Pathology of Propagation of Isar (Self Sacrifice) and Martyrdom Culture

In 1952 when Albert Scheitzer went to Solv to receive Noble Prize, he told people of the world: “We should have the courage to face with current situation. Human has become a superman; but this superman who has gained superman power, has not achieved super man wisdom. Human becomes weaker creature as his power increases. We become non-human in every step that we take towards being a superman. And this reality should shake our conscience.

News ID: ۵۹۴۳۳

چهارشنبه - ۲۱ آبان ۲۰۰۷ / 2007 21 August

Introductory:
In 1952 when Albert Scheitzer went to Solve to receive Noble Prize, he told people of the world: “We should have the courage to face with current situation. Human has become a superman; but this superman who has gained superman power, has not achieved super man wisdom. Human becomes weaker creature as his power increases. We become non-human in every step that we take towards being a superman. And this reality should shake our conscience.

Eric Ferum: Culture –as socialists have defined- is said to symbolic meanings that identifies behavior. Isar (Means self sacrifice) and martyrdom culture is also a combination of symbolic meanings that create self sacrifice and desire for martyrdom in individuals. When this culture becomes fundamental it will lead people’s views and behaviors towards self sacrifice behaviors.
Islamic Revolution which itself is the result of self sacrifice and martyrdom, caused changes in all levels of the society. When reviewing situation in first days of Islamic Revolution, we see appearance of changes in behavior of people. It was obvious in different actions such as “Jahad Sazandegi”? (An organization in which people helped development of the country), helping the needy people of the society, changing consumption model and public participation in imposed war and defending from the country. In addition to the fact that war and defense were the place to manifest self sacrifice, war caused strengthening and this culture and making it fundamental so that reminding war and eight year defense always reminds the concepts of self sacrifice and martyrdom in our minds.
Following finalizing the war and adopting hurried economic, political, cultural and social politicians and start of reconstruction time as well as improvement in information and communication technologies, change in approach of imperialist powers – America in particular- from direct confrontation to indirect confrontation against Iran all caused a situation in which a gap is obviously seen between cultural situation of war time and after that. In this article, I try to study the conditions which influenced occurrence of this gap and becoming the mentioned culture pale. Globalization, Cultural Aggression and Role of Capitalism System Daily increase of communication and information dissemination technologies and easy access to these technologies due to existence of satellite and internet channels and epidemic use of these technologies which is along with aggression of a large amount of information have targeted all people in all ages, sexes, nationality and culture with any kind of objective and position during day and night.
Information revolution which started in Silicon Valley in California in 1970 progressed with such a speed that had no previous record in history. The information revolution has fundamentally changed human all around the planet in all dimensions of naturally, culturally and spiritually.
2 Communications and Information technology has eased possibility for appearance of a network society. It provides individuals and societies new identities within the new frameworks and presents new definition of human. Meanwhile this network is influenced by domestic dynamism and is changing permanently. Hence, it creates new models of living and survival in different places.
3 These technologies decrease the role of family, school and governments in socialization and leading human desires and thoughts by compacting time and distance, customs, values and views and generally identity of individuals. And its dimensions and details should be studied in order to both prevent its destroying effects and be able to use the obtained chances properly. Cultural identity is however the result of accumulation of experiences of past generations who lived in one particular region. And people are used to these values and customs and love them. But we will gradually witness resolving these cultures into the dominant culture which is the same American consuming and profit oriented culture which is becoming epidemic in communication and information media. And that is due to the effects of globalization on cultural identity of individuals and societies. We should find a solution for this issue. Since globalization is a complicated and multi- dimension phenomenon, thinkers in different scientific fields –considering their view and the discussed issues in their fields- have presented different definitions from this phenomenon.
