Arba'in: 20 Million Strong, But Still Not News Worthy

Rasa – The world’s most prestigious newspapers, belonging to a diverse spectrum of ideological inclinations, have at least one thing in common. They agree to be completely oblivious towards one of the most extraordinary events to have taken place in contemporary times: Arba’in.

News ID: 1821

Date: 14 December 2014 - 19:44

News in these modern times is a unique, complex and sometimes baffling phenomenon. Within the sprawling empire of the global mainstream news media, what does or does not gain coverage is based upon numerous intertwining sets of extremely complicated calculations; calculations that even Einstein would not be able to comprehend.

In simpler times, people used to think that if you could get enough people to rally behind a certain cause you would definitely qualify for a notable place amongst the world’s hallowed front-pages. Alas, simple times have long passed away into oblivion. Nowadays, such things only exist in nostalgic stories narrated by grandparents who used to be social-activists back in their glory days. Their not so eager audience: a bunch of uninterested kids impatiently waiting for Grandpa and Grandma to fall asleep so that they can get back to their iPad and iPhones.

This is where social evolution has brought us. This is the pinnacle of our civilization. Doesn’t it make you wonder what all the fuss was about?

The world’s most prestigious newspapers, belonging to a diverse spectrum of ideological inclinations, have at least one thing in common. They agree to be completely oblivious towards one of the most extraordinary events to have taken place in contemporary times. A gathering composed of a staggering 20 million people from across the globe, traveling on foot (and sometimes barefoot) from Najaf to Karbala. Men, women, children, as well as the elderly and the disabled form a continuous column of human bodies stretching the long and winding road that links these two Iraqi cities. Compare this with the statistics available for other huge gathering in human history. You won’t find many that are even comparable.

The IBT website (http://www.ibtimes.co.in/Arba’in-2014-20-million-pilgrims-flock-karbala-photos-617054) reported, “The Iraqi government confirmed that the number of pilgrims in the city of Karbala for the annual Arba’in pilgrimage has reached a record 17.5 million this year. Some local sources report the number might cross 20 million by the day of Arba’in on 13 December. If the number is officially confirmed, the Arba’in 2014’s number of pilgrims will only be one step behind the largest historic peaceful gathering of people in one place for a single event. The first place is occupied by the 10 February, 2013, Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India, which saw a monstrous crowd of 30 million people on that day gathered to bathe on Mauni Amavasya.”

What is even more amazing is that no government or organization has invested billions of dollars in order to setup this event. There is no flashy entertainment to draw the crowds. No five star hotels and restaurants. It’s just rugged roads, the harshest of weather and, above all else, the ever looming threat of Takfiri terrorism http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/121220141. In fact, the presence of the ISIL (or ISIS) has prompted even more people to join in, making this grand event the world’s largest expression of popular resistance against extremism and terror. Here we see a road side sign proudly declaring, “Even if the Daaesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorists rain drop from the sky, we’ll still continue our pilgrimage of Husayn.”

All the arrangements are grass-root and spontaneous. Common people from all over Iraq, and numerous other countries, descend upon this patch of tarmac just to be able to feed, clothe, host and even massage feet at this multi-cultural gathering of pilgrims. And yes, it is multi-cultural. Christians, as well other religious denominations, are walking shoulder to shoulder alongside the Shi’ah and Sunni Muslims in commemoration of this sacred pilgrimage.

In short, this immense congregation represents almost everything that human civilization has come to hold sacred. It is spontaneous and populist, a true grass-roots affair, unadulterated by any government agenda or shady politics. It challenges the capitalist world-view as millions of people are fed, clothed and housed for free, not by some mega-charity organization, but by ordinary people dedicating their often meagre salaries to this very purpose. Furthermore, being a commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali’s heroic martyrdom after his rejection of the tyrant Caliph Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah, this event also epitomizes a clear and resonating statement against all forms of tyranny, despotism and absolutism. At the same time, it is an unprecedented exercise in non-violent resistance, as 20 million people shame the hate and bigotry of ISIS and its other petrodollar funded affiliates, challenging them in broad daylight without a speck of fear. Moreover, it displays a meeting of man’s physical and spiritual dimensions, thus rebutting, in the most vocal of manners, the prejudiced and erroneous conception that modern man has some how grown beyond his relationship with the metaphysical. Last, but not least, this mega-event has turned into a melting pot of cultures and creeds, as people from all denominations flood into Karbala to show their devotion and support.

But even with all these astonishing characteristics, the bitter truth of modern-corporate journalism is this: “It may be 20 million strong, but it’s not quite news worthy.” Why? Well, for starters it simply does not corroborate the narrow, agenda driven and militantly materialist ideology of the people who control mainstream media. Secondly, it does not reinforce the bleak and God-less image of modern man that international media has worked so hard to create in the minds of its readers, listeners and viewers. Thirdly, it may actually have dared to present an entirely new paradigm for what human civilization should look like after a million years of evolution: “tolerance, indeed love, towards others” without  undermining a “deep devotion towards one’s own convictions,” “embracing one’s physical potentials and strengths” while simultaneously “achieving the highest degree of spiritual elevation,” “money at the service of human ideals” instead of “humanity at the service of wealth and the wealthy,” “uncompromising political and popular resistance against terror and tyranny” spawned from the very heart of “spiritual and religious beliefs” ... All of these, and other seemingly impossible paradoxes like them, are the very reason why this event must be ignored, white-washed, and indeed forgotten.

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Source: Hayat Cultural Centre