Speech [The role and Impact of Radio and Television in the country]

I thank and pray for you, sisters and brothers who are working in the broadcasting system.

You know that from the beginning of their establishment radio and television caused more damage to the prestige of the country and contributed to its dependence on foreign powers more than any other organization. This machinery during the reign of this son (the Shah), who was more evil than his father, committed treason against Iran by spreading corruption. You know that when a program is broadcast on the radio and television it may affect the whole country and even beyond it as far as the wave get. In the pre-revolution period, all the mass media and broadcasters excluding a few of them were at the service of foreign powers. Whatever activities they carried out were what these powers wished and whatever corruption these powers wished to spread in Iran was carried out by one of their propaganda agents through the broadcasting organization. Spread of corruption was carried out by the printed media and the radio and television, which screened infamous films to pervert the youths, and encouraged people to subscribe to consumerism in their commercials of foreign consumer goods. All these and many other means (of communication ) were at the service of the West or East and were carried out by the radio and television. This apparatus was one of the major means of promoting such things. If, God forbid, this state of affairs would continue a few more years, it would have tolled the knell for Iran. Now, you should note that the machinery that was at the service of the West and East for long years aired their policies and served as agents to corrupt our younger generation has been entrust to you to be transformed which is a daunting and valuable task.

Now you know that this apparatus is being used by young and old in all parts of the country, in villages, in cities, everywhere. This differs for the print media. Everyone may understand the pictures covered by the print media, but not all can read the content because they are illiterate. However, the film you screen plays a role across the country. If the movie is constructive, it will be constructive across the country. If one film is, God forbid, deviating, it will affect the entire country. You should not consider this like other forms of mass media. It has a special situation because children aged 2,3 or 4 years watch it as well as the elder people and both groups are affected by its programs. This is an apparatus that can be the best of all in rendering services; it can also commit the greatest treasons. Today, the role of the radio and television is greater than that of all propaganda apparatus. If this apparatus is improved, the entire country can be reformed. If, God forbid, deviation creeps into this apparatus, a whole country can be led astray. Those who cannot read and write can watch films and hear the words; the educated people are also exposed to this programs. It is not such that this is exclusive to a group. Small children sit and watch these toys that are played and watch films, if these films are devious, these will deviate them from their childhood. This is above schools; this is a nationwide public school. The voice arising from these apparatus plays a role in the whole country and as far as the waves can reach. The voice heard from the radio and the images shown by television reach the entire country and beyond. Therefore, its responsibility is great and service rendered by this apparatus is a very great and valuable service. You shoulder both the burden of responsibility and value of service. It is a value if you are at the service of this nation and Islam. You can play a (significant) role. If you can transform these two media, which intended to deviate the minds of people from their inception, you can play a major role. Of course, this is a big challenge and needs great efforts.

Sometimes you see that when a word is said and aired by this apparatus or a sentence is said the bazaar is disturbed. There have been complaints that that an irresponsible person makes a statement which is shocking for merchants and other people, so this apparatus should not be directed chaotically. This apparatus is under the supervision of all the three branches of power because it is important. An apparatus in which all powers of the country have a say and have a representative, should not be managed in a way that everyone can say whatever he wishes. Irresponsible individuals may happen to infiltrate and give interviews in which distorted issue might creep. A sentence may embroil you in a situation for which you cannot compensate for a year. This apparatus should be run in an orderly manner by individuals who are acquainted with political and social issues, and with the situation of the country. Its programs should be aired under their supervision. If everyone is supposed to say whatever one wishes on the radio or television and the words are broadcast everywhere, people may listen and misconstrue what the government wants to do while this may not be the case. The government that wants to serve the people, and wants to keep things in their rightful places should be wary. Sometimes, you may see that an individual emerges and drags Iran towards an undesirable situation. Now this man might be a corrupt individual or an interloper who has infiltrated the apparatus- this is most likely- or is an uninformed individual and does not know what is going on, is not aware of politics, and has no information about the society and the situation of Iran and its developments. He might utter a word or make a sentence in an interview, which might cause sedition and push Iran toward an undesirable situation. Therefore, as might be the case all over the world, this apparatus should be under the control of informed individuals who possess profound insight into problems and should supervise the programs to scrutinize and recognize whether the words uttered or statements made (during any broadcast) are correct or not,. You see that now when high-ranking officials want to speak, they do not come to stand and speak out right away. First they write down whatever they want to say. This is because a speech that he delivers will be aired across the world. If a word is wrong, or a sentence is against their interests, it will create suspicion. Even in the developed countries they do not allow every one to say whatever he wishes. It will be controlled by different persons who are expert in this field, who study check and weigh every word or sentence. You must endeavor to meticulously review these films shown on TV if you really have come to serve your country day and night; now, you have been given the opportunity to serve, you should be vigilant because, for all you know, a person might have infiltrated the organization and do something wrong in a sensitive part of the organization or air a (bad) film they know of deliberately. Such film must be previewed by experts. These films might bring about results that common people might not understand. Experts should reflect on them, deliberate on them to make sure they are proper films befitting the Islamic Republic and the interests of Islam and the country.