4 Paul Sweezi believes that: “Globalization is not a new phenomenon; but it is a process which has been progressing for a very long time. Globalization actually existed since the time capitalism –as a durable form of human society- came into existence; it means since 4 or 5 centuries before. Capitalism –both from inner aspect and outer aspect- is a developing system in its deepest part of its nature. When this system took root it will both grow and develop and spread to its surroundings. There is a group of thinkers who think the opposite of the first mentioned group. These thinkers believe that globalization is a plan or project which is designed by rich and developed countries. “Sizji Ham Link”? explains the opinions of critics of globalization as follows: “Globalization issue is a political neo-liberal program which first increases benefits of powerful actors. Millions of farmers, immigrants, youth, women and urban labors who are living in poverty will be damaged by negative results of globalization. They will be ignored and driven to the margins of the society in the new global economy. Malcome Waters describe globalization as follows: “Globalization is a social process in which geographical limitations -which have cast a shadow on social and cultural relations-, are eliminated. And people increasingly become aware of decrease of such limitations.”? James Rozena, the theorist of realism school in international relations, believes that globalization is a process which has been developed behind national borders. And it causes people, groups, foundations and organizations behave the same way or participate in public processes, organizations or systems.
5 Characteristics and Effects of Globalization:
Considering descriptions of globalization, we can say that: This process results in numerous political, social, economic and cultural effects. A number of main effects are as follows:
1: Elimination of the previous concept of time, location and political geographic distance and borders which results in deep change in social relations
2: Limiting and threatening authorities (Governments and nations)
3: Increasing human rights and democracy in the whole world
4: Appearance of global cities, global civilized society and global citizen
5: Appearing great social inequality (Digital or information gap) between north and south countries as well as social inequalities inside different sectors of the society
6: Increase of terrorism throughout the world
7: Propagation of liberal values throughout the world and appearance of identity crisis in south countries and the results are generation gap and social strangeness of the youth with their cultural values
8: Facilitating movement of capital and work force over the international borders
9: Hidden immigration of specialist human force through new communication technologies such as satellite TV channels and internet global network
10: Immigration and run away of human force specialist in superior technology from south countries to technology poles of north countries such as Silicon Valley in California Each of mentioned effects not only causes different effects –considering cultural, social, economic and political situations of these countries- but also affects deeply on relations between countries and cultures. It finally ends with appearance and increase of gap between the countries which have these facilities and those which don’t have. Knowing dimensions of each of these effects requires separate study which does not include in this article.
Technology Progresses and Cultural Damages As it was mentioned before, speedy growth of technologies has caused wide changes in different sections of social life. These changes are increasing from home, entertainment places, training places and health centers till many other major global issues such as business, human rights, national security, etc. These speedy changes in life methods and instruments, and products have caused different changes on culture of nations.
As Gyee Rochet believes “Technology -as a major changing element beside other elements such as population, geographical environment, race, social and economic structure and status of knowledge, wisdom and religious beliefs- has always been noticed by thinkers. Gyee Rochet believes that technology revolution is a process which has caused deep changes in western society and world since two centuries ago till now. The movement of this revolution has changed rural societies and destroyed traditional cultures. It has paved the way for economic, social and political development for other countries.
6 Criminal organizations take advantage of progresses of information technologies and always search for new methods in order to increase their profits to maximum and decrease their expenses to minimum. Information technology –computers and advanced digital networks in particular- has been actually a lever for goals of criminal organizations to apply pressure. As an example we can refer to global network which is used to get familiar with directions for making drugs. Produced drugs such as ecstasy and GHB have caused popularizing websites which are related to chemical materials. Global network (internet) has in fact become a supreme media through which a large amount of drugs are sold to consumers, especially those who are seeking to buy produced drugs. Global web network has become a complete media for a large number of drug users, those who use produced drugs in particular.
As another example we can refer to increase of organized criminal activities through using information technology for the aim of pornography industry. The organized crime which has a rich record in interfering in sex business and in some other cases it controls it. No other business has benefited from internet as pornography industry has benefited; because, internet is a very suitable ground for pornography business. Many of rings of pornography of children are hidden. They can easily escape from law by abusing digital networks. Although traditional organized crimes mainly sought satisfaction, beyond-national networks crimes seek gaining profit. These groups are progressing using internet. Members of these groups exchange their photos and experiences. Using internet relations in some cases result in temptation of children for making personal appointments.
9 Nil Postmen is one of the serious critics of technology and knows technology as the cause of downfall. While he does not totally decline technique, he criticizes it hard. In an environment in which human is happy about technologic progresses and congratulates himself continuously for this reason, Nil Postman tries to open a new perspective and show the situation is not that good.
