Word: martyrdom
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Until this time, those opposing the Shah had been fragmented. Now an identifiable leader was emerging. Perhaps because of his remoteness and air of martyrdom enhanced by 15 years of exile, his constant and unswerving opposition to the Shah, his religious beliefs bordering on fanaticism and his militant attitude in demanding action and violence, Khomeini had gained increasing influence over the anti-Shah forces. Although he was still in Paris, Khomeini was calling for general strikes, the overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of a republic...
...name is Knott. My parents wanted to call me Bill or Billy, but because there's no Saint Bill or Billy, I was named William. They insist no joke was intended. By third grade at school, I was Will Knott. I learned to live with it, my private martyrdom. So I was more or less prepared to grit it out again in the army, Willingly or Knott (Ha!). What I wasn't ready for was the conglomeration of certified wise guys and punsters called the I and R platoon. They decided my nickname must be Wont...
...other countries do not accept] , so it was the U.S., not our side, that used force there. We would rather negotiate with America, but we find ourselves compelled to use force. And we will use it again to repel aggression by our enemies, even if that leads to mass martyrdom on the part of our people. We're willing to turn the Gulf of Sidra into a red gulf, a gulf of blood, if that is the only choice we have...
...P.L.O. made two important concessions. First, the leaders dropped their demand that an international force be in place in West Beirut be fore their organization moved out. The P.L.O. does not want to depart through a cordon of Israeli forces. Said one U.S. expert: "If the choice is between martyrdom and walking out through Israeli lines they [the P.L.O.] will stay and fight." Second, the guerrillas said they would no longer insist that Israel complete a minimal withdrawal of its own forces before the evacuation begins...
...last of twelve Imams disappeared in 940, and is believed to be in hiding, awaiting the right moment to re-emerge and establish a purified Islamic government of justice. Because of the violent deaths of Ali and his son Husain, Shi'ites, unlike Sunnis, emphasize martyrdom and atonement. Every year the Shi'ites mourn Husain's death with public re-enactments of the occurrence and displays of self-flagellation. The same passion seems to have motivated hundreds of thousands of unarmed Iranians who faced down the Shah's troops in the streets of Tehran...