threw his body into the sea." - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, from his speech at the United Nations on September 23, 2011.
"It defends the pride of the Muslims in the face of the enemies. But, on the other hand, monarchies are on the opposite of that, imposed regimes are the opposite of that. In many places in the world their names aren't Kings, but in reality they are. In name they are not monarchies, a false exterior of democracy is prevalent there, but in their essence they are dictatorships. Their forceful relationship with the people, their subservient behavior to any nation which may be above them. Even in large and powerful countries the leaders of these countries are under the control of companies. The secret organizations, the mafia, the Zionists: they are all enslaved by them. They speak just as they want them to speak, so as not to displease them. This is the regime of a monarchy. When those at the top of the government accept this humiliation and subservience, their people too will eventually be forced under this humiliation as well.
Imam Hussein rose against this. From the behavior of Imam Hussein, from the moment he set off from Medina, until the day he was martyred in Karbala, he showed the epitome of his faith, his high status in God's eyes, and his total obedience to God. That day they brought hundreds if not thousands of letters saying we are your Shia's, we are your followers, we are waiting for you in Kufa in Iraq. In his speech, his words were as follows: "The Death of the sons of Adam is like the necklace." He spoke of death, he didn't say we will do these things, or to threaten his enemies, or to praise his friends, to determine the future posts in Kufa (after a victory). No, his actions were Islamic with full knowledge, for God, with modesty. All at the time when all had stretched out their hands towards him and claimed allegiance to him.
And that day when he was surrounded in Karbala, with a band of followers of less than 100 men, 72, give or take a few, from amongst 30,000 people who had surrounded him and threatened his life, threatened his dearest ones, threatened their women and their camp: that day there was not even a sign of anxiety in this man of God, this dearest one of Islam, had been seen. On the day of Ashura, in those series of events that have been handed down, it is said, "By God I didn't see any maksoor." Maksoor means that person that has the worst calamities fall upon him, his children killed, friends destroyed, his wealth taken away, everything bad fall upon him, this person in Arabic is known as "maksoor." I haven't seen anyone like Hussain Ibn Ali. Attacked from all sides, as brave and as resilient as him.
In the fields of war, in the fields of society, in the fields of politics, one meets many different types of people, people who have many different problems. I have not seen anyone in such a situation like Hussain Ibn Ali. His face bright, definite on his path, obedient to God in the face of such calamities. This is that same victory from God. And Imam Hussain allowed these events to take place in history. Humanity understood that it must fight against such a regime. It must struggle for that sort of society which it desires, a society in which there does not exist infighting and spitefulness, ignorance, imprisonment of free people, and apartheid. Everyone must struggle for such a society to come into existence. And it will come, and it is possible for it to come.
There was a day when humanity was without hope. The Islamic Revolution has shown that it is possible. It can happen. The Islamic system has not reached that stage, but it has removed the greatest obstacles to achieving that end: the regimes of puppets, the regimes of dictators, the regimes of people who were lions over people, and who were weak in the face of the powers. With their people they were boastful and arrogant, but when it came to foreigners they were submissive. This is the greatest obstacle for a nation. And this was a regime which was supported by all the world powers. The Iranian nation showed that this is possible, it can be done. It removed this obstacle and moved in this direction. With the grace and help of God, we have made great strides in this direction. But we have not reached our destination dear brothers. We are only half way there.
If we keep the message of Imam Hussain alive, if we keep Imam Hussain's name big, if we know this event (Ashura) to be a great event in history, and we place value upon it, this is because the remembrance of this event helps us to progress, to move forward, to follow the pointed path of Imam Hussain, and with the grace of God to achieve those aims. And the Iranian nation will, God willing, achieve these aims. The name of Imam Hussain God has made great. God has kept the issue of Karbala alive in history. To say that we keep it alive is not to say that we are doing it. No, this event is much greater than for it to be lessened or overshadowed by other events.
Today is the day of Tasooa, and tomorrow is the day of Ashura. The day of Ashura is the pinnacle of this great event. Hussain ibn Ali did not go to Karbala with the intention of war. That person who goes to the battlefield requires soldiers, but Hussain ibn Ali had brought his family along too. This shows that here an incident must occur that will attract the emotions of people throughout history, so as to understand the greatness of Imam Hussain's actions." - Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, from his speech on Karbala and the sacrifice of Hussain. The English translation of his speech is provided in this video.
"Now this is real chutzpa: Iran accuses the American government of orchestrating 9/11, and that's as brazen as denying the Holocaust, and they do." - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from his speech at the 2012 AIPAC conference on March 5, 2012.
It is dangerous when the people of any nation are obedient towards their government, and blindly accept the stories their leaders tell as true and representative of their history as a people and as a nation.
It is the worst form of slavery to be manipulated with the use of emotional stories and fear-based propaganda by government leaders.
Only slaves accept the destiny laid out for them by their governments. Free beings make their own destiny. And that means rejecting the stories of the government as lies and myths.
As things stand, the majority of the people of America, Israel, and Iran all live in a state of mental slavery and spiritual slavery because of their blind allegiance to their governments. Those who believe the stories that are repeated by their government leaders - and sacrifice their lives because of their belief - are slaves.
The government leaders of Israel, America, and Iran all tell a different story. Israeli leaders say Israel is fighting for its survival against barbarians who seek Israel's destruction. American leaders say America is fighting against international terrorism and securing the world from rogue regimes like Iraq, North Korea, and Iran. Iranian leaders say Iran is fighting against Western oppression and Israeli terrorism and defending the integrity and honor of Iran.
In order to secure the loyalty and support of their populations, Israeli, American, and Iranian leaders all repeat a basic narrative that is based on a pivotal event in history, whether recent or distant.
The American imperialist regime remembers the September 11 story; the Israeli regime remembers the Holocaust story; and Iran's Islamic regime remembers the Karbala story. Similar themes run through all three stories: grief, pain, shock, trauma, injustice, sadness, and anger.
All three radical and revolutionary regimes deliberately repeat these stories in order keep their people in a hyper-sensitive state of national awareness and national purpose. The thoughts of Americans, Israelis, and Iranians are focused on grief, fear, trauma, anger, and pain, instead of being directed towards happiness, health, peace, kindness, and forgiveness.
It is clear that the leaders of Washington, London, Tel Aviv, and Tehran all want to promote a culture of death and destruction by repeating their stories. They are interested in fear, hate, destruction, war, and insecurity, not in joy, love, creation, peace, and security.
Real leaders let their policies and accomplishments do the talking: not emotional stories. In the case of America, the 9/11 story was invented out of thin air. And it's been used to brainwash the planet into feeling sorry for America and for Israel. But they do not deserve the world's sympathy. Jewish terrorism and American terrorism have been the source of the majority of violence and destruction in post-WWII history.
The people of Israel and America are innocent because their memories and emotions have been manipulated by the same secret terroristic rulers who wish to destroy both nations along with Iran and every other sovereign country.