In “Technology”? Postman describes inventions as evolved instruments which are used to achieve not evolved goals. This means that the21st century human has not taken long distance from primitiveness and his basic problems have not been yet solved. His habits and temperament have not changed very much. The 21st century human is still very interested in exploiting other people and even rending them. The only happening is that technology has provided him with more influential and hygienic ways! Compared to Paleolithic age, human has not progresses a little if he has not gone backwards. Why? There is a clear reason for that.
The modern human has been deviated from the highway of evolution for centuries. Now he is taking steps in a deviated road. Postman does not complain about the philosophy laid in back of technique; but he knows technique as the main guilty and responsible factor. People have not only moved forwards, but also has moved towards retrogression. That is due to the fact that they let technology to be dominant on them ad change the meanings of human values. What we should be hopeful about is the fact that technique –like other products made by human- needs training and controlling. There are people who use it for their own improper goals when it is left uncontrolled. Technology and Cultural Lag Countries which are famous to be western countries have tolerated less destroying effects.
That is because they could move ahead in the nonmaterial (mental) section coincident with adopting changes in the materialistic section. The nonmaterial section was however changed with a little delay. It might be better to say that they invented based on their cultural requirements. Since they liked to conquer the world, such countries manufactured their products such that people of other countries can use them; so they could import their products to other countries. As an example, we can refer to Microsoft Company.
This company has equipped its software such that it can be used in several local languages. (This is an example of thinking global and acting local). Entering such technologies to the importing country has caused some problems. And that is due to the reason that there is no conformity between materialistic and mentality in these countries. It means that such technologies and methods have been imported to such countries before appearance of needs for that particular technology. And it has not had the enough chance for reproduction of its own local culture.
Hence, cultural lag occurs. It should be mentioned that this phenomenon occurs in all societies. The difference is that the mentioned distance is less in the countries which are producer of such technologies; so there is more possibility for solving the problem on time in mentioned countries.
The difference in growth manner and the way to face with technologies among developed industrial countries and the lagged behind countries are defined more expressively in this diagram:
1: Countries which own technology: Existing of needs with cultural grounds – Appearance of technology
2: Countries which import technology: Entrance of technology- Appearance of new needs and affecting local culture by the technology due to not being conformed to cultural grounds and then entering technology In other word, industry has grown parallel with culture in developed countries. And in other countries, the local culture has taken the cultural properties of industrial countries. “Cultural Lag”? phenomenon is in direct relation with cultural identity of societies. It means that major effect of this phenomenon will be appeared in the cultural identity of societies. And it will end to cultural dispersion.
Cultural dispersion causes problems for transfer of thoughts and experiences from past to present and future. Such gap prevents transfer of national heritage and good customs of past generations to the next generation such that present generation believes that he had never had something to say and should start from zero point. Repetition of this phenomenon (Starting from zero point) increases individual and social crises and continues the state of being not balanced. 11 In this regard, Nader Naghshineh has written an article titled “The dark dimension of moving towards information society”?. He writes: “It is a dangerous action even in its best case to float in cybernetic atmosphere and being exposed to it without any control. Not all societies will obviously benefit from information revolution. Some of these societies may even sustain losses due to lack of infrastructure and proper protections.”?
12 Technology Progress, Expansionist Politics and Cultural Damages Progress of knowledge and technology in European countries grew increasingly since the 16th century; so some of these countries such as UK, France, Holland and Belgium (Especially the expansionist UK) could export their technology to the countries which had energy and low price work force such as Iran. This way they could penetrate and propagate their cultural and political system among thoughts of educated people in mentioned objective countries. Many people of African countries still speak in French or English. They not only speak in these languages but also they are known as their formal languages.

Scientific and cultural relations have considerably grown in Iran during the 20th century compared to previous centuries. (It should be mentioned that preparing suitable facilities for making and strengthening scientific, research and cultural bases between countries is one of the main and important infrastructures in sustainable development. Nowadays, no country can continue living without making such connections). Since expansionist countries needed low price energy for their economic, industrial and manufacturing development, they make relations with countries that have energy. They still make connections with countries that have energy to benefit from energetic sources. Reaching to these sources requires passing over obstacles (Mainly cultural obstacles) in the countries that have energy sources.
