Speech [The importance of publication in society; the necessity of preserving the popularity of the revolutionary guards]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Firstly, I should thank the revolutionary guards corps and you, gentlemen, who are predominantly committed and work for Islam and the Islamic Republic. May God, the Glorified and Exalted, strengthen them and unite their martyrs with the martyrs of the early days of Islam on the resurrection day. May God grant His sanction upon their surviving families so that they will take to fruition this Islamic Republic against which all powers have stood and hand it over to the future generation.

The significance of publication corresponds to that of blood shed in warfronts. The pen of the `ulama' is superior to the blood of martyrs. «1» Although the blood of martyrs is very valuable and constructive, pens can be more constructive. Pens produce martyrs and nurture martyrs. Therefore, you should heed the value of what you are doing and what responsibility you are shouldering. The greater the value of action, the greater the responsibility! Now that you are engaged with publication and work for the promotion of culture of this group, you should note that you should produce a useful publication. Today's publication should make up for that in the former regime.

In the past, publications pushed our youth towards corruption and degeneration, encouraging the girls and boys to commit cardinal sins. The greater part of the responsibility lay with publications of the time. Publications were a strong factor responsible for the corruptions. Active publications are, whether belonging to the revolutionary guards corps or elsewhere, should note that what past publications did to drag our youth towards corruption should be compensated for. Of course, the youth in the revolutionary guards corps are great in number and it is possible that occasionally, a young person might do something on account of immaturity and in good faith which can turn out to be in conflict with what is desirable.

The publications should devote a portion of their activities to giving advice to the revolutionary guards. Allocate some of your activities to building the youth now engaged with this corps. In later years, this activity of yours will, God willing, construct this group and also serve as a publicity tool for others in a bid to thwart the evil propaganda operations in progress against us from everywhere. Perhaps, most of the radios beyond our borders and most of foreign publications are unanimous in opposing us as some of the samples brought to us show. They attempt diligently to misrepresent whatever good things we have here. If a good thing has been done, they belittle it or refuse to project it. Part of our propaganda should be devoted to presenting this Islamic Republic to people outside our country. With the languages available, such as English, Arabic and those in other parts of the world, you should enlighten people of other countries on what is going on here. Foreign writers, foreign broadcasters or those who were disillusioned here and fled to foreign countries present the Islamic Republic and its administrators as an eccentric monster. This should be redressed by propaganda. Of course, performance should be correct and the propaganda machinery must present those performances. If, God forbid, you observe a deviation in some of your friends who have goodwill but may occasionally make mistakes, notify those who are engaged in doing the propaganda. In your magazines, open a column for advice inside the sepah. Guide them in general and not personally so that it would serve, God willing, as a backbone of the Islamic Republic, pushing forward this Islamic Republic. May God grant you all success, happiness and health!

Know that the service you are rendering today, I can say, is more valuable than any services rendered to Islam in the course of history. In the past, they did not have such enemies as we are now confronting. Basically, relations between countries were not so close and sophisticated. There was no America. There was Islam in that part of the world and it dealt with Rome and Iran. Today, however, we have to deal with all countries in the world. People come from across the oceans and interfere in here. Other countries want to interfere in the affairs of all countries. We should note that we who want to stand on our own feet should invite people to resist, invite them to be present in the arena. Invite the youth to what is good and expedient to goodness. The popularity you are now enjoying among people is extremely valuable. You should preserve it. As long as you enjoy this popularity among people and people support you, this guards corps can maintain its power and serve. If, God forbid, a slip creeps into the corps and is not prevented, it may become widespread. God forbid, certain individuals might have infiltrated your ranks and want to disturb the situation. This is an important issue, which I have repeatedly informed you about. You should pay due attention to this aspect. In what you are doing- the propaganda affair that is very important- you should note that people whom you well know should be engaged in this activity. As you experienced, your writings are meticulously scrutinized. Theological seminaries attentively study your writings. The seminaries should consider what you write lest, God forbid, a slip of the pen may occure. If, God forbid, there is one who wants to contrive a mistake, the seminaries should watch and prevent the mistake with the help of all.

My duty is to pray for you. I pray for you all. May God protect you all! I wish you success. May God grant success to the Islamic Republic which is working for God, to this nation that has now risen for God and is advancing so that this Islamic Republic will be linked to the universal revolution when the Imam of the Time (peace be upon him) will reappear!