Iranians were not poor from the beginning.
We were a wealthy people, both financially well-off and culturally rich. Our history attests to this.
However, certain events unfolded, leading us to the current state where we intend to analyze them and discuss what needs to be done to overcome this poverty.
The Silk Road: Iran's Solid Wealth Document
You've likely heard the name Silk Road, connecting the East and West.
The central and most critical part of the Silk Road passed through Iran.
Any goods transported between East and West had to go through Iran, making it the world's largest commercial center in the past.
Deir-e Gachin, located on the historical Qom-Ray Road within the triangle of Qom, Garmsar, and Varamin, was one of the largest caravanserais on the Silk Road and earned the title of the mother of Iranian caravanserais.
If you look at the attire of our people in movies, read descriptions in historical books, or hear the accounts of famous travelers like Marco Polo regarding Iran and Iranians, you'll find that we were wealthy, genuine, and although circumstances threw us off our horse, we never lost our essence.
Despite the reasons we'll discuss later that led to our encounter with poverty, Iranian culture, literature, and knowledge remain exemplary and dignified.
The Revolutions in China and the Soviet Union
Over the past two hundred years, and perhaps less, we witnessed a transformation in global ideological systems.
Especially with the revolution in the Soviet Union and the rise of Bolsheviks, Lenin and Stalin's ideologies dominated Northern Asia.
The power consolidation in China, embracing a similar ideology, inadvertently influenced our people as well.
Bolshevik Thinking
In Bolshevik and communist thinking, authorities strive to create a working-class population as they find cheap labor essential for achieving their goals.
They deceive the people by portraying the dignity of workers and employees, creating conditions that seemingly make work and labor easy.
By offering inexpensive services such as insurance and healthcare, they divert individuals from trades, production, industries, market jobs, agriculture, and animal husbandry.
This leads people to choose desk jobs with monthly salaries, benefits, and pensions.
This situation allows the government to acquire numerous subjects.
People, in turn, focus on maintaining the government's rule rather than challenging it, as their livelihood depends on the ruling authorities.
Debt or Trap
Governments, by providing loans and collecting monthly payments, prevent people from taking any risks.
Individuals prefer not to engage in businesses that require at least a year to become profitable due to the monthly loan installments.
Hence, they opt for salaried jobs, allowing them to repay their loans with their monthly incomes.
Here, a wise person understands that it wasn't a loan but a trap – a means to tie people to the ground and hinder their ability to soar.
The Role of the United States and the West in Iranian Poverty
The mindset of our people, combined with unjust sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the West, has made trade challenging for Iranians.
As trade becomes difficult, so does production.
Consequently, many choose a path of employment, avoiding the risks associated with trade, industry, agriculture, and animal husbandry.
Sufi Thoughts on Poverty
Sufi thoughts further contributed to the glorification of poverty, viewing it as sacred and praising contentment. English Shia played a significant role in supporting this mindset.
They are responsible for the emergence of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia, ISIS in Iraq, and the Taliban in Afghanistan, all sharing the same poverty-centric ideology rooted in American influence.
The Supreme Leader's Economic Jihad
Despite numerous calls from Iran's Supreme Leader over the past twelve years for people to engage in economic jihad, the cultural roots of this concept, coupled with the negligence of certain officials and the negative effects of false ideologies, particularly during the corrupt Pahlavi regime, have hindered a shift in perspectives.
Referring to Two Narrations from the Prophet of Islam
It is narrated from the Prophet of Islam that one-tenth of the oath for a believer involves engaging in trade.
He also mentioned that whoever makes themselves dependent on others, loses hope in God's sustenance, and entrusts their sustenance to people will eventually fall into poverty.
A Message to the People
People should understand that Iranians were not initially poor but chose to become dependents and abandoned ancestral occupations that had once brought prosperity and honor.
In the current era, only a few are interested in these occupations, while many stand in long lines for jobs that pay monthly wages, willingly sacrificing their self-esteem and dignity.
Arad Branding strives to make people understand that earning through trade is much easier.
Rather than spending energy elsewhere for eight hours and becoming tired, why not invest that energy in trade?
It offers not only a much higher income but also enhances one's dignity, pride, intelligence, and personality.
Our loud cry will reach the ears of the world.
We know that initially, wise individuals will support us, and when God sees our patience, He will grant us victory.
After a while, other people will join us, and this is God's promise that those who persevere in the path of truth will undoubtedly receive support.
We take joy in this promise.
0
0