In order to pass over these obstacles, expansionist countries arrange diversified political, cultural and economic programs. As an example we can refer to the behavior of countries such as UK and USA with Iran and the different reactions to their plots during the past century. Western countries first benefited from their superior military power which owed to their changes in thought and technology. They ruled “classic expansionism”? situation on majority regions of the world. In the next step they created “new expansionism”? by benefiting from their economic superiority. Nowadays, they strengthen their influence and ruling by using communications technology. This phenomenon is called “cultural aggression”? in the literature and writings of Islamic Revolution. Muslim societies, including Iranian society have manifested several and contradicted reactions to such multi- dimension political, military, economic, technological, thinking and cultural aggression of west.
As “Richard Katem”? says: “There were three solutions for those who were concerned about the issue of west’s influence. This way they could respond to the challenging of west. First, they could surrender unconditionally and accept the western culture with the same speed it was being absorbed. Secondly, they could fight with west in all forms. Thirdly, they could withdraw to a defending situation in back. In fact, each of mentioned solutions had its own supporters in Iran.
13 Mentioned events and influence of western culture and civilization caused conflicts inside the Iranian society at the end of the Qajar dynasty and constitutionalism time. In this article, it is described as identity crisis of Iranians. This crisis formed gradually since the Qajar dynasty in Iran. It was practically manifested in the Constitutional Revolution of Iran. It continued following victory of nonreligious groups at the time of Reza Shah. It was finally manifested in events of Islamic Revolution in the form of contrasts between nationalist groups, liberals, those who had tendency towards west and even those who had tendency towards east on one side and religious groups, traditional groups and conservatives on the other side. And finally the religious- traditional group prevailed. Therefore, Iranian society kept distance with its tradition under the influence of stranger’s culture and civilization in the new time. This way, Iranian society faced with identity crisis. But Iranian thinkers and intellectuals never discussed this issue seriously and knowledgeably.
Hence, national interests and strategy and finally national identity were never clearly explained and justified. As a result, a general consensus on such main concepts was never obtained. Consequently, national interests and strategy was left between a group of modernist people on one side and traditional- religious group on the other side. And it has caused –and will cause- countless problems for development and progress of Iran. Analysis and Explaining Social and Cultural Damages in the View of Dorkheim Dorkheim believes that society is a living being and individuals are cells which form the organs of this society. They change as a living being as far as social unity is concerned. Societies continuously evolve from primitive and simple form to modern and complicated form. In each process, previous unities go away and are replaced with new unities. Primitive societies enjoyed a kind of simple cellular- mechanical unity. The basic specification of this type of society is existence of a very strong public conscience such that individual conscience in such societies is highly under the control of public conscience. As societies gradually exit from primitive form and move towards modernism, previous unities go away. This is while new unities have not been formed yet. Therefore, social unity reaches to its weakest point when a society is passing through one process to another process –as an example passing from primitiveness to advanced- and dispersion forces are at the top. In such situation societies lose identities. Dorkheim calls this situation “Anomi”? in societies. This situation will continue till the time society exits from passing process and settle in the next process. New unity forces are formed in this new process of social change. And the society exits from the situation of “Anomi”?. According to Dorkheim, societies –like organisms- change and disperse if there is lack of unity. The discussed “Dispersion”? is very similar with the thesis of psychologists regarding lack of unified values in the mind of an individual or multiplicity of character in one person. Dispersion occurs when the society is passing to one process from one process. In such situation the common conscience of the society is destroyed and previous values of the individual disperse. Multiplicity of values appears in the society and the society feels multiplicity of character. This situation occurs in the process of passing and renewing societies. Previous unity is destroyed in the situation of renewing. And it is when new unity instruments have not been created yet. Hence, “Anomi”? appears in the society. Renewing society causes appearance of new groups and replacing old groups. These new groups are obliged to adapt themselves with new situation and gain a new identity. Studying Dorkheim theories, we come to the result that history is moving in two dimensions. While a dimension of the history includes renewing, distribution of work, increasing complications and appearance of dispersion forces, another dimension includes appearance of new unities. Hence, dispersion forces continuously appear in every society and resist against unity forces. Consequently, there is a kind of permanent contrast and conflict between these forces.
