All the problems that occur for individuals or communities are due to either lack of acumen or lack of patience. They are either afflicted with ignorance, failing to recognize the facts and understand the truth; or, despite understanding the truth, they grow exhausted of resistance. So, for one of these two, or both factors, human history is full of calamities that have afflicted nations. It is full of cases wherein the domineering powers of the world take over the weak-minded and ignorant nations. For decades, sometimes hundreds of years, a nation has undergone oppressive policies of a domineering power. Why? Were these people not humans? Yes, they were humans, but they either lacked the acumen or if they had the acumen, they lacked the necessary patience in their path of consciousness: that is, they either lacked awareness or perseverance.
November 3, 1998
The factor that weakens nations in face of domineering powers is the lack of willpower among them. If a nation moves with willpower, relies on God and obeys God's commands, no power can do the slightest damage to them. "Shame on you and on that you worship other than God! [Qur’an: 21:67]” Abraham (a.s.) stated: "Woe to you and to what you ignorantly worship and bow to." In the course of his movement, Abraham (a.s.) made a first stern move to awaken the consciences and minds. Then, when the hearts were awakened, he inspired the word of truth in one sentence to their hearts and minds. After awakening happened among the people, the enemy started to react. Who is the enemy? The one that the Qur'an describes as: "but those who pursue their yearnings desire that you fall into a great deviation [4:27]." [Your enemies are] those who are unconscious because of excessive lust, power, and money. They are the ones who want all the people to be ignorant; everyone to be intoxicated because they are intoxicated! This is the issue.
March 21, 1994
You can see how much suffering is being inflicted on nations by the bloody claws of the global arrogant powers. The world is still suffering from colonialism, which is now applying modern methods. In the past, colonial powers used to directly dominate other nations. However, with the awareness and awakening of nations, the era of old colonialism came to an end. But it was replaced by neocolonialism.
In the neocolonial era, world powers did not try to directly rule other countries; for instance, unlike the old colonial era, Britain did not install a British ruler in India in the neo-colonial era. Instead, the colonial states brought their agents to power in the countries under their influence. This is what they did with regard to the former regime in Iran when they brought Reza Khan and his son to power, and in many other countries in the Third World, including Islamic countries.
For many years, the colonial countries oppressed other nations, brought dictators and military regimes to power and prevented national participation through whatever means possible. Today, they see that this method is no longer effective. Thus, they have found a new way of dominating other countries, i.e. dominating them by influencing their nations. This new method is what I recently referred to as postmodern colonialism.
In the present postmodern colonial era, the arrogant powers are trying to influence other nations with the help of their agents, by spending money and through propaganda tactics and colorful enticements. They are also trying to whitewash the world's oppressors and their dark records.
These attempts will also prove futile since the face of the arrogant and oppressive powers is too ugly to be whitewashed. They will not be able to hide their oppressive and savage nature. What is happening in Iraq provides an example. You can see what these arrogant powers are doing in Iraq. Today, the flag of human rights in the hands of the United States, Britain and the like has turned into a ridiculous and funny plaything.
There is only one thing that can stand up against the aggressive nature of the arrogant powers. National awakening and determination are the only things that can counter this aggression. When a nation awakens, they recognize their rights, identify their enemy, realize what goal the enemy pursues and decide to stand up against him. This is when all the tools and military equipment of the arrogant powers including the United States become ineffective. This is when the arrogant powers fail. This is the essential point that the Islamic Revolution has been stressing from the beginning, and the Islamic Republic built its foundations on this firm pillar.
