Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Workers and Teachers on 'Workers' Day' and 'Teachers' Week'

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

I extend a warm welcome to all dear brothers and sisters, especially those who have made the effort to come from distant places. This opportunity that arises each year to honor two esteemed and valuable segments of society and to speak a few words with them is a precious opportunity for me. These two segments, one being the teachers and the other the workers of the country, are truly among the distinguished segments of our nation from various perspectives. The coincidences of time have brought about that a prominent figure like Martyr Motahhari, who was in one sense a great teacher and in another sense an exemplary worker, was martyred almost simultaneously with Workers' Day. His teaching was his subject of instruction, and his labor was his writing, traveling here and there, moving, and engaging with educated and intellectual segments and the like. This is, in a sense, another aspect of Martyr Motahhari's personality.

That noble figure, whose martyrdom anniversary coincides with these days, is an example of what I want to emphasize today. As you know, the two segments of teachers and workers are inherently among the prominent segments of society. The teaching segment in our country deals with a population of several million—perhaps one-fifth or one-sixth of the country's population. In reality, the education and upbringing of millions of our youth, adolescents, and children, to whom the future of the country belongs, is entrusted to the teachers. The other segment is the workers, who hold the material life of the country, its production, and the livelihood of the nation in their hands. Therefore, you see that the importance of these two segments is self-evident, and there is no need for us to sit and elaborate on why teachers are important and why workers are significant.

Their importance is clear. Of course, in the circumstances after the revolution and also in the current situation of our country, these two segments have gained even more importance. Because in the events that have occurred in our country over the past fifteen years, where the presence of the people was necessary—such as the imposed war—these two segments were among the active members of society. You see how many workers and teachers participated in the war and how many students and university students, encouraged and guided by their teachers, went to the fronts! This is one indication of the status of the worker and teacher segments in our country.

There are times when a teacher teaches and then engages in personal life, or a worker does his job and dedicates the rest of his time to his family. But there are times when, in addition to teaching and working, when a great event occurs in the country that requires the presence of the people, they gird themselves with determination and enter the field. Our workers and teachers have shown such a role, and their importance has doubled. Of course, there may be similar cases in some other countries of the world, which we do not have accurate information about. But the situation of these two segments in our country is as I have described. Therefore, they are important.

It should not be overlooked that the benefits of these two segments are also limited, which is another point of distinction for them. Thus, the teacher and worker are two dear, respected, and highly needed segments of society, respected based on true values, and this is an undeniable fact. Designers, planners, and others involved in the future processes of the country must consider that these two segments of our society are so genuine, sincere, and committed to the fate of the country. In fact, they must incorporate this important matter into their calculations.

And the point I want to make today, taking advantage of this opportunity, is that in our country and also in many so-called third-world countries, there are two views on managing national affairs: One view is that the people of a country, its intellectuals, and decision-makers express that to build their country and secure the future, they must rely on the global ruling power. This global ruling power, whoever it is at any time—whether it is the superior scientific power or the superior political and cultural power of the world—makes no difference to them. They say, 'We must follow the powers that today occupy the top platforms in scientific, political, and military competitions.' Their argument is that since they are strong, we must go under their wings!

This viewpoint and way of thinking prevail in the backward countries of the world. Those who have studied political and geographical issues know that such a way of thinking has existed in Latin American countries, African countries, and some Asian countries, and some intellectuals and politicians have followed it. The leaders of the previous regime in Iran also held such a belief and way of thinking. They said, 'America, or some European countries, are wealthy, powerful, knowledgeable, and armed. Why should we separate ourselves from them?! Why should we not follow these powers?! After all, whatever it is, they are the masters and lords!'

In past Iran, such a way of thinking prevailed. If any of you lived in the feudal villages of the tyrannical era, you would have observed this way of thinking among the lowly, humiliated, and weak segments who subsisted on the leftovers of the feudal lord's table. The result of such thinking was that the heads of the tyrannical Pahlavi regime spent the wealth of this intelligent, zealous, brave, and historically civilized and scientifically advanced nation on buying fighter jets from America. Even when a part of an aircraft had a defect, the Iranian engineer or mechanic was not allowed to open that part and try to fix it. Because the parts were composite; that is, sometimes a part of an aircraft was composed of ten interconnected parts. They had to open the defective part, send it by plane to the manufacturing and selling country—mainly America—and then, while delivering the defective part, buy a new part and return! Why were Iranian engineers not allowed to touch the defective part of the aircraft? Because they were told, 'What business do you have with these matters?! These issues are related to foreign specialists. Do not interfere at all and do not even approach such matters!' This is the humiliation of a nation! I am very sorry to say that even today, in some corners of the country, there are people who have such a way of thinking. That is, even today, some are influenced by the remnants of the thoughts and tastes of the past, dependent on the West and America.

This is one view and way of thinking. There is another view and way of thinking that says, 'We are a nation with capabilities, and we must base our principle on utilizing these capabilities. Of course, wherever we get stuck and see that someone else has better tools, we go and borrow their tools; then we come and get our work done. After that, we try to make that tool ourselves.' This is a wise approach. You cannot go to your neighbor every time your car, gas stove, or refrigerator breaks down and say, 'Please come and repair this device for us.' This is sheer dependency. Of course, sometimes it is necessary; that is, the other party has expertise, and you must learn from them. This is not a problem. The neighbor has a tool that they can work with. You borrow it from them and then strive to make yourself independent of them. On the scale of a nation, this independence means scientific, practical, technical, cultural independence, and in one word, comprehensive independence. The Islamic Revolution has been pursuing such independence from the beginning.