Conclusion: Although thorough knowledge about cultural damages requires comprehensive research in a sufficient time and it is not possible to discuss about this issue with such wide and different dimensions in a short article and during a short time; but I made efforts to study briefly the new subjects which can result in social and cultural damages in our country in order to make aware those who concern about Islamic- Iranian culture of our country. It should be mentioned that all dimensions of the society should be studied in detail and precisely for multi- dimension pathology of self sacrifice and martyrdom culture.
Main issues which should be considered and precisely analyzed in a comprehensive view are major politics during past 25 years and general politics in coming 20 years. I am ready to obtain a comprehensive plan of pathology of self sacrifice and martyrdom culture in case “Martyr Foundation and Isargaran Affairs”? is willing to and requires. Some of the subjects which should be considered in a comprehensive study have been written in this article. And each subject will be discussed in detail in case it is required. Cultural and Social Grounds for Pathology of Self Sacrifice and Martyrdom Culture
1: Influence of stranger thoughts
2: Changing the direction of thoughts
3: Extreme modernism against seizing to Islam
4: Separation of “Hozeh Elimyeh”? (The place in which religious lessons are taught) and university
5: Loving world and being busy with earthly materials
6: Extreme bureaucracy and administrative and social corruption
7: Ruling the spirit of hypocrisy and sycophancy instead of sincerity and isar (Self sacrifice) spirit
8: Publication of corruption, obscenity and bribery
9: Being influenced by mental war and cultural aggression
10: Crisis of social identity, especially among the youth and the generations after the Islamic Revolution
11: Brain drain Political Grounds for Pathology of Self Sacrifice and Martyrdom Culture
1: Leaving ideals of the movement incomplete
2: Ambiguity in planning and adopting policies for future
3: Penetration of opportunists
3: Disunion and being caught in the whirlpool of domestic disagreements, lack of using people forces
4: Unclear positions of groups, people and parties in the society
6: People’s being indifferent about the fate of the country
7: Causing doubt in ideals of the Islamic Revolution
8: Being in danger the security of the oppressed people, lack of legal, political and prestige security for people
9: Not taking serious the specialization in the issue of ruling and politics
11: Return of expansionism in clear and hidden ways Economic Grounds for Pathology of Self Sacrifice and Martyrdom Culture
1: Economic dependence to stranger authorities
2: Lack of long term and short term programs for economic growth and development of the country
3: Lack of attention to economic crises rooted in development process
4: Lack of culture of labor and social order
5: Bribery
6: Separation between people and government programs in reconstruction plans
7: Increasing social distinction
References:
1: Husseini, Seyyed Mostajad, Comparative Study of Socialists’ Opinions Regarding Effects of Information and Communication Technologies on Society- Thesis of MA in Sociology- Islamic Azad University, Central Branch of Tehran. 2004. Page 6- Castles Manuel- Information Age, Economy, Society and Culture- Volume 1, Page 48, Tarh-e-Nov 2001.
2: Hosseini, Seyyed Mostajad, Study of Effect of Globalization on Cultural Identity, University of Kashan, An article in seminar of “Globalization and Democratic Education”? Spring 2003
3: Aliabadi, Ali- Thesis of MA in Sociology, University of Allameh Tabatabayee, Study of Effect of Globalization on Brain Drain, 2002
4: Gyee Rochet, Social Changes, translated by Mansour Vosoughi, Ney Publication, 5th Edition, 1998, page 54
5: Necessity of National Security in the Information Age, David S. Pop and Daniel S. Alberts, Translated by Ali Aliabadi, Committee of Technology Rights Studies of Presidential Office of Technological Cooperation, 2002
6: Nader Naghshineh, The Dark Half, The Dark Dimension of Movement towards Information Society, Iranian Center for Information and Scientific Documents of
7: Emil Dorkheim, Social Work Distribution, Translated by Bagher Parham, First Edition, Winter 1991, page 212-213
8: Eric Ferum, Having or Being- Translated by Akbar Tabrizi, Firouzeh Publication, Bita
9. http://www.isu.ac.ir/Publication/Research-Quarterly/Research Quarterly_01/Research-Quarterly_0105.htm
10. http://www.isu.ac.ir/Publication/Research-Quarterly/Research-Quarterly_01/Research-Quarterly_01abstract.htm 6: Increase of terrorism throughout the world: 6: Gyee Rochet, Social Changes, Translated by Mansouor Vosoughi, Ney Publication, 5th Edition, 1998, page 54