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Truth, Power, and the Fear of Free Speech

More than two thousand years after Jesus from Israel warned humanity about moral blindness and abused authority, the same struggle continues. Across the world, authoritarian and theocratic regimes still silence their people in the name of righteousness, while democracies wrestle with the price of freedom. From Tehran to Gaza, from social media censorship to satellite internet, the battle over truth, speech, and human dignity remains the defining conflict of our time.

More than two thousand years ago, Jesus from Israel confronted the leaders of his time with a striking observation: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky and the earth, but you cannot interpret the present moment.” His warning was not about astronomy or weather—it was about moral clarity. About the danger of power that loses humility, and authority that speaks of God while denying justice, truth, and human dignity.

That tension remains painfully relevant today.

Authoritarian Power and Moral Inversion

Iran presents one of the clearest modern examples of moral inversion. The country is ruled not by its people, but by a theocratic power structure dominated by clerics loyal to the Supreme Leader. This is not a faith community acting in good conscience, but a closed ruling elite that uses religious language to legitimize repression.

Institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) function as both internal enforcers and external operators, crushing dissent at home while exporting violence abroad. The regime openly funds and arms groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza—organizations that operate outside democratic norms and deliberately target civilians.

The stated goal of this alliance is ideological confrontation, particularly the destruction of Israel. Yet the human cost of this agenda is borne by ordinary people: Israeli civilians living normal lives under constant threat, Palestinians trapped between militant groups and humanitarian collapse, and above all, the Iranian population itself.

Inside Iran, protests are met with internet shutdowns, mass arrests, torture, and executions. Women are beaten or killed for defying dress codes. Journalists disappear. Students are imprisoned. Minorities are silenced. The regime that claims moral authority has shown none toward its own people.

Israel, Self-Defense, and the Collapse of the Narrative

Iran’s clerical leadership routinely labels Israel “the Great Satan.” But when words are weighed against actions, the accusation collapses. Israel, a democratic state, acts primarily in self-defense against groups that openly call for its destruction and have launched decades of rocket attacks, suicide bombings, and kidnappings.

Crucially, Israel is not targeting ordinary Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Its operations are aimed at Hamas and other militant groups responsible for terror attacks. Innocent civilians, while tragically caught in the conflict, are not the objective.

The same principle applies to Iran. If outside powers, such as the United States or Israel, intervene in Iran, their focus would be on the criminal theocratic rulers and their armed networks—the same groups that finance and coordinate terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah—not the Iranian people themselves, who suffer under the oppressive regime.

Meanwhile, the Iranian regime projects accusations of evil outward while systematically repressing its own citizens, silencing women, journalists, and students, and sponsoring violence abroad. Moral hypocrisy is evident: evil is claimed elsewhere, but practiced at home and through proxies.

Democracy vs. Theocracy

At its core, this is not merely a geopolitical struggle—it is a philosophical one.

Democracy rests on the principle that power flows from the people, that leaders are accountable, and that truth can be debated openly. A theocracy, by contrast, claims divine authority, places rulers beyond question, and treats dissent as heresy. Where democracy depends on free speech and transparency, authoritarian systems survive through censorship, fear, and isolation.

This is why free information is the greatest enemy of such regimes.

Why the Internet Terrifies Tyranny

When the Iranian regime shuts down the internet, it is not a technical decision—it is a political act of survival. Open communication exposes corruption, abuse, and lies. Free speech breaks the illusion of absolute power.

That is why the smuggling of Starlink satellite terminals into Iran matters. Backed by Elon Musk’s satellite network, this technology bypasses state-controlled infrastructure and restores a basic human freedom: connection to the outside world. Information becomes resistance.

Musk’s role here is consistent with his stated philosophy. He bought Twitter to restore what he called a digital public square, reversing bans—including that of a sitting U.S. president—on the grounds that democracy cannot function if political speech is arbitrarily silenced. While social media debates moderation, the Iranian regime cuts off an entire nation from the internet. The contrast could not be clearer. Elon Musk is a freedom champion. So is Trump.