Today, when we look at the world, we see that some countries have taken this path and have also achieved results. Countries that, after World War II—with the exaggerated expression that is usually said—were almost leveled to the ground, straightened their backs and focused on themselves. In fact, they utilized their internal forces, and today, in managing their worldly affairs, they have surpassed those who had brought them to ruin in the war. So, we conclude that it is possible to achieve scientific and technical independence with such a way of thinking. Our Imam (may his soul be sanctified) was determined to tell the nation, 'O Iranian nation! O Iranian youth! O Iranian worker! O Iranian engineer and manager! You can do it yourself without relying on foreigners.' The Imam wanted to revive the spirit of 'can do' in us. Those who have the first way of thinking—which leads to dependency—have constantly mocked Iranians over the past decades and made jokes, saying, 'Can domestic products even be considered products?!' There is no greater injustice to a nation than this.

Today, when you look, you see that our domestic products, in many cases, are better than foreign products. Of course, profit-driven individuals, those who only think about their pockets and profits and pay no attention to the national and religious pride and social value of the Iranian nation in the world, put the labels of famous factories or stores in the world on some of our domestic products and offer them for sale in European markets. They only think about the money they can make from this business. While these goods have been created in our country with the delicate fingers of the Iranian artist, the sharp eyes of the Iranian, the sharp mind of the Iranian, and the high talent of the Iranian.

I once said, 'The intelligence that the Iranian nation possesses is above the average intelligence of the world's people.' So, this nation, relying on this high intelligence and talent, can stand on its own feet. Our great Islamic Revolution, thanks be to God, placed internal forces in a free environment. So much so that today, the same defective part of a fighter jet that was previously sent abroad with costs for one or two companions of the part and other formalities, our aircraft technician and military personnel can repair and restore better than before with little time and cost. Why should a nation be humiliated and told, 'You cannot do it?!' If we want to demonstrate and embody the spirit of self-reliance and standing on our own feet, you two segments of teachers and workers can be among the factors. You are the ones who must show, prove, and also teach others that 'the Iranian nation can stand on its own feet.' Thanks be to God, we have many resources.

My real wish—which may not be achievable soon—is that we close the oil wells and base our economy on non-oil goods and products. That is, let us assume that this country does not have a commodity called oil. Of course, this may not be feasible in these years and soon. Because the enemies of Iran, during the dependent and corrupt Pahlavi regime, have caused more damage than imaginable and have made our nation and country so dependent on oil that it cannot be done easily. But one day, this must be done, and that day is when the Iranian nation, without giving away its resources for free to those who use the national wealth of countries with utmost malice, stands on its own feet relying on its inherent capabilities.

Unfortunately, today this is not possible. Today, due to the betrayal of some oil-producing countries and their collusion with international plundering thieves, instead of oil being a tool in the hands of producing countries for profit or political and economic use, it is, on the contrary, a tool in the hands of consumers who are in dire need of it! Just like a commodity that has been devalued! While oil is a commodity that, if not given to the world today, everywhere will lack light, heat, movement, and industry. Today's industrial civilization is based on machinery. If there is no oil, this machinery will come to a halt. The importance of our oil is to this extent.

Of course, when I say our oil, I mean the oil of this entire region and other oil-rich areas of the world. This region holds a significant portion of the world's oil. That is, the same governments whose hands are united with international plundering thieves, unfortunately, own a significant portion of the oil. Today, a commodity of such value is a tool in the hands of consumers who are in dire need of it. They have designed and implemented such a policy for decades up to today, and unfortunately, some treacherous politicians of dependent countries have always cooperated with them. In such a situation, if the Iranian nation—including the Iranian worker, the Iranian youth, the Iranian producer, and the Iranian teacher—enters the field with all their effort and zeal and builds this country in such a way that it is not dependent on selling its oil, especially at this low price, due to exports, imports, and consumption needs, see what a great service it will be to the present and future of this country!

How will this be possible? By the Iranian worker considering work as a true act of worship, not just a formal one. Truly intending to draw near to God in performing their work. Likewise, the Muslim Iranian teacher should teach this Islamic thought to the young and adolescent students so that in ten years, in our workshops, centers of education and learning, and research, such work is done that all the talents of this nation are embodied and manifested. Then, comfortable living, welfare for everyone everywhere, zero economic dominance of the enemy, the country's resources preserved, and the dignity and greatness of this country will be ensured. This is how the value and importance of the work of the two segments of workers and teachers become evident. If I said 'Martyr Motahhari was like this,' he truly was like this.

Martyr Motahhari was one of those whose work and teaching were solely for a sacred duty. That too without anyone forcing or asking him. Of course, most researchers in the world are like this. All the scientific advancements in the world have also come about in this way, where people have worked out of love or faith or both. Either there must be a love for work or faith in divine reward, or both together. And you can have both together. This is how the Iranian nation can achieve that true and real independence, of which political independence is a prelude, and that is also, in a sense, the support and protector of political independence.

This is the point we can present to you on 'Workers' Day' and 'Teachers' Day.' The enemy acts with enmity, and nothing but enmity is expected from them. The propaganda that the enemy's radios make and the things that the global Zionist press writes, we expect no less from them. They are the enemy, after all! The enemy acts with malice, wickedness, slander, and lies. They claim to be supporters of humanity, but falsely. We do not expect more than this from them.

What is necessary for us is that we ourselves be at the point of realizing Islamic ideals. That work and that teaching, with that intention, with that feeling and zeal, should be carried out so that in the near future, God willing, the country will be in a position that 'to make it prevail over all religion, even though the polytheists dislike it.' It will become what God has willed for you, the great nation, and God willing, has decreed. We hope God blesses this day and these days for you and grants us all the success to understand these duties correctly and, God willing, act upon them.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.