When faced with the choice of transcendence or decadence, which one did the IRGC choose?
After that, the growth, movement and maturity of the Guards Corps coincided with the great incidents of the Sacred Defense Era. During the eight-year Sacred Defense, the Guards Corps achieved growth, like a teenager who reaches youth and adulthood and who finds courage. During the post-war era which as an era during which there were deep and extensive movements in political and cultural areas between the Revolution and the enemies of the Revolution - the opposite front to the Revolution – and the subsequent tests that were ahead of us during these great movements, many individuals slipped and faced difficulties. It was during this era that the Guards Corps managed to reach maturity and a noteworthy perfection.
In the third era, the era after the Sacred Defense Era, there was a dangerous quandary in one’s individual, political and social life and in the life of organizations: the quandary of transcendence or decadence. This is usually the case. After one enters into youth and moves forward, one faces a quandary. This is the case with individuals, organizations, groups of people and even revolutions. One way leads to transcendence and another leads to decadence. Either the angel of wisdom, acumen, guidance and spirituality guides individuals towards the summit or the lure of materialism drags them into mean materialistic desires.
This predicament is also witnessed in the movement and progress of individuals. Individuals, organizations, and as I have said, revolutions have a good beginning in the midst of great political events in the world. They achieve good growth as well, but they face decadence at one point in time and they take a slippery road. This quandary naturally occurred for our society and our country after the end of the Sacred Defense Era. Of course, there are many things to be said about the essence of the Revolution, but I do not want to get into that discussion now.
What I want to say is that the Guards Corps emerged victorious and honorable out of that era. The Guards Corps was not afflicted with decay and decadence. It preserved the main elements of its identity and it walked towards transcendence.
Notice that the most exquisite arena that an organization like the Guards Corps can participate in, is the arena of jihad and martyrdom. Of course, there are other arenas as well, but the arena of martyrdom in the way of God is the peak and the most brilliant arena and it is the most beautiful point that one’s eyes can pursue.
In the arena of martyrdom, 30 years after the end of the Sacred Defense Era, we have an experienced man with a white beard named Shahid Hamedani. We have a fresh teenager named Shahid Hojjaji. All these phenomena are significant. All these are signs of the survival of that freshness and that main identity. The same is true of other arenas which I will discuss later on. I will speak about the arenas that the Guards Corps has participated in.
One criterion for evaluating the condition of every organization and every association is to compare its achievements with its failures with the purpose of seeing how successful it has been in facing the missions that it undertook. If we use this as a criterion, then, in my opinion, the Guards Corps is one of the most glorious organizations in this calculation and using this criterion, whether the achievements or the failures weigh heavier. With this criterion, the Guards Corps is very glorious.
Creativity and innovation are the secrets behind the success of the IRGC
I would like to refer to a number of important factors in this regard which should definitely be taken into account in this calculation. One is the issue of innovativeness and creativity in the Guards Corps. An example is innovation in military tools and weapons and war machinery. One day, the same Guards Corps used to sweat heavily in order to have access to 120 mortars and to be able to use them somewhere. In the present time, you can see what weapons the Guards Corps is using and what innovations it has had in the area of building weapons.
Its creativity and success have been the main factor in the emergence of these resources in the country for the Armed Forces. The Guards Corps is creative both in the area of military weapons and in the area of military methods: the methods of fighting and responding. The creations of the Guards Corps are very outstanding in this area. This is one element and one factor: the issue of innovativeness, creativity and success.
Powerful presence in various areas of social services
Another factor is a strong presence in different arenas of social services. Notice which organization and association and which armed force in the world can be compared with the Guards Corps in terms of the public services that the Guards Corps has rendered in the course of all these years and is continuing to do. And it is increasing these services on a daily basis.
An example of this is the Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters which has been a strong arm for various administrations throughout these years. Another example is fighting and eliminating poverty. The Guards Corps, the Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and other divisions of the Guards Corps, have made many efforts to eliminate poverty and I estimate that 90 percent of these endeavors are not reflected in publications. No promotion is done to reflect these endeavors and most people do not know about them, but we are aware of them because of the reports that we receive. The endeavors to eliminate poverty throughout the country and in underprivileged areas are very vast in scope.
Another example is offering extraordinary assistance during natural calamities. For example, following the earthquake in Kermanshah or following the floods that occurred in several provinces, the presence of the Guards Corps was a determining and outstanding one. And one can mention many other small and big tasks. This is another factor: the extensive public services which the masses of the people benefit from. This has nothing to do with military work, strategic issues and the like. These endeavors are purely for the sake of rendering services and helping the progress of the country. And in important areas, they help further the economy of resistance policy.
The IRGC does not separate itself from the areas of culture, thought and art
Another factor is the entrance into the arena of culture, thinking and art. In this area, the Guards Corps and Basij have carried out prominent tasks. Those who are knowledgeable in the area of culture, art, literature, poetry and other artistic fields feel that a new entity is being born in the world of art. This is a new event and an outstanding piece of work and it has nothing to do with strategic and military issues and the like. This is another arena.
The IRGC has a comprehensive outlook towards the geography of Resistance in the region
Another arena which is very important is looking strategically at the geography of resistance in the region. The Resistance Forces have shown their capability to confront arrogance, the US, the allied camp of kufr and oppression in the region. Notice what a significant role the Guards Corps plays in this great force: this ranges from the issue of Palestine to other issues in West Asia and in other regions. However, I do not want to discuss those issues and the circumstances of our meeting does not allow that.
The presence of the Guards Corps in this expanse and geography of resistance is so outstanding that it has provoked the enmity of others: the enmity of bad people and the camp of evil. This in itself is a great honor. If the worst people in the world are on bad terms with someone, this in itself is a great honor.
Working incessantly to preserve spirituality
Another factor which is the most important one, in my opinion, is the effort that exists in the Guards Corps to preserve spirituality. The issue of spirituality is very important – later on, I might raise certain points about it. It is like showering mercy on a diverse orchard: it both revives and freshens it. When it rains, it is not just the case that it gives life to the orchard. It also gives it beauty, delicacy and freshness and it endears it in the eyes of people. The rain of spirituality is the same.
It is these achievements, these feats and these outstanding points that have caused such enmities. This is a source of pride because it increases the dignity of the Guards Corps in the eyes of individuals and even enemies.
Such achievements make the Guards Corps go up in the estimation of the enemies – let alone for friends. And today, this is the case and this dignity has thankfully been achieved. Well, these are some of the outstanding characteristics of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps – this glorious organization.
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