Know that all the powers of the world now regard this aspect and have fixed their eyes to bring back this machinery that they have lost. It has not been a small thing. They wanted to make Iran dependent on themselves in different aspects, as it was the case before. Now, they are not going to give up this soon, so that we can assume we have taken over from them. Now that we have taken control of this organization they have come to realize the grave mistake of they had made. They will not sit idle to be content to what may happen. Now they are watching closely from everywhere and whatever development happens in Iran. One of the things they pay great attention to is the radio and television, because it is clear that this is more sensitive than other organizations. In the world we do not have anything as sensitive as this organization. Hence, it is a force to be reckoned with to a great extent. The devils count on it greatly. Different persons with different ideas might come and infiltrate your ranks and deceive you.

Man does not know the unseen. Well, they (foreign enemies) come and embellish their outward appearance. They have agents of different sorts. Bakhtiyar presented himself as a patriotic person for over 20 years. Later, it was made clear that he had been one of their agents. Now, he is still working for them. They have all sorts of people. In other words, we have genuine and faked forms of things in Iran. We should be heedful, particularly heeding an organization such as the radio and television, which can be very effective and useful at one time and harmful at other time. Everybody cares for this organization and you should also pay great attention to it lest an individual may infiltrate your ranks. You should be careful lest a film be screened for its very good quality but which will agitate the situation. A film can cause a retrogressive change in a situation. A statement can create a calamity. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to identify those elements, clarify their identity and their past records. From the very outset of the victory of the revolution, I had reminded the gentlemen who came here to discuss these issues and told them that things must be carried out this way.

We are now beset by groups that were engaged in such tasks prior to us. Before we got involved in these affairs, they were already engaged. They had schemes which we were subjected to. Now, some of the parties existing in Iran, had plans and things to do prior to us. We now understand what previous records this party and this munafiqin group had and what they wanted to do, what they wanted to do in prison, what they wanted to do before and after. They will not quit their plan either although they cannot do anything. Nevertheless, it is sufficient that one or two of them infiltrate your ranks and you will see what deviation would creep. Therefore, individuals who are appointed to sensitive positions should be those with clear records. You should know what these people did before the revolution and what activities they were engaged in. The same method has to be applied to their families. We should know what kind of families they hailed from, what sort of people they were and in which fields they were active. If you really want this organization to serve your country and aim to save this country from those difficulties we suffered in the course of history, particularly in the past 50 years, you should carefully study the individuals who will occupy sensitive posts. The same rule applies in other places. Anyhow, a special attention is necessary here and should be given to this matter. You need experts to study everything and the nuts and bolts of all affairs. You need a group of experts who can correctly evaluate and fully understand the films, dialogues and interviews. All these guidelines should be adhered to so that, God willing, you will be successful. Rest assured that you are successful.

What is important is that you have taken a country out of the mouth of several dragons. They are all dragons, each one worse than the other. All are like the other in viciousness. You have now rescued your country, this nation. Every corner of the country is now in the hands of a group who should work on it. Rest assured that you and we who want divine issues and divine aims and our goal is for truth to replace falsehood, will be assisted by God. When we have such a supporter, we will be victorious. You see our nation today. You think it is a normal issue that an entire nation speaks with one voice. This is not a normal issue; it originates from the Unseen. It is not an ordinary issue to see that people all over the country, from Bandar `Abbas to Azarbaijan speak with one voice when something befalls the country. Who can bring about such a thing? Which organization can accomplish such a thing? When the enormous foreign machinery wants to set something in motion, arrange a meeting, they have to use a thousand types of tactics and yet they cannot accomplish their task the way they have planned. However, you say a word, you have the entire country crying out in one voice unanimously. This is the Unseen hand with us and you should preserve it. Preserving this state implies purifying your service for God Almighty. Wisdom requires that when a human being endeavors, he does it for people and he should make the very same efforts for his Creator. The result is the same in this world. You work here and take pains for whatever purpose and will obtain the rewards that you deserve. Now wisdom requires that on such a case, one should do things for God. If things are done for God, we will be able to achieve the ends easily. If we work for other than God, we will get it, but we may also suffer spiritual losses. Why not go after spirituality in all affairs so that material things would come to us, too? Material things are there. However when you follow spirituality, material gains will follow suit. It will not be necessary to take pains for material things. You had better work for spirituality, for your country, for the liberation of your country from the oppression and tyranny it has suffered. The nation has suffered at the hands of these persons who ruled here and committed oppression against them or the powers whose agents were here and did many wrongs. You had better work for this nation. God will give you everything both in this world and the other world, God willing. I hope God will make you successful. Make this organization Islamic in the true sense of word, to the extent that whenever you tune into a program you see it is different from those of other countries and experience a different thing. May God protect you! God willing, you are successful.