A Timeless Warning

Jesus was not executed for promoting kindness alone. He was killed for challenging power structures that cloaked themselves in divine authority while denying truth and justice. His message threatened those who ruled through fear, hypocrisy, and control.

History keeps repeating the same lesson: regimes that silence truth in the name of righteousness ultimately condemn themselves. Power without humility corrupts. Authority without accountability collapses. And those who fear open speech reveal their own illegitimacy.

Two thousand years later, the struggle continues—but so does the truth.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shinybull.com. The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided; however, neither Shinybull.com nor the author can guarantee the accuracy of this information. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. Shinybull.com and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

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Elon Musk is at war with Apple

Tesla`s CEO, and the new owner of Twitter, Elon Musk, is at war with Apple. Musk says Apple threatened to remove Twitter from the App store. Not only that. Apple has also stopped advertising on Twitter.

On Monday, Elon Musk tweeted: «Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won`t tell us why.»

Apple is the world`s most valuable company and has huge power. The company was the top advertiser on Twitter and accounted for more than 4 percent of Twitter`s revenue in the first quarter of this year.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

Apple spent nearly $50 million on ads on Twitter, which is a huge loss for a company like Twitter. But if Apple were to block Twitter from its App Store, people would be unable to download the Twitter App on their iPhones, and iPads. It will also be problematic for existing users.

Twitter has warned investors in regulatory filings that the success of its services is dependent on their surviving review for compliance with App Store.

«Such review processes can be difficult to predict and certain decisions may harm our business,» the company wrote in a filing to the SEC last year.

«Failure to adhere to Apple`s and Google`s guidelines would be catastrophic, risking Twitter`s expulsion from their app stores and making it more difficult for billions of potential users to get Twitter`s services,» Yoel Roth, the company`s former head of Trust and Safety, wrote in a New York Times op-ed.

On Monday, Elon Musk also tweeted this: «Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?» But Apple didn`t respond to this.

Musk has attacked Apple in a series of tweets after his takeover. He sought to stoke long-running concerns and political scrutiny over Apple`s market power. He tweeted a link to a parody video that Apple foe Epic Games made in 2020 criticizing the App Store as a «monopoly.»

He also tweeted a yes or no poll, asking his more than 119 million followers whether Apple should «publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers.» In another tweet, Musk said: «Did you know Apple puts a secret 30% tax on everything you buy through their App Store?»

But there are more problems for Musk and Twitter. The EU has raised the prospect of a substantial fine or ban for Twitter after warning that it must «significantly increase» efforts to comply with new online legislation.

Twitter`s new owner, Elon Musk, was told he had «huge work ahead» to comply with the EU`s Digital Services Act, which requires tech firms to tackle problems including abusive posts and disinformation.

«I welcome Elon Musk`s statement of intent to get Twitter 2,0 ready for the DSA,» the EU`s commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton said. «I am pleased to hear that he has read it carefully and considers it as a sensible approach to implementing on a worldwide basis. But let`s also be clear that there is still huge work ahead, as Twitter will have to implement transparent user policies, significantly reinforce content moderation and protect freedom of speech.»

The Financial Times reported that Breton reiterated the punishments for breaches of the act, which include fines of up to 6% of global turnover, which would be around $500m in Twitter`s case, or a temporary suspension of the service if refused to comply endangers people`s life and safety. Suspension is described by the EU as a «last resort.»

Musk has fired half of Twitter`s 7,500 staff since buying the company for $44 billion in October. Another 1,200 was leaving the company in November after Musk told the remaining staff to commit to being «hardcore» or leave.

In November last year, I wrote an article about Musk and his potential Tesla phone, the Model Pi Smartphone. A phone that is connected to your Tesla EV which is also connected to the Starlink satellite.

The Tesla smartphone Model Pi is equipped with a quality 4K screen, has four cameras, and is powered by Snapdragon 898 SoC chip. Is this the reason why Apple is threatening Musk and Twitter?

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at Monday`s briefing that the White House was «keeping an eye on» Musk`s handling of Twitter.

There is no doubt: Elon Musk is at war with Apple.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shinybull.com. The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided; however, neither Shinybull.com nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. Shinybull.com and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

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